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Nine Times Tables

Easy way to multiply by nine:

1x9=9

2x9=18

3x9=27

4x9=36

5x9=45

6x9=54

7x9=63

8x9=72

9x9=81

Count from one to eight for the first didgits top down, and then again from the bottom up (for the second digits).

Data entry tech comment:

Possible name variations for Collector: Cuisloh, Crisloh, Cisloh

Possible name variations for Informant: Frabiky, Frabilsy, Zrabiky, Zrabilsy
 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Frabiky, Carl

Keyword(s): Arithmetic ; Calculation ; Cheat ; COUNTING ; MATHEMATICS ; MULTIPLICATION ; Multiplication Tables ; NUMBERS

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Numbers System of counting Calculation

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Scare Stories

44

1) Teenage Couple driving in the country, run out of gas.

2) Hear drip, drip, drip - its blood.

28

1) Next door neighbors in love.

2) Girl wore a yellow ribbon around her neck that she wouldn't take off.

3) She untied it, her head fell off.

1

1) Two children home alon eon Halloween see a ghost.

2) Turns out to be their uncle in costume

Data entry tech comment:

No information listed on card. Omitted: Collector data, informant date.

Unknown meaning of numbers preceeding each story.

Bogg Number added by TRD

James Callow comment:

18400 Praire

Corner of Pickford and Praire

Where learned: UNKNOWN

Keyword(s): Car ; Costume ; Drip ; Fable ; HALLOWEEN ; Ribbon ; Scary ; Stories ; SYMBOLISM ; Urban Legends ; Yellow Ribbon

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative

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Story

The recruit would go around the base in a constant search looking for a piece of paper. He would go through elaborate to attract attention [sic]. He would turn over rocks, pick up other pieces of paper or what have you. After each act he would exclaim "no, that's not it!" Finally he got the attention of the camp doctors who then had him confined. Finally the doctors deemed him unfit for service and gave him a medical discharge. Then the guy said he finally found the right piece of paper.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original Bogg Number [B600] crossed out and replaced with B646

Where learned: NAVY ; Myself

Keyword(s): Discharge ; FEIGNED INSANITY TO GET OUT OF MILITARY SERVICE. ; Fool ; INSANITY ; INSANITY ; Mental Disorder ; MILITARY ; Parable ; Recruit ; Sanity ; Wise Fool

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Romantic Realistic

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Goats Feet

There was a girl who liked to dance and socialize very often. Her parents objected so she used to sneak out of the house. One day her mother caught her and put a curse on her. If she went out of the house to go dancing again her feet would turn to goat's ffet. She didn't believe her mother. Next time she went out her beau picked her up and off they went. When she went to get out of the car, she looked down and her feet had turned to goat's feet. The moral is: listen to your parents.

Submitter comment:

Polish Tale (Written across the top of the card)

Co - Feet of girl turned into feet of goat when/after she is cursed by her mother for dancing. (written on an attached card that listed motifs. Signed by M. Butzen

Data entry tech comment:

Non-numbered motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original Boggs Number [B600] crossed out and B642 written nest to it.

Collector's note of Polish Tale is crossed out.

Why Polish is written at the bottom of the card, then crossed out and followed by: B. Fagan says this is a Polish FolkTale.

A separate card is attached with motif numbers listed. Bottom of card is signed by an M. Butzen.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Fagan, Bernadette

Keyword(s): Dancing ; DATING ; Fable ; FAMILY ; FEET ; Goat ; Moral ; PARENTAL RESPECT ; PARENTS ; POLISH ; SOCIAL RELATIONS ; Teenager ; YOUTH

James Callow Keyword(s): POLISH

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Magic

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House-Demons

By a clean river, there grew oak trees from centuries before. Not far from there lived a Samogitian of many years. Together with im lived his beautiful and larg efamily. Their barns were full of cattle, the corn overflowed into the storehouse. No farmer, happier or richer than him, was around.

The other farmers, jealous of his success, started talking about him, that a house demon brought him all his riches. Many said that they saw the demons flying around the house.

The people's council, hearing such talk from the neighbors, sent an inspector over to the farmer's house; they ordered him to forbid the farmer, to tell him to finally learn to live with the other people.

the inspector, showing up at the farmer's house, told him directly that yhe should be ashamed to keep a demon in his house and that he should do only what is good for his neighbors.

the Samogitian only laughed at him. Still laughung he told the inspector that not a single of his demons has yet done wrong to any of his neighbors. Then the inspector told him to show him his demons. With that,. the farmer led the inspector by hand to his barn where all his farming tools stood.

