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WEDDING CUSTOM

NANCY HONKS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME GONE. AT HER FOURTH WEDDING
RECEPTION THE GROOM IN REMOVING THE GARTER TO THROW TO THE MALE
GUESTS, HE CAME UP WITH A VARICOSE VEIN. THERE WAS NO HONEYMOON.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale
BELIEF -- Marriage

Date learned: 02-01-1971

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TALL TALE

ONE TIME A FRIEND ASKED MY FATHER IF HE COULD SEND SOMEONE TO
MILK HIS COWS THAT NIGHT BECAUSE HE WOULD BE GONE. MY FATHER SAID
HE WOULD SEND ME. THE FRIEND SAID TO TAKE AS MUCH MILK AS WE
NEEDED IN PAYMENT. THAT EVENING I MILKED HIS COWS AND TOOK A
GALLON BUCKET OF MILK BACK WITH ME. I WAS WALKING HOME WITH MY
LITTLE BROTHER WITH ME BY THE HAND. IT WAS DARK ALREADY. I HEARD
A HOWL FROM A WOLF. I LOOKED AROUND AND SAW A BIG GRAY WOLF TROT-
TING BEHIND US. I STARTED TO WALK A LITTLE FASTER DRAGGING MY
LITTLE BROTHER WITH ME SINCE HE COULDN'T KEEP UP. I LOOKED AGAIN
AND THE WOLF WAS GETTING CLOSER. WHEN I SAW THAT, I STARTED OUT
LIKE LIGHTNING. I WAS RUNNING SO FAST THAT MY LITTLE BROTHER WAS
DANGLING BEHIND ME, HOLDING ON TO MY HAND. HIS FEET DIDN'T TOUCH
THE GROUND MORE THAN TWICE ALL THE REST OF THE WAY HOME, THAT'S
HOW FAST I WAS RUNNING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale

Date learned: 11-08-1968

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THE TWO TON CATFISH

IN MISSISSIPPI THE WORKMEN WERE LOWERING THE ROLLERS OF A ROLLER
DAM WHEN THEY JAMMED AND COULDN'T BE LOWERED ALL THE WAY. THEY
FIGURED THAT SOMETHING WAS CAUGHT IN THE ROLLERS SO THAY SENT A
SKIN DIVER DOWN TO SEE IF HE COULD FREE THE ROLLERS. THE DIVER
WENT DOWN AND CAME UP IN JUST A SHORT TIME. THE DIVER WAS WHITE
AND TOOK A WHILE BEFORE HE (COULD) TELL THE WORKERS WHAT HE SAW
BECAUSE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT SOMETHING HAD FRIGHTENED THE DIVER.
FINALLY THE DIVER WAS ABLE TO SPEAK AND TOLD THE WORKMEN THAT HE
SAW A CATFISH THE SIZE OF A WHALE AND FIGURED THAT IT WEIGHED
AT LEAST TWO TONS. THE WORKMEN ASKED THE DIVER TO GO DOWN THERE
AGAIN AND FREE THE ROLLERS BUT HE JUST WOULDN'T GO DOWN THERE
AGAIN. SO THE WORKMEN RAISED THE ROLLERS TO SEE IF THEY COULD
FREE THEM AND WHEN THEY DID, THEY SAW AN ENORMOUS CATFISH SWIM
AWAY. THEY SAY IT WAS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SMALL WHALE AND
WEIGHED ABOUT 2000 POUNDS.

Where learned: IOWA ; DAVENPORT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale

Date learned: 11-01-1968

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POPCORN

ONE TIME WE PLANTED POPCORN TO SEE IF WE COULD GET POPCORN ON THE
COB. THE CORN GREW INTO REGULAR CORN, BUT IT GOT SO HOT ONE DAY
THAT THE CORN POPPED RIGHT ON THE COB.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale
Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 11-08-1968

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BIGGER THAN TEXAS

THE AMERICAN RANCHER ASKED THE AUSTRALIAN RANCHER HOW MANY ACRES
THE PLACE WAS. THE AUSSIE REPLIED, "ACRES BE DAMNED, OUT HERE
WE TALK ABOUT THOUSANDS OF MILES OF COUNTRY!"

Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA ; 17 SELBOURNE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale

Date learned: 06-00-1967

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STUPID EASTERNER

"DUST-BOWL! WHY, WHEN WE GROW CELERY WE HAVE TO USE CONCRETE
PIPING NINE FEET HIGH AND TWO FEET WIDE. WE COULDN'T HANDLE OUR
CELERY BY THE BUNCH. WE CUT IT INTO LENGTHS AND SELL IT BY THE
SUPERFICIAL FOOT!"

