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THE CHRISTMASTIME LIGHTS
JUST BEFORE THE RECENT POWER BLACKOUT IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS, A VOICE
WAS HEARD TO SAY, "WAIT A MINUTE, LADY BIRD, WHILE I TEST THE
CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS."
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GAME: D.P.W.
YOU NEVER STEP ON A BLOCK OF THE SIDEWALK WHICH HAS THE D.P.W.
STAMP IN THE CORNER.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 11-17-1968
SHARP OBJECTS
NEVER GIVE A SHARP OBJECT AS A GIFT WITHOUT GIVING MONEY WITH IT,
EVEN A PENNY. THERE IS A FEAR THAT THE RECEIVER MAY COMMIT SUICIDE
IF NO KIND OF PAYMENT IS MADE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
LEGEND--SKINNING A WITCH
FOR A LONG TIME, THE NEGRO AND HIS "YALLER-'OOMAN" LIVED HAPPILY
AS MAN AND WIFE IN THEIR CABIN NEAR THE SWAMP. BUT THE MAN BEGAN
TO NOTICE A STRANGE THING ABOUT HIS WIFE. SHE WAS ALWAYS GONE
AFTER MIDNIGHT. HE DECIDED TO PLAY POSSUM AND WATCH HER. SHE GOT
UP, RAKED RED-HOT COALS ONTO THE GRIDIRON AND PULLED OUT THE
SPINNING WHEEL. THEN SHE SAT OVER THE COALS AND BEGAN TO SPIN OFF
HER SKIN UNTIL IT WAS ALL GONE AND SHE HAD TURNED INTO A LARGE
YELLOW CAT. SHE THREW THE SKIN UNDER THE BED AND LOPED OFF. THE
MAN DECIDED TO TAKE CARE OF HIS WITCH-WIFE. HE GOT UP AND POURED
HER SKIN FULL OF SALT AND PEPPER. WHEN THE WOMAN RETURNED, SHE
JUMPED INTO HER SKIN AND LET OUT A SHRIEK. THEN SHE FELL DOWN AND
DIED.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
JUMBO LYNCH
EVEN WHEN HE WAS A SMALL BOY, JUMBO WAS A POWERFUL MAN. AT THE AGE
O' TWELVE HE WAS DRIVIN' TEAM ON THE OLD WELLAND CANAL, PULLIN'
SCHOONERS FORRARDS AN' BACKARDS 'TWEEN PORT COLBORNE AN' PORT
DELHOUSIE.
ONE DAY HIS TEAM WAS PULLIN' A BIG SCHOONER INTO A HEAVY NOR' WIND.
THE TOW LINE PARTED UNDER THE STRAIN AN' THE TEAM PLUNGED FORRARD,
BREAKING THER FRONT LEGS ON THE HARD TOWPATH.
JUMBO PEELED THE HARNESS OFF THE HOSSES, GRABBED EACH ONE BY THE
EARS AN' WHIRLED 'EM AROUND HIS HEAD TILL HE HAD WRUNG THER NECKS,
JES LIKE YOU'D WRING THE NECK OF A CHICKEN. THEN WITH A NAG
THROWED OVER EACH SHOULDER, JUMBO TROTTED OFF DOWN THE TOWPATH TO
THA GLUE FACT'RY MOR'N FOUR MILES BACK AN' SOLD HIS HOSSES FOR A
DOLLAR A HEAD. THEN HE COME RUNNIN' BACK, GRABBED THE PARTED TOW
LINE, CAST A KNOB ONTO THE END OF IT AN' TOOK OFF UP THE CANAL
TOWIN' THE SCHOONER WITH ONE HAND.
THE CAPT'N TOLD EVERYBODY HOW JUMBO MADE THAT RUN IN TWO HOURS,
LESS TIME THEN ANY TEAM O' HOSSES!
Submitter comment: JUMBO LYNCH IS TO LAKES' SAILORS WHAT PAUL BUNYAN IS TO LUMBERJACKS
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Abnormal in size |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
UNDETECTED CORPSE
SOME TIME AGO A MAN WAS THROWN INTO A DITCH AFTER AN AUTO ACCIDENT. HE KEPT TRYING TO CRAWL
OUT BUT WAS ONLY SCRAPING THE SIDE. SOME
TWO WEEKS LATER SOME PEOPLE FOUND HIS BODY IN THE DITCH, WITH HIS
HANDS TORN UP AND THE WALLS ALL GOUGED OUT.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 11-19-1968
FABLE: THE LOST DONKEY
ONE TIME, TWO TRUE FRIENDS WERE WALKING ON THE SAME ROAD. WHILE
WALKING LIKE THIS, THEY SAW A LOST DONKEY. WITH JOY THEY BOTH
RAN TO HIM AND STARTED ARGUING. ONE SAYS:
"I SAW HIM FIRST! HE SHOULD BELONG TO ME!" BUT THE SECOND ONE
SAID THE SAME THING. AS THEY ARGUED MORE, THEY BEGAN TO FIGHT.
