There was a traveling salesman whose car became hopelessly stuck in a snow bank during a recent blizzard in North Dakota. It took him several hours to make it to the nearest farm house, but frozen half to death, he finally reached the front door and knocked on it.

A grizzled old farmer answered and the salesman pleaded for a place to spend the night.

"Why sure, young fella, I can give ya a place to bunk," said the hospitable old man.  "But, I ain't got no daughter for ya to sleep with, like ya always hear about in them thar jokes."

"Oh!" said the salesman.  Then thinking a moment or two said, "Just how far is it to the next house?"