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RIDDLE

Q: TO WHAT MAN DOES EVERY ONE ALWAYS TAKE OFF HIS HAT?
A: THE BARBER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): LITERAL ; PERSONS (A) ; PERSONS (Q) ; WEARABLE (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): OCCUPATIONS

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PROVERBIAL PHRASE IN VERSE FORM

ALL ARE ARCHITECTS OF FATE,
WORKING IN THE WALLS OF TIME.
SOME WITH MASSIVE DEEDS OF GREAT,
SOME WITH ORNAMENTS OF RHYME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): OBSERVATION ; OCCUPATIONS ; POETS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

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WHEN YOU SEE A CHIMNEY SWEEP, QUICKLY PULL OFF A BUTTON FROM YOUR
CLOTHING TO PREVENT BAD LUCK.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT FOUND THIS AMUSING BUT IMPRACTICAL.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK

Keyword(s): CONVERSION ; HOME, DOMESTIC PURSUITS ; OCCUPATIONS: CHIMNEY SWEEPING

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress
BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22

Date learned: 10-08-1971

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THERE IS A PLATEAU IN THE NEW MEXICAN ROCKY MOUNTAINS THAT IS SHAPED
LIKE A SKULL. THE STORY GOES THAT COWBOYS WOULD GO UP THERE LOOKING
FOR WILD HORSES THAT THEY HEARD RUNNING UP THERE BUT EVERY TIME THEY
GOT UP THERE THEY FOUND NO HORSES AND NO TRACKS. ONE DAY A NATIVE
COWBOY GOES UP THERE BY HIMSELF AND LATER COMES RACING DOWN, RUSHES
INTO THE ROOM WHERE THEY ARE ALL SITTING, DROPS TO HIS KNEES, AND
PRAYERS FOR HALF AN HOUR STRAIGHT. WHEN HE IS THROUGH HE REFUSES
TO TELL ANYONE WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM UP THERE.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS ON A CAMPING TRIP WHILE HE WAS OUT THERE.

Where learned: NEW MEXICO

James Callow Keyword(s): OCCUPATIONS

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal

Date learned: 00-00-1983 ; 11-00-1987

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THE SHANTY BOY

"AS I WALKED OUT ONE EVENING, JUST AS THE SUN WENT DOWN.
I CARELESSLY DID RAMBLE TILL I CAME TO SAGINAW TOWN.
I HEARD TWO GIRLS CONVERSING, AS SLOWLY I PASSED THEM BY;
ONE SAID SHE LOVED A FARMER'S SON, AND THE OTHER A SHANTY
BOY.
"THE ONE THAT LOVED THE FARMER'S SON, THESE WORDS I HEARD
HER SAY,
'THE REASON WHY I LOVE HIM IS AT HOME WITH ME HE'LL STAY;
HE'LL STAY AT HOME ALL WINTER, TO THE WOODS HE WILL NOT GO,
AND WHEN THE SPRINGTIME COMES AGAIN, HIS LANDS HE'LL
PLOW AND SOW.'
'I SHALL ALWAYS PRAISE MY SHANTY BOY WHO GOES TO THE
WOODS IN THE FALL,
HE IS BOTH STOUT AND HEARTY AND FIT TO STAND A SQUALL;
WITH PLEASURE I WILL GREET HIM IN THE SPRING WHEN
HE COMES DOWN.
HIS MONEY ON ME HE'LL SPEND IT FREE WHEN YOUR MOSSBACK
HE HAS NONE.'
HOW CAN YOU PRAISE YOUR SHANTY BOY WHO TO THE WOODS
DOES GO?
HE'S ORDERED OUT BEFORE DAYLIGHT TO FACE THE FROST AND SNOW,
WHILE HAPPY AND CONTENTED MY FARMER'S SON WILL LIE,
SOFT TALES OF LOVE HE'LL TELL TO ME WHILE THE STORMS
ARE BLOWING BY.'
'I NEVER CAN STAND THAT SOFT TALK,' THE OTHER GIRL DID SAY,
'THE MOST OF THEM THEY ARE SO GREEN THE COWS COULD EAT
THEM FOR HAY;
HOW EASY IT IS TO KNOW THEM WHEN THEY COME INTO TOWN,
THE SMALL BOY SHOUTING AFTER THEM, "MOSSBACK, HOW COME
YOU DOWN?'
'WHAT I'VE SAID UNKIND OF YOUR SHANTY BOY, I DO NOT
MEAN IT SO,
AND IF EVER I MEET WITH ONE OF THEM ALONG WITH HIM
I'LL GO,
AND LEAVE MY MOSSBACK FARMERS' SON TO PLOUGH AND PLANT
HIS FARM.
WHILE MY SHANTY BOY SO BOLD AND FREE WILL SAVE ME FROM
ALL HARM.

Submitter comment: THIS SONG COMES FROM NOT AN EDUCATED PERSON BUT FROM
THE HEART OF A LUMBERING CREW. IT FITS THE MENTALITY
OF THE AVERAGE LOGGING CREW.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW

Keyword(s): LOGGING SONGS ; SHANTY BOY

James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRASTED OCCUPATIONS

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

Date learned: 03-04-1990

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Custom

Chimney Sweep:

In Belgium, or Europe for that matter, each house usually had two or more chimneys. Since they needed cleaning periodically, chimney sweeps were common. Some of these were employed by the cities for the purpose. But, in each case, it was good practice to give the sweeper a good tip, for if you didn't he would play tricks on you. For instance, he might come back to clean your chimney at a future date, but not tell you. Then you would be unprepared and the soot would come into the house because you didn't close the soot door in time.

Submitter comment:

Recorded on Tape

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [M848] crossed out and replaced with F534

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; 935 FIDELITY DR ; Marcischak, Mrs Helen ; PITTSBURGH

Keyword(s): BUSINESS ; Chimney Sweep ; CUSTOM ; Gratuity ; OCCUPATIONS: CHIMNEY SWEEPING ; PRACTICAL JOKE ; TIPPING ; WORK

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business

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