Thom Forbes

To honor Herr Wolf's hosting gig this week, I pored over ancient texts in the New York Public Library, talked to off-duty bartenders throughout the region, consulted a guru high upon Mount Taurus and dug deep into the Arpanet for an appropriate tale — one that the master of punditry might himself purvey. After more than two minutes of ardent quest, I found my answer at "Wolf Jokes and Legends."

Three Squaws

Three Indian squaws are about to give birth and consult the Medicine Man for advice. The Medicine Man tells them to give birth on the hide of an animal whose characteristics they want to see in their offspring.

The first squaw gave birth on the hide of a Lion to give her son the bravery of a Lion. She had a brave son.

The second squaw gave birth on the Wolf's hide to give her son the wisdom of a Wolf. She had a wise son.

The third squaw gave birth of the hide of a Hippopotamus and had twin sons that were both brave and wise.

This is yet another proof of the Pythagorean theorem where the squaw of the Hippopotamus equals the sons of the squaws of the other two hides.