Hi,

No one has explained Llyod's statement:

In early versions, the farmer makes a pact with the Devil and hands over his wife in return for a pair of plough oxen.

Llyod says "Versions" plural- I don't even know one version- waht versions is he talking about? Several on-line sites have quoted this- is it accurate?

Dick--Gardner E tells why the farmer had to plow with hogs instead of horses or oxen: "The devil keeps coming around and taking things away from the farmer according to some pact between them. His cows and horses are taken, until he has only hogs left to plow with."

Here's the complete version:

http://bluegrassmessengers.com.temp.realssl.com/1farmers-curst-wife--demorest-mi-c1900-gardner-e.aspx

Richie