-These- said the farmer, -are my demons that do good for me and my neighbors.-

Submitter comment:

Translated from Lithuanian by Ramune Stonys

An asterisk denotes a message for the word Samogalia, and explains that: Lithuania is divided into different regions. Samogalia is one region, located in Northern Lithuania.

On tha back of the card is an address for the translator:

R. Stonys

17276 Milton

Southfield, MI 48075

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Grammatical correction: Leave to Live.

Where learned: Stonys, Martin

Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; Demon ; Demons ; DISCIPLINE ; FARMER ; FARMING ; HARD WORK ; House ; Moral ; Neighbors ; Parable ; Relationships ; SELF DISCIPLINE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon

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Jokes

A man walked into a rest-room and seen a ten dollar bill laying on a table. As he picked it up and started to put it ini his pocket he heard a weird voice say: "I'm the ghost of Betty Grable and I say the ten dollar bill stays on the table." The man grew frightened, threw the ten dollar bill back on the table and ran out.

Another man walked in , picked up the ten dollar bill and started to walk out. Again the voice came and repeated the same line. The man laughed and put the ten dollar bill back on the table and walked out. A third man came in and picked up the ten dollar bill and put it in his pocket. As he was leaving he heard the haunting voice say: "I'm the ghost of Betty Grable and I say the ten dollar bill stays on the table." The man smiled, and said: "*I am the ghost of Davy Crockett, and I say the ten dollar bill stays in my pocket!"

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [B667] crossed out and replaced with B660

Editing marks for spelling errors. ( crossed out an errant tin the word laughed).

Where learned: Myself

Keyword(s): Anecdote ; BATHROOM ; Betty Grable ; Davy Crockett ; GHOST ; GHOSTLY VOICES ; Jest ; MONEY ; Voice ; Wit

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote

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Little Rabbit Foo Foo/Hopping through the forest/picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head.
 Then down came the good fairy and she said/Little rabbit Foo Foo I don't want to see you picking up those field mice and bopping them on the head/I'm going to give you three more chances and if you continue I'm going to turn you into a GOON.

Same except for 2 then 1 then no more chances [sic].

Now I'm going to turn you into a GOON..."poof!"

Moral: Hare today, Goon tomorrow.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Submission Card was located in a pile marked To Be Classified.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; Glenna, Frank

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; animal fable ; Fable ; Fairy ; Moral ; Rabbit ; THE RABBIT THAT WAS CHANGED INTO A GOON

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale

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Custom/Belief

Belief, Custom - Planting:

On the feast day of St. Andrew everyone plants cucumbers to ensure a good planting season for the year.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P535, F643] crossed out and replaced with F535

Where learned: HOME ; Mathes, Rita

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cucumbers ; CUSTOM ; HARVEST ; Offering ; PLANT VEGETABLE ; RELIGIOUS ; St. Andrew ; VEGETABLE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535

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Custom

Good Friday and Planting Custom:

Potatoe [sic] seeds should be planted, if at all possible, on Good Friday.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [F663] has been crossed out and replaced with F535

Where learned: HOME ; NEW YORK ; Hackett, Vincent ; LeRoy

Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; CUSTOM ; FARMING ; Good Friday ; HARVEST ; PLANT VEGETABLE ; POTATO ; Religious Holiday ; VEGETABLE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535

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Ethnic:Polish Superstition

If you sing at the table you'll marry a crazy husband.

Submitter comment:

I distinctly recall hearing this in a Polish Verse form but I can't find anyone else who recalls it.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P800] crossed out and replaced with P88o. The numbers 880 are crossed out and replaced with 477.

Various grammatical correction symbols.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Mroz, Stella

Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; HUSBAND ; MANNERS ; Omen, Singing ; POLISH ; SUPERSTITION ; TABLE MANNERS

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

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Ethnic:Polish Superstition

IF A YOUNG GIRL SINGS AT THE TABLE, SHE WILL MARRY A CRAZY HUSBAND.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO REMEMBERS THIS FROM HER CHILDHOOD.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO

Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; HUSBAND ; MANNERS ; Omen, Singing ; POLISH ; SUPERSTITION ; TABLE MANNERS

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 02-00-1971

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Ethnic:Polish Superstition

IF YOU SING AT THE TABLE, YOU WILL MARRY A CRAZY HUSBAND.

