Maine man counts one million peas to win bet of $2.50
Life moved at a slower pace in Meddybemps, Maine back in 1922. Probably still does. According to Wikipedia, the 2010 census listed Meddybemps as having a population of only 157.
Maine Man Counts Peas for a Month and Wins Bet of $2.50
To win a wager of $2.50, Henry Parish of Meddybemps, Me., has spent nearly a month counting peas. His eyes are in such condition that whether open or shut he sees peas and quart cans. When he sleeps he dreams of peas and quart cans.
On Washington's birthday, Parish and a neighbor named Wainwright engaged in an argument.
"Bet you $2.50 I can count a million peas between now and the middle of March," said Parish.
"I'll take that bet," said Wainwright. "You count them and put them in glass fruit jars."
Parish began. He took all his wife's empty fruit jars and all the peas he could borrow, and by Saturday night he had counted 100,000. This gave him hope, and he began to boast to Wainwright.
"I'll tell you what I'll do," said the latter. "If you count the peas without making a mistake, I'll eat them all in two weeks; if you overcount or undercount you eat them."
Parish took this bet and counted the first batch over again to be sure he had made no error. Finding that he was three peas out of the way he got nervous.
A couple of days ago Parish finished in a rush and took all the cans over to Wainwright's house.
"There's the peas. Now eat them," he commanded, "and fork over the $2.50."
"But how do I know you have counted correctly?" protested Wainwright.
"You don't, so count them yourself," chuckled Parish.
"Well, I guess I'll take it for granted if you'll let me off on eating them," said Wainwright, after thinking it over. "I'll pay you the $2.50 and call it square."
"Oh, no, you don't," gurgled Parish; "a bet's a bet and you've got to count them. Then I'll bet you have to eat them."
Wainwright is now counting peas to see whether he does or does not eat them.
To win a wager of $2.50, Henry Parish of Meddybemps, Me., has spent nearly a month counting peas. His eyes are in such condition that whether open or shut he sees peas and quart cans. When he sleeps he dreams of peas and quart cans.
On Washington's birthday, Parish and a neighbor named Wainwright engaged in an argument.
"Bet you $2.50 I can count a million peas between now and the middle of March," said Parish.
"I'll take that bet," said Wainwright. "You count them and put them in glass fruit jars."
Parish began. He took all his wife's empty fruit jars and all the peas he could borrow, and by Saturday night he had counted 100,000. This gave him hope, and he began to boast to Wainwright.
"I'll tell you what I'll do," said the latter. "If you count the peas without making a mistake, I'll eat them all in two weeks; if you overcount or undercount you eat them."
Parish took this bet and counted the first batch over again to be sure he had made no error. Finding that he was three peas out of the way he got nervous.
A couple of days ago Parish finished in a rush and took all the cans over to Wainwright's house.
"There's the peas. Now eat them," he commanded, "and fork over the $2.50."
"But how do I know you have counted correctly?" protested Wainwright.
"You don't, so count them yourself," chuckled Parish.
"Well, I guess I'll take it for granted if you'll let me off on eating them," said Wainwright, after thinking it over. "I'll pay you the $2.50 and call it square."
"Oh, no, you don't," gurgled Parish; "a bet's a bet and you've got to count them. Then I'll bet you have to eat them."
Wainwright is now counting peas to see whether he does or does not eat them.
Comments
The sophistication of those old hicks is surprising! Who'd'a thought that they'd be so interested in can-o-peas?
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 11/24/14 at 09:25 AM
I just used a very rough guess. At 1,000 peas in a can of pea soup there will be 1,000 cans to be eaten in two weeks or about 70 cans a day. :ohh:
Posted by BMN on 11/24/14 at 10:10 AM
If Wainwright came up with something different than a million, did they call in an independent pea counter?
Posted by RobK on 11/24/14 at 11:21 AM
It's my experience that dried peas crack, and pieces of peas crumble. What if the recount shows only 999,999.5 peas?
Posted by Phideaux on 11/24/14 at 02:51 PM
Peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, peas, ... :lol:
Posted by KDP on 11/24/14 at 05:15 PM
@Alex, You should be proud of this post! It caused all the WUvians to visualize whirled peas! :lol: :coolsmile:
Posted by Tyrusguy on 11/24/14 at 10:17 PM
Before you scoff, consider that $2.50 in 1922 dollars is worth a whopping $35.33 today! Certainly worth spending a month counting peas.
Posted by ges on 11/25/14 at 01:50 AM
Peas! Full of country goodness and green peaness! :D
Posted by Tom on 11/26/14 at 01:37 PM
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Category: Boredom | 1920s