Submitter comment: TOLD BY A WESTERN AUSTRALIAN TO AN EASTERNER.

Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; VICTORIA ; MELBOURNE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale
Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable

Date learned: 06-00-1960

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TALE

I WAAS RESTING ABOUT LUNCHTIME ONE DAY DURING DEER SEASON, SITTING
ON A ROCK BY THE EDGE OF A STREAM. A DEER APPEARED, APPARENTLY TO
GET A DRINK, SO I PICKED UP MY RIFLE AND SHOT IT. THE SHOT WAS
CLEAN AND WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE DEER AND HIT A BEAR WALKING OUT
OF THE WOODS. THE RECOIL FROM THE GUN KNOCKED ME BACK INTO THE
STREAM, POPPING THE BUTTON ON MY SUSPENDERS, WHICH FLEW INTO THE
AIR AND STRUCK A DUCK THAT WAS FLYING OVER. THE DUCK FELL ON A
SNOWSHOE RABBIT HIDDEN IN THE GRASS BY THE STREAM. WHEN I GOT UP
TO ROUND UP MY CATCH, MY POCKETS WERE FULL OF TROUT.

Where learned: NORTHERN MICHIGAN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale

Date learned: 08-15-1969

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THE UNDERSTANDING CANINE

MY GRANDFATHER BOUGHT A BEAUTIFUL HUNTING DOG FROM A GUY WHO GOT
RID OF HIM BECAUSE HE COULDN'T HANDLE HIM ANY MORE. MY GRAND-
FATHER COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE DOG COULDN'T BE HANDLED, SO HE
TOOK HIM OUT TO TEST HIM. THE DOG RAN AHEAD OF US AND IN A MINUTE
SCARED UP A QUAIL. POW! MY GRANDFATHER SHOT HIM. THEN THE DOG
SCARED UP ANOTHER ONE, BUT THIS ONE MY GRANDFATHER MISSED. THE
DOG TURNED AND GROWLED AT HIM. THE WHOLE THING TOOK PLACE AGAIN,
AND AGAIN THE DOG TURNED AND GROWLED. THEN WE FIGURED THAT THE
DOG WAS USED TO GOOD HUNTERS AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO DO ALL THAT
WORK FOR NOTHING. WE WERE GOING TO GO HOME, BUT WHEN MY GRAND-
FATHER WENT TO GET THE DOG, HE GROWLED AND THEN STARTED TO RUN
IN A WIDE CIRCLE IN THE FIELD. EVERY TIME MY GRANDFATHER MOVED,
THE DOG GROWLED SOME MORE.
THEN, A QUAIL FLEW UP FROM THE FIELD AND MY GRANDFATHER KILLED IT.
ANOTHER ONE FOLLOWED FROM THE SAME SPOT AND MY GRANDFATHER KILLED
IT. THIS WENT ON FOR AN HOUR. QUAIL AFTER QUAIL FLEW UP FROM THE
SAME SPOT AND WAS SHOT. I WENT OVER TO THE SPOT THEY WERE COMING
FROM, AND THERE WAS THE DOG WITH HIS PAW OVER THE OPEN END OF A
HOLLOW LOG. HE WAS LETTING THE QUAIL OUT ONE BY ONE THAT HE HAD
ROUNDED UP INTO THE LOG. HE GOT SO MAD AT MY GRANDFATHER MISSING
THE BIRDS THAT HE FIGURED OUT A SOLUTION TO KEEP ALL HIS WORK FROM
BEING WASTED.

Where learned: NORTHERN MICHIGAN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale

Date learned: 08-15-1969

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TALE

WHILE HUNTING IN THE UPPER PENINSULA ONE SEASON, I CLIMBED A TREE
TO GET A BETTER VIEW OF THE TERRAIN. THE BRANCH I SAT ON BROKE
AND I FELL INTO WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE A HOLLOW TREE WITH BEAR CUBS
IN IT. KNOWING THAT THE MOTHER BEAR WOULD SOON BE BACK, I TRIED
MY BEST TO CLIMB OUT OF THE TREE, TO NO AVAIL. SO I GRABBED MY
KNIFE AND WAITED FOR HER. JUST THEN, I HEARD HER SCRATCHING HER
WAY UP THE TREE. I SAW HER AT THE TOP OF THE TREE CLIMBING INTO
THE HOLE REAR FIRST, SO I GRABBED HER TAIL AND JABBED MY KNIFE
INTO HER BEHIND. SHE SHOT UP THE TREE, PULLING ME WITH HER. AS
SOON AS WE WERE OUT, I PICKED UP MY GUN AND SHOT HER.

