Sleeping When the Wind Blows

Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast.He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people werereluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded theawful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he receivedA steady stream of refusals.

Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approachedthe farmer. "Are you a good farm hand?" the farmer asked him."Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.

Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help,Hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy fromdawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore.Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushednext door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook thelittle man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming!Tie things down before they blow away!"The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows."

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him onthe spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm.To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks hadbeen covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred.The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down.
Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what hishired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.