An Athenian man fell into debt and was pressed for payment by his creditor. Having no means to pay, he begged for a delay, but the creditor refused, demanding immediate payment. The debtor then fetched his only sow and took her to market to sell.
It happened that his creditor was also there. Soon, a buyer approached and asked if the sow produced good litters. "Yes," said the debtor, "very fine ones. And the remarkable thing is that she produces females at the Mysteries and males at the Panathenea." (These were two Greek festivals. The Athenians always sacrificed a sow at one and a boar at the other, while at the Dionysia they sacrificed a kid.)
At that, the creditor, who was standing by, interjected, "Don't be surprised, sir. Why, still better, at the Dionysia this sow has kids!"