Submitter comment:

SHE HEARD THIS FROM HER MOTHER.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; HUSBAND ; MANNERS ; Omen, Singing ; POLISH ; SUPERSTITION ; TABLE MANNERS

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 11-00-1967

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Play on Words

Thrones:

IN darkest Africa one time, there were some wicked men who terrorized the natives of the various tribes by exploiting them for their valuables. In fact, these men would go to the chief's hut and steal his throne, because they were usually adorned with gold and diamonds and all sorts of other precious stones.

Well, the word got around to one particular chief that thesemen were coming to his village. Not wanting his throne stolen, he had it hidden up in the attic of his grass hut. When the wicked men arrived, they only found a plain wooden chair as a throne. Thinking that this was not a worthwhile village profitably, they decided to leave. All of a sudden, without warning, the ceiling gave out, and the chief's magnificent throne fell to the ground in front of everybody. discovering this prize, the men packed it up and left the king with no throne.

The moral of this story: People who live in grass houses shouldn't stow thrones.

Submitter comment:

I heard this a few years ago, but I don't remember when. the informant has also slipped my mind. / I don't remember where or whom I heard this from.

Data entry tech comment:

Motif added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [S570] crossed out/replaced with current classification

Written underneath the BN: [Shaggy Dog - Pun Type]

Where learned: UNKNOWN

Keyword(s): DETECTION OF THIEF ; Fable ; JOKE ; PUN ; SHAGGY DOG STORY ; Throne ; WORD PLAY

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale

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Ethnic: German

Tros, tros, tril,

Der Bauerhat ein Phil,

Das Philchen will nicht lauffen,

Der Bauer will verkaufen,

Tros, tros, tril.

This verse was sung by a grandfather to a small child. It accompanied a little game in which the grandfather sat with his knees crossed. On his right leg the child was seated facing the grandfather who grasped the child's hands. As the grandfather sings the verse, he gives the child a "pony" ride on his leg.

The verse tells of a farmer who had a horse, the horse would not run, so the farmer wants to sell the horse.

Submitter comment:

The informant remembers her German-born father entertaining his grandchildren with this game in Kenosha, Wisconsin about 30 years ago.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Loose (very loose) translation:

Tros, Tros, tril, The Bauerhat a Phil, The Philchen will not often run, the farmer wants to sell, Tros, Tros, tril.

James Callow comment:

Original BN [C520, C750] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Donofrio, Mrs. Marie

Keyword(s): CHILDREN ; Entertainment ; ETHNIC ; Fable ; GAME ; GERMAN ; HORSE ; Play ; RHYME ; SONG

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.520

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Superstition: Pregnancy

Superstition:

A Polish pregnant woman must be shielded from the sight of cripples, any people that are ugly, abnormal or diseased for fear of "marking" the child.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: Kominski, Anna

Keyword(s): Able-ism ; Able-ist ; BELIEF ; BIRTH ; ETHNIC ; Ignorant ; POLAND ; POLISH ; PREGNANCY ; PREGNANT ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

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Proverb

That's the way the ball bounces

Submitter comment:

While Mr. DuCharme, a fellow student in a Folklore course at the University of Detroit, was giving his presentation on a comparative study of ballad variation, he used the phrase: "That's the way the cookie crumbles." I was reminded that when I was about his age, we used to say "That's the way the ball bounces." But it still means the same thing!

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ;

Keyword(s): Ball ; Bounce ; Inevitable ; LIFE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

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Proverb

That's the way the cookies crumble...

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [V600] crossed out. Replaced with current classification

Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects

Keyword(s): Cookies ; Crumble ; Inevitable

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

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Retort

Get off the table Maude. The quarter is for the beer.

Submitter comment:

This remark is sometimes said to a person who is under the influence of alcohol, such as at a party.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

What does this mean?

Where learned: ONTARIO ; Heynick, Allan ; Chatham

Keyword(s): ALCOHOL ; BEER ; COIN ; COMEBACK ; DRUNK ; Innuendo ; INSULT ; MONEY ; Quarter ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Stipper ; Table ; Wisecrack

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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Expression

To Feather Your Nest means to make your life comfortable.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; ; Shearer, Alan

Keyword(s): Comfortable ; Expression ; Feather ; Language ; LIFE ; Nest ; SLANG

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group

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Custom; Agriculture

Plant cucumbers by the dark of the moon. If you plant them by the light of the moon, they will just make vines.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; Gray, Elton Mrs

Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; Crop ; Cucumber ; Dark ; FARMING ; LIGHT ; Lore ; MOON ; PLANT ; VEGETABLE ; Vine

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Working

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