THE FATE OF THE FULL MOON

THIS IS THE STORY OF TWO FARMERS IN THE OLD COUNTRY
(POLAND). THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED MANY YEARS AGO, AND IT
IS SUPPOSED TO BE A TRUE STORY. IT WAS TOLD TO MY
FATHER BY MY GRANDFATHER.
ONCE THERE WERE TWO NEIGHBOR FARMERS. ONE WAS MORE
SUCCESSFUL THAN THE OTHER. THE LESS SUCCESSFUL FARMER
WAS JEALOUS OF THE OTHER ONE AND KNEW THAT HE COULD BE
THE TOP FARMER IF THE OTHER ONE WAS OUT OF THE WAY.
ONE DAY THE JEALOUS FARMER HAD A PLAN AND AT NIGHT HE
MET THE OTHER FARMER COMING HOME FROM MARKET. IT WAS
DARK AND THEY WERE ALONE AND HE PLANNED TO KILL THE OTHER
FARMER. WHEN THE SUCCESSFUL FARMER REALIZED WHAT WAS
HAPPENING HE SAID, "WHY ARE YOU GOING TO KILL ME? I'VE
ALWAYS HELPED AND AIDED YOU WHEN YOUR CROPS WERE BAD. I'VE
ALWAYS TRIED TO HELP YOU OUT OF DIFFICULTIES AND THIS IS
WHAT I GET IN RETURN?"
BUT THE OTHER FARMER REPLIED, "I COULD BE THE RICHEST
FARMER IN THIS AREA IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU, AND I'M GOING
TO KILL YOU."
THE OTHER REPLIED, "THERE'S NO ONE AROUND NOW AND NOBODY
KNOWS YOU KILLED ME, BUT MARK MY WORDS--THE FULL MOON
THAT'S SHINING ABOVE WILL GIVE YOU AWAY."
THE OTHER FARMER LAUGHED AT THE THOUGHT OF A FULL MOON
GIVING HIM AWAY, AND HE KILLED THE FARMER.
AFTER THE BODY WAS FOUND AND BURIED, THERE WAS NO
EVIDENCE TO PROVE A MURDER. THUS THE FARMER BECAME
VERY SUCCESSFUL AND HE LIVED MANY PROSPEROUS YEARS WITH
HIS FAMILY. EVERYTIME HE SAW A FULL MOON, HE LAUGHED
AT THE RIDICULOUS IDEA OF IT GIVING HIM AWAY. HE OFTEN
WONDERED WHAT THE FARMER MEANT, AND THE MOON WAS ALWAYS
ON HIS CONSCIENCE.
ONE NIGHT AFTER THE DAY'S WORK, HE WAS SITING ON THE
PORCH WITH HIS WIFE RELAXING. THERE WAS A FULL MOON OUT
THAT NIGHT AND HIS THOUGHTS WENT BACK TO THE NIGHT OF THE
MURDER. ON IMPULSE HE SAID ALOUD, "I WONDER WHAT MR.----
MEANT WHEN HE SAID THE FULL MOON WOULD GIVE ME AWAY?"
HIS WIFE, NOT KNOWING HER HUSBAND WAS A MURDERER, ASKED
WHAT HE MEANT AND SO HE TOLD HER ABOUT WHAT HE HAD DONE.
SHE WAS DUMBFOUNDED AT WHAT SHE HEARD AND FROM THEN ON
THEIR LIFE TOGETHER WAS MISERY. FINALLY, SHE COULDN'T
KEEP THIS TO HERSELF AND IN ORDER TO HAVE JUSTICE DONE
SHE WENT TO TOWN AND TOLD THE SHERIFF. THE FARMER WAS
ARRESTED FOR THE CRIME AND IN JAIL HE REALIZED HOW THE
FULL MOON GAVE HIM AWAY.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HIS FATHER.
HOW THE FULL MOON REVEALS THE MURDERER

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Date learned: 08-00-1964