The James T. Callow Computerized Folkore Archive | University of Detroit Mercy Libraries

Your search for FROG returned 10 results.

showing 10 items

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

THIS IS SET IN A LOGGING CAMP OF FRENCH-CANADIAN
LOGGERS. ALL THE LOGGERS IN THE CAMP ARE HUGE,
MUSCULAR, SIX AND A HALF FEET TALL AND
TREMENDOUSLY STRONG.
ONE DAY THE LOGGERS ARE SITTING AROUND THEIR CAMP
WHEN A LITTLE IRISHMAN COMES OUT OF THE WOODS AND
SAYS:
FOR FRENCH-CANADIANS). SO HE RUNS OFF INTO THE WOODS.
ONE BIG, MUSCULAR LOGGER GETS UP AND RUNS AFTER THE
IRISHMAN. A LITTLE WHILE LATER THERE'S THE SOUND
OF A STRUGGLE GOING ON IN THE TREES AND THE LOGGER
COMES FLYING INTO THE CAMP, ALL BROKEN AND BLOODY.
THEN THE LITTLE IRISHMAN COMES OUT OF THE TREES AND
SAYS: "HEY, FROGY." AND RUNS OFF INTO THE WOODS.
THREE HUGE, STRONG, TOUGH LOGGERS GET UP AND GO
AFTER THE IRISHMAN. PRETTY SOON, THERE'S THIS LOUD
RUMBLE IN THE WOODS AND SOUNDS OF BUSHES BEING BROKEN.
HALF THE LOGGING CAMP GOES OUT AND FINDS THE LOGGERS
SCATTERED ALL OVER THE GROUND. ALL BROKEN UP WITH
LEGS AND ARMS, ALL STRATCHED UP AND HALF DEAD.
THE LOGGERS ARE REAL MAD AND THEY GO OUT AFTER THE
IRISHMAN. BACK IN THE CAMP, THE OTHER HALF OF THE
MEN HEAR THIS TERRIBLE THUNDER NOISE AND THEY HEAR
WHOLE TREES FALLING AND BLOOD-CURDLING SCREAMS.
THEN IT'S QUIET. THEY'RE JUST ABOUT TO GO OUT AND
HELP THEIR PALS WHEN ONE LIMPING, BLACK-EYED,
BROKEN-ARMED, BLEEDING, BRUISED LOGGER CRAWLED
BACK INTO CAMP AND GASPS: "DON'T GO OUT THERE.
HE TRICKED US; THERE'S TWO OF THEM!"

Submitter comment:

HE WAS TOLD THIS BY A BRITISHER LIVING IN CANADA.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT DORMS

James Callow Keyword(s): FROGGY

Subject headings:

PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman

Date learned: 10-23-1970

View just this record

WHILE SITTING ON A HAY BALE AT THE 1989 MICHIGAN
RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL, A FRIEND AND I OVERHEARD A YOUNG BOY CALL
ANOTHER BOY A "FROGHEAD." CONTEXT: "WAIT UP, YOU FROGHEAD!"
BOTH OF US ENJOYED THE NAME SO MUCH THAT WE SPREAD IT TO OUR
FRIENDS. MY FRIENDS AND I STILL USE THE EXPRESSION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Holly

Keyword(s): FROG

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL NAME FOR HUMAN

Subject headings:

Person / Nickname

View just this record

Frogs and Pain

Years ago, people had rainbarrels. They would use the water for many purposes. With this old aunt of mine, she kept frogs in this rainbarrel. (If anyone asks, there were floats of cork in the rainbarrel that the frogs could hop on; they can't stay in the water all the time of they'd drown.) She had a good reason for it, too!

Because she was tiny and worked very hard, she had a weak back. When she would get a severe backache, she would send her son out to the rainbarrel to get a frog. Then her son would put the frog in her girdle. Now, she was tiny and wore a girdle for back support. Wherever the pain was, the frog would go and it would sit right where the pain was. When the frog died, the pain was gone. (It took about 15 minutes for the frog to die.) The frog would take the pain away!

Submitter comment:

[Question by Collector:] How did the frog know where the pain was?

[Answer by Informant:] The frog always goes to where the pain is localized. This never failed to work with her and all her children do the same. Men do the same with a tightly wrapped sheet around their backs in stead of a girdle.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Wahl, Mrs Frank

Keyword(s): ANIMAL CURE ; BACKACHE ; CURE ; FROG ; Girdle ; MEDICAL ; Medicinal ; PAIN ; Pain Remedy

Subject headings:

BELIEF -- Animal

View just this record