BUT THE DONKEY WASN'T DUMB; WHILE THE TWO WERE FIGHTING, HE HID
IN THE BUSHES.
MORAL: WHERE TWO ARE FIGHTING, OFTEN THE THIRD ONE WINS.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS TRANSLATED BY RAMUNE STONYS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NOT GIVEN
WHEN WALKING BY A BARREL, A SNAKE CALLED OUT TO THE MAN TO SAVE
HIM. WHEN THE MAN PULLED HIM OUT RELUCTANTLY BECAUSE HE WAS
AFRAID THE SNAKE WOULD BITE HIM, THE SNAKE IMMEDIENTLY DID BITE
THE MAN. WHEN ASKED WHY HE BIT THE ONE WHO HELPED HIM HE
ANSWERED, "YOU KNEW I WAS A SNAKE ALL OF THE TIME."
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
Date learned: 09-00-1968
NOT GIVEN
ONCE UPON A TIME, A BEAR AND A TURTLE BOASTED OF THEIR STRENGTH.
THE BEAR TOLD THE TURTLE HE COULD JERK HIM A MILE. TO DEMONSTRATE
THIS THE BEAR GOT A 100 FOOT CHAIN AND TOOK ONE END AND GAVE THE
TURTLE THE OTHER. THE TURTLE SAID HE COULD NOT DO ANY PULLING
ON LAND BUT HE COULD OVERMATCH THE BEAR IN THE WATER. SO, HE TOOK
HIS END OF THE CHAIN AND TIED IT TO A STUMP UNDER WATER AND
HOLLERED, "READY!" THE BEAR RARED BACK WITH ALL HIS MIGHT BUT
HE COULD NOT OUT PULL THE TURTLE. AFTER ABOUT THREE ATTEMPTS
THE TURTLE POKED HIS HEAD ABOVE THE WATER AND SAID: "BROTHER
BEAR, I TOLD YOU I WAS THE STRONGEST. YOU DIDN'T EVEN 'PULL
UP THE SLACK.'" THE TURTLE WON THE BET WITHOUT AN EFFORT.
ONCE, A RABBIT AND A TURTLE HAD A BET WHO WAS THE FASTEST RUNNER.
THE TURTLE PLACED HIS TWIN BROTHER AT THE END OF THE TRACK.
WHEN THE GONG WENT OFF THE RABBIT WENT "STRAIT" TO THE GOAL
AT RAPID SPEED THINKING HE HAD WON THE BET TO FIND THE TWIN
TURTLE SHOWED UP IN FRONT. HE WON THE BET, WITHOUT RUNNING AT
ALL.
ONCE UPON A TIME A LITTLE RED HEN FOUND SOME GRAINS OF WHEAT:
SHE ASKED THE GOOSE, THE TURKEY, THE RABBIT IF THEY WOULD HELP
HER PLANT THEM; ALL SAID NO. SO SHE PLANTED THEM AND AFTER THE
WHEAT MATURED, SHE ASKED: WHO WILL HELP ME GATHER THE WHEAT?
ALL REPLIED: "I WON'T." SHE GATHERED IT HERSELF; AND THEN
ASKED WHO WOULD HELP CARRY IT TO THE MILL: ALL REPLIED: "I
WILL NOT." SO SHE CARRIED IT AND HAD IT MADE INTO FLOUR AND IT
WAS COOKED INTO BREAD AND THEN SHE ASKED WHO WOULD HELP EAT IT.
ALL REPLIED, "I WILL." SHE SAID "I WILL EAT IT MYSELF; SINCE
I HAD ALL THE TROUBLE ALONE."
BROTHER FOX BUILT A NEW HOUSE AND INVITED TURKEYS, GEESE AND
DUCKS TO A PARTY. ALL CAME AND WENT IN EXCEPT THE WISE, OLD
GOOSE. AFTER AWHILE BROTHER FOX INQUIRED OF MISS GOOSE WHY SHE
DIDN'T COME IN. ALL THE OTHERS CAME IN. SHE SAID, "SO I SEE,
BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THEM COME OUT."
ALL THE FEROCIOUS ANIMALS MET TO PROVE WHO RULED THE JUNGLES.
