The brothers (Adam, Hoss and Little Joe) came downstairs for breakfast but if they had known what was waiting they had gone away already.
“Morning pa”, they all three said.
“Morning boys”, Ben said very cheerful.
“Pa, what are you in a good mood? Has there been planned something nice today?”, asked Hoss.
“For one of you indeed. But that will come after breakfast”, answered the rancher.
Now the brothers became very curious and they quickly ate on.
After the delicious breakfast Ben called his sons with.
“Boys, I have one more chore ready for you. The one who has drawn the longest match is the lucky one”, said Ben.
He got 2 short and 1 big matches and showed them to the boys. Adam drew a short one and so did Hoss. So Little Joe got the big match. Proud as a peacock he showed it to his brothers.
“The luck is with the dumb ones again”, Hoss said indignant.
“Well, then our little brother has something too”, was the reaction of Adam.
Little Joe couldn’t believe his luck.
“Well pa, what is that nice chore that I must do?”, asked Little Joe triumphantly.
Ben said smiling, “Joseph, you have the big honor to clean out the pig’s home. when you have done that you can go to that party in Virginia City gaan. After you had taken a bath of course.”
Adam and Hoss couldn’t stop laughing anymore. Now Little Joe wasn’t so proud anymore that he had drawn the big match.
“Pa, wasn’t it so that the one who had drawn the shortest had to do that chore?”, asked Little Joe.
“No Joseph, you have the longest and so the honor to clean the home of the pigs. Your brothers are going to chop wood and clean the saddles outside”, Ben said determined.
The brothers went to do their chores where by Adam and Hoss were ready quite soon. They went to keep their younger brother company.
“Adam, look our younger brother working hard”, said Hoss.
“Even the pigs are impressed”, reacted Adam.
They laughed. Of course Little Joe was insulted and the pigs even made it worse. They liked their cleaner so much that they constantly ran him over. Of course Adam and Hoss couldn’t control their laughter anymore to the big annoying of Little Joe.
“Just you laugh. As soon as I am finished with this I go nicely to a that party in Virginia City”, said Little Joe.
“When you are clean said pa”, answered Hoss.
“Let Hop Sing have no more water for your bath”, Adam said dry.
Now Little Joe even became more vexation than he already was.
“Go and take a long walk”, was his reaction.
“Why? Watching you is much more fun”, said Hoss.
Little Joe decided not to take any notice from his brothers and worked hard through despite the laughter and the grunting and pestering of the pigs.
Just after working hours Little Joe was finally finished. Of course his tease loving brothers had gone away by then.
The youngest Cartwright brother went to the kitchen and asked the Chinese cook Hop Sing, “Do you have warm water for me?”
“Little Joe stay away from kitchen of Hop Sing. Or else food will spoil”, said the cook.
“I am already going!”, Little Joe said chagrining.
He left the kitchen and went to get his horse to have a bath in Virginia City. But what he had forgotten to do was to close the cage of the pigs so the animals followed him.
Half way Little Joe heard gunting behind him. He stopped and looked around. Six pigs looked at their leader.
“What do we get now?”, Little Joe wondered.
He sighed deep. There was nothing else for him to do than to bring the pigs home and do another attempt to get into town. He turned Cochise around and rode back to the ranch. Strange enough the pigs just walked along.
It cost Little Joe the rest of the day to get the pigs home and still he hadn’t taken a bath.
When he wanted to ride to town for the second time Adam asked, “Joe, mustn’t you take your followers to the party?”
“Very funny Adam. Next time you may clean the pigs home. Let’s see if you have a big mouth too then to me”, Little Joe said indignant.
“You can get on with the pigs better than I can. So that will become your chore”, said Adam.
Little Joe said nothing more and disappeared to Virginia City for not to come home for a long time.