An old man and his wife lived deep in the hills, seldom seeing other people.
One day, a peddler came by selling his wares and asked if they wished to buy anything. "My wife isn't home; she's gone down to the creek to wash clothes," said the man. "But let me see what you have."
The peddler showed him pots, pans, tools, and gadgets, but the old man showed no interest. Then, he spotted a mirror. "What's that?" he asked.
Before the peddler could explain, the old man picked it up and exclaimed, "My gosh! How did you get a picture of my father?"
Overjoyed, the old man traded his wife's best pitcher for the mirror. The peddler left quickly, before the wife could return and spoil the sale.
Worried his wife would be angry about the trade, the old man hid the mirror in the barn behind some boxes of junk. He would sneak out to the barn two or three times a day to look at the "picture," which eventually made his wife suspicious.
One day, fed up, she waited until he went to bed and then went out to the barn. She found the mirror behind the boxes, picked it up, and said, "So this is the hussy he's been fooling around with!"