Animal House

I’m working in an area where farming is the primary means of income. It reminded me of a farm like story. There was a town where the farmers grew various crops and raised various animals. For several years due to a lot of hard work and to some luck there was a bounty. The farmers thought year after year as to what to do with the surplus. Each year the swine of the farm told the farmers, “Feed us the surplus, for we are the sweetest of meats. One day you will be able to feast upon the best of foods or sell us for profit at market.” The farmers listened to the swine. Year after year each hog was feed corn, wheat, and oats. The entire surplus went to the swine, and indeed they did grow. The farmers of the town marveled at how prize worth the hogs became. Indeed the swine were wise in their council. The farmers of the town became known throughout for the marvelous swine they had raised.

Then came the drought. The surplus disappeared. There was nothing that was saved. But through hard work and ingenuity the farmers were able to raise enough to live. Yet the swine would go without. The hogs said, “Let us eat, so that we may not shrink; for we are prize of all things of your namesake. Give us as if there was still bounty that you may keep your pride and your reputation for such cleaver husbandry.” The farmers deliberated with much sorrow. We have not oats, corn, or wheat to spare, if we shall give you extra of these surly we will famish thought the farmers. The swine knowing the hearts of men said, “We need not the toil of the earth. Give us the flesh of our brothers that we may still bring you glory.” So the farmers heeded the council of the swine. The life of the horse, cow, and birds of the field were given. The entire flesh of the farms went to the swine, and indeed they did grow. Once again the farmers of the town marveled at how prize worth the hogs became. Indeed the swine were wise in their council. In the land there was no other example of such feats of husbandry as of these hogs.

Yet the drought continued past the ability of the cleverness of men. So thought the farmers, “If we do not eat the swine now we will famish.” Thus preparations were made to make good on the council of the swine. As the farmers prepared the sheriff of the land appeared. The sheriff asked why the farmers were so inclined to destroy the treasure of the land that would be the swine. By force the sheriff stopped the death of the hogs. The sheriff demanded to know why the farmers had stopped heeding the advice of the hogs. The farmers told of the drought and how all the surplus was gone, how the other animals of the farm were gone. The sheriff stated that even in drought such a treasure as the swine cannot be lost, and he demanded that the farmers heed the advice of the swine once again. Too which the farmers replied, “But what can we give, we have given all to the hogs, all we have left is our children.”