High in the hills, an elderly couple’s peaceful existence was interrupted by the yearly visit of a traveling peddler. The wife was away, so the old man looked over the goods himself. Amidst the practical items, a handheld mirror caught the light. He picked it up and stared. A joyful surprise lit up his face. “Well, I’ll be dogged,” he chuckled. “If it ain’t a likeness of my old dad!” Seeing it as a miraculous keepsake, he insisted on making a trade, offering the peddler his wife’s most cherished pitcher in exchange.
Knowing the trouble this trade would cause, the old man hid the mirror in the barn. He began visiting it regularly, enjoying these quiet moments with the “image” of his father. His wife, sharp as a tack, noticed these unexplained absences. Her suspicion grew with each trip he took. Finally, her patience snapped. One evening, she went out to the barn to uncover his secret. There, behind some boxes, she found the glass.
She lifted it and looked. Her face fell. Instead of a sentimental family picture, she saw the reflection of a woman who was decidedly not her. A flush of anger and hurt rose in her cheeks. All this sneaking around, and for what? For some old hag he’d taken a fancy to! She stormed out of the barn, the mystery solved in the worst possible way, all thanks to a simple piece of silvered glass.
The enduring appeal of this joke lies in its gentle humor and relatable emotions. It’s not about mocking the couple’s ignorance, but about celebrating their very human reactions. He sees connection and memory; she sees competition and threat. The mirror reflects more than light; it reflects their hearts. It’s a sweet, simple story about how love can sometimes be clouded by fear, and how the things we don’t understand can lead us to the funniest—and most mistaken—conclusions.
