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GHOST STORY

"A LITTLE BOY GOT KILLED BY A TRAIN WHEN HE WAS PLAYING
ON SOME RAILROAD TRACKS. HE HAD BEEN TOLD NOT TO PLAY
ON THE TRACKS. THE TRAIN HIT HIM REAL HARD AND PULLED HIM
FOR A REAL LONG WAY. THE TRAIN CUT HIS BODY UP INTO
HUNDREDS OF PIECES. HIS MOM AND DAD WENT UP AND DOWN THE
TRACKS PICKING UP HIS BODY PARTS. IF YOU LISTEN AT NIGHT
AT THE TIME THE BOY WAS KILLED, YOU CAN HEAR HIM CALLING
TO HIS MOM AND DAD. HE SAYS,'MOMMY, HERE'S A PIECE OF ME.
AND HERE'S ANOTHER PIECE OF ME.'"

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SHAMOKIN

Keyword(s): DISOBEYED PARENTS

James Callow Keyword(s): DISMEMBERMENT BY MISFORTUNATE ACCIDENT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses

Date learned: 00001934CA

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SONG

COMET, IT MAKES YOUR TEETH TURN GREEN.
COMET, IT TASTES LIKE LISTERINE.
COMET, WILL MAKE YOUR VOMIT.
SO GET SOME COMET
AND VOMIT TODAY.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS SONG FROM A FRIEND IN SCHOOL. A FRIEND
OF HERS IS THE ONE WHO WROTE IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): COMET IS A BATHROOM CLEANSER

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest

Date learned: 00001978CA

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IF IT IS A GOOD GROWING YEAR, THE CORN WILL BE KNEE HIGH
BY THE FOURTH OF JULY.

Submitter comment: THIS BELIEF WAS PASSED TO BRIAN AS A CHILD GROWING UP IN
RURAL OHIO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.475
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- July 4 Independence Day
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- P535

Date learned: 11-02-1984 ; 00001960S

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YOU SHOULD ONLY CUT YOUR HAIR WHEN THERE'S A FULL MOON
BECAUSE THEN YOUR HAIR WILL GROW BACK THICKER AND LONGER.

Submitter comment: WHEN MY INFORMANT WAS YOUNGER, HER MOTHER ONLY CUT HER HAIR
WHEN THERE WAS A FULL MOON BECAUSE SHE WANTED HER TO HAVE
LONG, THICK HAIR. TODAY, MY INFORMANT HAS LONG HAIR.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Moon

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MY MOTHER USED TO GIVE US CASTOR OIL AND ORANGE POP
TO GET THE COLD OUT OF US.

Submitter comment: ORANGE POP COVERS UP THE BAD TASTE OF CASTOR OIL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): REMEDY

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

Date learned: 10-11-1984 ; 00001950S

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DURING THE DEPRESSION, SOUTHERN BLACK WOMEN WHO DIDN'T HAVE
THE MONEY TO BUY HAIR GREASE TO USE WHEN PRESSING THEIR HAIR
USED LARD INSTEAD.

Submitter comment: TOLD BY HER GRANDMOTHER AND PASSED ON
LARD=ANIMAL FAT

Where learned: NORTH CAROLINA ; CARTHAGE

James Callow Keyword(s): BEAUTIFICATION ; COSMETICS

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Human or animal body
BELIEF -- Body part Senses

Date learned: 00001950S

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DURING THE 1930s, BLACK WOMEN WHO DIDN'T HAVE EYEBROW
PENCILS WOULD STRIKE A MATCH, BLOW OUT THE FLAME, TAKE THE
WARM TIP AND SCRAPE IT AGAINST THE INSIDE WALL OF THE
FIREPLACE AND USE THE TIP AS AN EYEBROW LINER.

Submitter comment: SHE USED MANY GESTURES.

Where learned: NORTH CAROLINA ; CARTHAGE

James Callow Keyword(s): BEAUTIFICATION ; COSMETICS

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Human or animal body

Date learned: 10-14-1984 ; 00-00-1950

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SOUTHERN BLACKS WHO LIVED IN PITTSBURGH BELIEVED IN GIVING
THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN CASTOR OIL MIXED WITH SUGAR TO GET RID
OF A COLD.

Submitter comment: SUGAR COVERS UP THE BAD TASTE OF CASTOR OIL.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH

Keyword(s): REMEDY

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Daily Life
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 10-14-1984 ; 00001960S

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SOUTHERNERS BELIEVED THAT A PERSON WITH A COLD SHOULD BE
RUBBED DOWN WITH VICK'S VAPOR RUB ON THE FOREHEAD, CHEST, AND
BACK. THE PERSON SHOULD THEN BE PLACED UNDER HEAVY COVERS SO
THEY COULD SWEAT OUT THE COLD.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER ALWAYS RUBS ME DOWN WITH VICK'S WHENEVER I HAVE A COLD.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH

Keyword(s): MEDICINE ; REMEDY

James Callow Keyword(s): VICK'S VAPO RUB

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 10-14-1984 ; 00001960S

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FOR CONGESTED LUNGS, TAKE THREE DROPS OF TURPENTINE ON ONE
TEASPOON OF SUGAR EVERY THREE HOURS.

Submitter comment: SUGAR COVERS THE BAD TASTE OF TURPENTINE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): REMEDY

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Mineral

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PUT SOME FLAVORING ON THE GUMS FOR A TOOTHACHE.

Submitter comment: FLAVORING IS A BAKING EXTRACT.

