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RIDDLE

Q: A RIDDLE, A RIDDLE, AS I SUPPOSE, / A HUNDRED EYES, AND NEVER
A NOSE.
A: POTATO.

Submitter comment: I WAS ASKED THIS RIDDLE AS A YOUNGSTER AT A BIRTHDAY PARTY.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q) ; PRIVATIONAL

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 00-00-1946

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RIDDLE? MUCH LIKE SAND

Q: MUCH LIKE SAND, ONLY SWEET;/ WET, IT DISAPPEARS, COMPLETE.
A: SUGAR.

Submitter comment: I FOUND THIS ACTIVITY BOOK IN THE ATTIC. FROM:
"LOTS OF THINGS TO DO"
(AKRON, OHIO, THE SALLFIELD PUBLISHING CO., 1951) THE PAGES ARE
NOT NUMBERED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANTITHETICAL ; EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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WHAT ARE BOYS AND GIRLS MADE OF? VERSE

Q: WHAT ARE LITTLE GIRLS MADE OF?
A: SUGAR AND SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE,/ THAT'S WHAT LITTLE GIRLS
(ARE) MADE OF.
Q: WHAT ARE LITTLE BOYS MADE OF?
A: STICKS AND STONES AND PUPPY DOG BONES,/ THAT S WHAT LITTLE BOYS
ARE MADE OF.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; NATURAL ; STATE OF BEING (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle C890.400

Date learned: CHILDHOOD

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CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

Q: WHAT DID CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS SAY WHEN HE SAW A NEGRO FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
A: GOD BLESS MY HEART, GOD BLESS MY SOUL. I SAW A WALKING
TOOTSIE ROLL.

Submitter comment:

THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (A) ; ACTIONS (Q) ; EATABLES (A) ; PERSONS (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): CANDY ; RACISM

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle C890.400
RIDDLE -- Riddle Question
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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THERE WAS A LITTLE GREEN HOUSE - RIDDLE

Q: THERE WAS A LITTLE GREEN HOUSE,/ AND IN THE LITTLE GREEN HOUSE/
THERE WAS A LITTLE BROWN HOUSE,/ AND IN THE LITTLE BROWN HOUSE/
THERE WAS A LITTLE YELLOW HOUSE,/ AND IN THE LITTLE YELLOW HOUSE/
THERE WAS A LITTLE WHITE HOUSE,/ AND IN THE LITTLE WHITE HOUSE/
THERE WAS A LITTLE HEART.
A: A WALNUT.

Submitter comment: I FOUND THIS IN AN OLD MOTHER GOOSE COLORING BOOK WHICH WAS IN THE
ATTIC. THE COVER AND SOME PAGES WERE MISSING. IT IS AT LEAST TEN
YEARS OLD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BUILDINGS (Q) COLOR ; EATABLES AND DRINKS ; PART OF THE BODY (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): CUMULATIVE VERSE ; INITIAL ITERATION ; MEDIAL ITERATION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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TRUE RIDDLE

Q: UP ON A HILL IS A GREEN HOUSE,
IN THE GREEN HOUSE IS A WHITE HOUSE,
IN THE WHITE HOUSE IS A RED HOUSE WITH A LOT OF COLORED BABIES,
WHAT IS IT?
A: A WATERMELON.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; BUILDINGS (Q) ; EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; PERSONS (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): CUMULATIVE VERSE ; FINAL ITERATION ; INITIAL ITERATION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle C890.400
RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

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RIDDLE

Q: ROUND AS AN APPLE, THIN AS A KNIFE;/ ANSWER THIS RIDDLE AND I'LL
BE YOUR WIFE.
A: A DIME.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD FROM FRIEND IN DETROIT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK

Keyword(s): EATABLE (Q) ; MONETARY ITEMS (A) ; PERSON (Q) ; UTENSIL (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.545
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Proposal

Date learned: 11-25-1967

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RIDDLE - THE CAKE

Q: YOU'LL EAT THIS CAKE WITH GREAT REGRET-/ IT'S GOOD FOR NOTHING
UNTIL WET.
A: A BAR OF SOAP

Submitter comment:

I FOUND THIS ACTIVITY BOOK IN THE ATTIC.
FROM: "LOTS OF THINGS TO DO"
(AKRON, OHIO: THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING CO., 1951) THE PAGES ARE
NOT NUMBERED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; EATABLES (Q) ; EATABLES (Q) ; NOTION ITEMS (A)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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RIDDLE

Q: AS ROUND AS AN APPLE,/ AS DEEP AS A CUP,/ AND ALL THE KING'S
HORSES/ CAN'T PULL IT UP.
A: A WELL.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMALS (Q) ; EATABLES (Q) ; PARTICULAR ; PERSONS (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

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ELIZABETH RIDDLE

Q: ELIZABETH, ELSPETH, BETSY AND BESS,/ THEY ALL WENT TOGETHER TO
SEE A BIRD'S NEST./ THEY FOUND A BIRD'S NEST WITH FIVE EGGS IN,/
THEY ALL TOOK ONE AND LEFT FOUR IN.
A: ELIZABETH, ELSPETH, BETSY AND BESS ARE ALL THE SAME GIRL.

