A couple was celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.

Their domestic tranquility had long been known about the town, and on this very special occasion, a local newspaper reporter paid them a visit.

He inquired as to the secret of their long and happy marriage.

“Well”…explained the husband…”it all goes all the way back to our honeymoon, you see, we visited the Grand Canyon and we took a trip down to the bottom of the canyon by pack mule.”

He continues…”well now, we hadn’t gone too far when my wife’s mule stumbled, she quietly said…that’s once.”

“We proceeded a little further when the mule stumbled again and my wife quietly spoke…that’s twice.”

“You know, that mule hadn’t gone a half-mile when it stumbled a third time.”

My wife promptly removed a gun from her purse, hopped off the beast, and shot the mule dead.”

“I protested over her treatment of the mule, she slowly turned to me and quietly said…that’s once.”