Where learned: ALABAMA ; WAUGH

Keyword(s): REMEDY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Remedy

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PUT KEYS DOWN YOUR BACK FOR A NOSEBLEED.
ANY SET OF KEYS WILL WORK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): REMEDY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Remedy

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USE OLIVE OIL FOR AN EARACHE.

Submitter comment:

PUT THE OIL ON A COTTON BALL AND PLACE THE COTTON IN YOUR EAR.
IN ADDITION TO OLIVE OIL, CASTOR OIL AND COD LIVER OIL ARE
USED TO CURE MANY AILMENTS.
OILS ARE A "BIG" THING AMONG BLACKS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated on 11.10.13 by TRD

Keyword(s): REMEDY, Oil, Natural, Homeopathy, Earache, Ailment,

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Remedy
BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 10-08-1984

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SOME FOLKS USED TO PULL GRASS FROM THE EDGE OF THEIR
YARD AND CALL THIS "FEVER GRASS." THEY'D BOIL THE ROOTS
AND SERVE THEM AS TEA; THE TEA ACTED AS A LAXATIVE.

Submitter comment: THE LAXATIVE ONLY WORKED IF THE ROOTS THAT WERE USED
TO MAKE IT WERE FROM THE CORNER OF THE YARD.

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; PICKENS

Keyword(s): "NATURAL" REMEDY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 10-14-1984

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IF IT TOUCHES YOUR LIPS, IT GOES ON YOUR HIPS.

Submitter comment: THIS MEANS IF YOU EAT SOMETHING "FATTENING," YOU'LL GAIN
WEIGHT IN YOUR HIP AREA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DIET ; METONYMY

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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RAIN RHYME

IT'S RAINING, IT'S POURING,
THE OLD MAN IS SNORING.
BUMPED HIS HEAD
ON THE HEAD OF THE BED
AND COULDN'T GET UP
IN THE MORNING.

Submitter comment: THIS RHYME WAS SAID WHENEVER THERE WAS A THUNDERSTORM. THE
OLD MAN'S SNORING REFERRED TO THE THUNDER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; REDFORD

James Callow Keyword(s): NAME FOR GOD: OLD MAN

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.465

Date learned: 00-00-1973

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ENGINE #9 TAG RHYME

ENGINE, ENGINE, NUMBER NINE,
GOING DOWN CHICAGO LINE.
IF THE TRAIN FALL OFF THE TRACK,
DO YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK?
YES, NO, MAYBE SO?

Submitter comment: THIS WAS ANOTHER RHYME TO DETERMINE WHO WOULD BE IT IN A
GAME OF TAG. WHATEVER THE CHOICE WAS (YES, NO, MAYBE SO),
WAS SPELLED OUT. WHOEVER THE KING SAYER WAS POINTING
TO ON THE LAST LETTER WOULD NOT BE IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; REDFORD

James Callow Keyword(s): NAME FOR PERSON CHOOSING "IT" IN A GAME: KING SAYER

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.500 SQ[ 84
SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport

Date learned: 00-00-1977

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WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, MY FAMILY VISITED MY
COUSINS IN ILLINOIS ON A YEARLY BASIS.
EVERY TIME I STAYED WITH MY GRANDFATHER I ALWAYS
NOTICED THAT HE HAD A COPPER BRACLET ON.
AFTER YEARS OF QUESTIONING HIM AND GETTING NO
RESPONSE HE FINALLY TOLD ME IT WAS TO
KEEP THE ARTHRITIS DEVIL AWAY.

Submitter comment:

MY GRANDFATHER WORKED ON A FARM ALL OF HIS LIFE
AND TO THIS DAY HE DOES NOT HAVE ARTHRITIS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; TAYLOR

Keyword(s): AILMENT ; Arthritis ; Bracelet ; Copper ; CURE ; Homeopathy ; PREVENTION

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

Date learned: 00001970CA

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GARAGE BASEBALL

MY FRIEND AND I WERE SOON BORED WITH CURB BASEBALL, SO
WE DECIDED TO COME UP WITH A NEW GAME CALLED GARAGEBALL.
THIS GAME WAS ALSO PLAYED WITH ONLY TWO PEOPLE, EXCEPT THIS
TIME THE FIELDER PITCHED THE BALL AT THE GARAGE.
WHAT WAS SO UNUSUAL ABOUT THE GAME WAS THAT THE BATTER
FACED THE GARAGE INSTEAD OF THE PITCHER. TO CLARIFY THINGS UP,
THE FIELDER THROWS THE BALL AT THE GARAGE, IT BOUNCES OFF
THE GARAGE AND THE BATTER TRIES TO HIT IT. IF HE MISSES IT IS
A STRIKE, THE BATTER MUST HIT THE BALL BACK AGAINST THE
GARAGE AND THE FIELDER MUST CATCH IT OFF THE BOUNCE
IN ORDER TO GET THE BATTER OUT; IF HE MISSES IT IS A BASE
HIT. SIDES ARE SWITCHED WHEN THREE OUTS HAVE BEEN COMMITTED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS

Keyword(s): GAMES

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 07-00-1976

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"I CAN'T MOVE"

I CAN'T MOVE, CRIED BILLY TO HIS BROTHER,
PERHAPS WE HAD BETTER CALL MOTHER.
SAID WILLY TO BILLY,
YOU'RE REALLY QUITE SILLY,
YOU'VE GOT YOUR SHOELACES TIED TO EACH OTHER.

Submitter comment: HEARD THIS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND IT STILL REMAINS
MY FAVORITE LIMERICK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS

Keyword(s): LIMERICKS

James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR

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

Date learned: 00-00-1974

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