Data entry tech comment: FUNCTION: TO TEACH NICKNAMES

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMALS (Q) ; EATABLES (Q) ; NUMBERS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

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TRUE RIDDLE

Q: THOUGH GOOD FELLOWS WE ARE/ WE CAN'T HOPE TO BE SAVED; / FROM OUR
VERY FIRST DAY/ TO OUR LAST WE'RE ENSLAVED./ OUR OFFICE IS HARDEST/
AND FOOD SURE THE WORST/ BEING CRAMMED WITH RAW FLESH/ TILL WE'RE
READY TO BURST./ THOUGH LOW IN OUR STATE/ EVEN KINGS WE SUPPORT/ AND
AT BALLS HAVE/ THE PRINCIPAL SHARE OF SPORT.
A: A PAIR OF SHOES.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THAT THIS IS ONE RIDDLE SHE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER
BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY QUESTION ON A SENIOR ENGLISH EXAM AT
DETROIT'S MILLER HIGH SCHOOL AROUND 1940.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; EATABLES (Q) ; ENTERTAINMENT (Q) ; PERSONS (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME INVERSION ; SYNTAX

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 10-20-1971

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RIDDLE

Q: ROUND AS A BISCUIT,/ BUSY AS A BEE;/ CUTEST LITTLE THING/ YOU
EVER DID SEE.
A: A WATCH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ECORSE

Keyword(s): CLOTHES (A) ; EATABLES (Q) ; INSECT (Q) ; STATE OF BEING (Q)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle

Date learned: 09-12-1969

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SUPERSTITION

PLANT TOMATOES, CUKES ETC. WHEN THE ALMANAC SAYS THE MOON IS
RIGHT OR YOU WILL HAVE BLOOMS-DAY. 'ALL BLOOMS AND NO
FRUIT.'

Submitter comment: THIS SUPERSTITION WAS LEARNED IN CLARKSVILLE, MISSISSIPPI.
IT IS NOW IRRELEVANT TO THE INFORMANT.

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; CLARKSVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; CUKES=CUCUMBERS VEGETABLE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Moon
BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming

Date learned: 02-00-1971

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CORN BELIEF

A BELGIAN FRIEND, RENE CODDERS, TOLD MY HUSBAND
CORN IS FOR THE ANIMALS NOT THE PEOPLE.

Submitter comment:

A BELGIAN FRIEND, RENE CODDENS, TOLD MY HUSBAND THIS, AND
HE WILL NOT EAT CORN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PLANT VEGETABLE

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable
BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 00-00-1964

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WEATHER PROVERB

ONION'S SKIN VERY THIN
MILD WINTER COMING IN
ONION'S SKIN THICK AND TOUGH
COMING WINTER COLD AND ROUGH

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

Keyword(s): WEATHER PROVERB

James Callow Keyword(s): PREDICTION ; SYMBOL ; VEGETABLE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Plants

Date learned: 00-00-1968

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PROVRBIAL PHRASE

OUT OF LETTUCE (DOUGH)

Data entry tech comment: ORIGINAL 5 X 8 CARD INDICATES THE INFORMATION WAS RECEIVED BY LETTER

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG FOR MONEY ; VEGETABLE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase

Date learned: 10-23-1969

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PROVERB ( LITHUANIAN )

POUND THE IRON WHILE IT IS STILL HOT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ADAPTABILITY ; ADVICE: ; MALLEABLE ; STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 03-07-1968

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THE FOLLOWING HIGH SCHOOL CHEER WAS USED AT KICKOFFS IN FOOTBALL
GAMES AND AT TIPOFFS IN BASKETBALL GAMES:
"FEE FI FO FUM
LOOK OUT (OPPOSING TEAM'S NICKNAME) HERE WE COME."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): JACK AND THE BEANSTALK ; LINE FROM CANTE FABLE ; THREAT?

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival Custom Festival

Date learned: 10-00-1975

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RIDDLE

WHAT IS ORANGE AND WRITES?
A BALL POINT CARROT.

Where learned: DETROIT

Keyword(s): COLOR ; PLANT VEGETABLE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-26-1967

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RIDDLE QUESTION

HOW DO YOU CATCH A RABBIT?
HIDE BEHIND A TREE AND MAKE NOISES LIKE A CARROT.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT IS A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
WHO HEARD THE RIDDLE IN OCTOBER, 1963 FROM A FELLOW STUDENT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; TALKING VEGETABLE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

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