Where learned: NORTHERN MICHIGAN

Keyword(s): SEE ROBERTS' SOUTH FROM HELL-FOR-SATAN, TALE 71.

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale

Date learned: 08-15-1969

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TRAPPED ON TOILET

A GIRL WAS BABYSITTING AND SHE WENT UP AND SAT ON A TOILET THAT
HAD JUST BEEN PAINTED. SHE COULDN'T GET OFF THE "JOHN." SHE
CALLED AN AMBULANCE AND THEY TOOK HER AWAY, TOILET AND ALL.

Submitter comment: VICKI HEARD THIS FROM A GIRLFRIEND WHO LIVED IN PENNSYLVANIA
UNTIL SHE WAS 9 YEARS OLD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BERKELEY

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale

Date learned: 07-03-1964

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STUCK ON TOILET

THE MAN OF THE HOUSE TOLD THE BABYSITTER NOT TO SIT ON THEIR
TOILET WHICH HAD JUST BEEN PAINTED. SHE FORGOT, SAT ON THE
TOILET, AND GOT STUCK. SHE CALLED FOR A DOCTOR, WHO CAME AND
SLIPPED ON THE FLOOR AND WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. WHEN THE
AMBULANCE ARRIVED, THEY HAD TO UNBOLT THE TOILET. THE GIRL
WAS THEN RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL AND SHE HAD TO BE CUT AWAY
FROM THE TOILET SEAT.
LATER SHE SUED THE HOMEOWNER AND HAD TO SHOW HER SCARS TO THE
JUDGE TO PROVE THAT THIS REALLY HAPPENED. (IT REALLY DID.)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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NOT GIVEN

A HITCHHIKER IS THUMBING IN TEXAS; HE GETS PICKED UP BY A GUY
IN A CADILLAC. THEY START TALKING WHEN THE RIDER NOTICES A
PAIR OF THICK GLASSES ON THE SEAT.
"ARE THOSE YOURS?"
"YES."
"SHOULDN'T YOU BE WEARING THEM FOR DRIVING?"
"NO, I'VE GOT THE WINDSHIELD GROUND TO MY PRESCRIPTION."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale

Date learned: 03-18-1972

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IF YOU CROSS YOUR FINGERS OR TOES OR TWO PIECES OF
HAIR, ETC., IT MEANS WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ISN'T
THE TRUTH, BUT IT'S ALL RIGHT TO LIE ABOUT IT.

Submitter comment: SHE SAID THAT SHE LEARNED IT FROM FRIENDS WHEN
SHE WAS YOUNG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: 602 Body Parts
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
SPEECH -- Magical Crossing fingers

Date learned: 02-08-1967

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WHEN TELLING A LIE, CROSS THE FINGERS OF YOUR LEFT HAND
AND YOU WON'T BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LIE.

Submitter comment: THIS IS A BELIEF COMMON IN THE OSWALD FAMILY AS WELL
AS IN MY OWN GRADE SCHOOL DAYS CIRCA 1960.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: 602 Body Parts
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
SPEECH -- Magical Crossing fingers

Date learned: 09-20-1967

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IF A PERSON IS TELLING THE OTHER PERSON SOMETHING AND
THE OTHER PERSON HAS ASKED FOR THE TRUTH, AND THE
PERSON TELLING THE STORY CROSSES HIS FINGERS, WHEN HE
DOES SO, THEN HE IS TELLING THE PERSON AN UNTRUTH AND
IT IS BELIEVED NOT TO HAVE THE CONSEQUENCES O A LIE.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Subject headings: 602 Body Parts
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
SPEECH -- Magical Crossing fingers

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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WHEN YOU'RE TELLING A LIE, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CROSS
YOUR FINGERS OR YOUR FEET.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SAINT RITAS CONVENT

Subject headings: 602 Body Parts
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
SPEECH -- Magical Crossing fingers

Date learned: 03-01-1970

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IF YOU'RE TELLING A LIE, CROSS YOUR FINGERS BEFORE YOU
SAY IT AND IT WON'T BE A LIE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON

Subject headings: 602 Body Parts
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
SPEECH -- Magical Crossing fingers

Date learned: 11-29-1969

View just this record

There once was a professor who was very abrasive in dealing with the students. IOne day he even told one student to go to hell. Well, the student went to Dr. Payne and told him about it..."why he even told me to go to hell!" Dr. Payne replied: "well, if I were you, I wouldn't do it."

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Windrow, John

Keyword(s): HELL ; JOKE ; Professor ; Student ; Tale

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale

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