Answer: In paragraph 32 of the short story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, Old Man Warner recites the saying, "Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon." This saying reveals that the original reason for holding the lottery was to ensure a successful harvest or abundance of crops. The specific textual evidence to support this statement is the following quote from the story:
Explanation: "Old Man Warner snorted. 'Pack of crazy fools,' he said. 'Listening to the young folks, nothing's good enough for them. Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work any more, live hat way for a while. Used to be a saying about 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.' First thing you know, we'd all be eating stewed chickweed and acorns. There's always been a lottery,' he added petulantly."
This quote from Old Man Warner suggests that the lottery has been a long-standing tradition in the town, rooted in the belief that it brings a bountiful yield to the community. The saying about the lottery in June and the promise of a heavy corn crop implies that the lottery was initially held as a ritual to ensure agricultural prosperity. Therefore, the original reason for holding the lottery was likely tied to maintaining the survival and prosperity of the community through a successful harvest.