THE LION SAID HE DID, THE ELEPHANT SAID HE DID, THE TIGER SAID
HE DID, THE GORILLA SAID HE DID AND THE BEAR SAID HE DID. TO
PROVE WHO WAS THE MOST POWERFUL, THEY SELECTED A BATTLE ZONE,
WHICH INCLUDED A BED OF SKUNKS. TO PROTECT HIS HOUSEHOLD, THE
SKUNK RELEASED HIS GAS, AND ALL THE ANIMALS LEFT WITHOUT PROVING
WHO WAS BOSS. THE SKUNK PROVED HE IS THE BOSS.
Submitter comment:
MR. WRIGHT'S GRANDFATHER, STEPHEN SAPP, WAS A BLACKSMITH WHO
MADE PLOWS, FIXED WAGONS AND BUGGIES, SHOED HORSES. HE WAS
THE ONLY BLACKSMITH IN THE WHOLE COUNTY AND HE WAS SO INDIS-
PENSIBLE THAT HE WAS NEVER SUBJECT TO SLAVERY. HE WOULD TELL
A PROFUSION OF STORIES.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
FABLE
TWO FOXES LIVED CLOSE BY. ONE SAID, "I'M GOING TO EAT ALL THE
CHICKENS I CAN." THE OTHER SAID, "IM GOING TO EAT ONLY WHAT I
NEED AND GO BACK TOMORROW FOR MORE." THE STUFFED FOX DIED ON
HIS WAY HOME BECAUSE HE ATE SO MUCH. THE OTHER FOX WAS SHOT BY
THE FARMER THE NEXT DAY. WHO WAS RIGHT?
Submitter comment: TAKEN FROM AN OLD TEXTBOOK IN NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA, ABOUT 1925.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
THE DOG IN THE BAR
A HOMOSEXUAL CAME INTO A BAR WITH A HUGE GERMAN SHEPARD AND
ORDERED A DRINK. THE BARTENDER COULD TELL BY THE MAN'S VOICE
THAT HE WAS QUEER. HE REFUSED, THEN, TO SERVE HIM A DRINK.
THE HOMOSEXUAL SAID TO THE BARTENDER: "GIVE ME A DRINK OR
I'LL SICK MY DOG ON YOU." THE BARTENDER ADAMANTLY REFUSED.
THIS HAGGLING WENT ON FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES UNTIL FINALLY
THE HOMOSEXUAL SAID "SICK HIM ROVER" WHEREUPON THE DOG JUMPED
UP ON THE BAR AND SAID "BOW WOW."
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SOUTH AFRICAN TRIBAL BELIEF
ZULUS--A SOUTH AFRICAN TRIBE NEAR PETER'S HOME--DESPISE THE
CHAMELEON. THEY SAY THEIR GOD MADE IT ONE OF THE SLOWEST
CREATURES ON EARTH TO PUNISH IT.
ONCE, AS THE STORY GOES, THE CHAMELEON WAS SO SWIFT THE ZULUS
CALLED ON IT TO CARRY A MESSAGE TO THEIR GOD TO SAVE THEM FROM
A GREAT DISASTER. THE CHAMELEON ARRIVED TOO LATE TO PREVENT THE
TRAGEDY BECAUSE IT DAWDLED ON THE WAY.
ANOTHER STORY BLAMES THE CHAMELEON FOR ROBBING MAN OF ETERNAL
LIFE. THE CREATOR SENT THE CHAMELEON TO TELL MAN HE WOULD LIVE
FOREVER. A MISCHIEVOUS ORDINARY LIZARD OVERTOOK THE CHAMELEON
AND TOLD THE PEOPLE THEY WOULD DIE. WHEN THE CHAMELEON BROUGHT
THE TRUE MESSAGE, NO ONE BELIEVED IT.
TODAY, MANY SOUTH AFRICAN TRIBESMEN KILL THE CHAMELEONS THEY COME
ACROSS AS PUNISHMENT. ORDINARY LIZARDS ALSO ARE KILLED FOR
BRINGING THE BAD NEWS.
Submitter comment:
FROM "CHAMELEON TONGUE HAS BOARDINGHOUSE REACH," IN "NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHIC SCHOOL BULLETIN," VOL. 42, NO. 15, (JAN. 27, 1964),
P. 237.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Creation and Order of Human Life |
FROGS CROAKING
THE CROAKING OF FROGS BRINGS RAIN.
Submitter comment: FROM A BOOK.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Legend |
Date learned: 10-30-1967
NOT GIVEN
THE COMMON DRAGONFLY WAS CALLED THE "FLYING SEWING NEEDLE" AND
THERE WAS A WIDESPREAD BELIEF AMONG THE YOUNG OF THE TOWN THAT
IF ONE CAUGHT YOU OFF YOUR GUARD, IT WOULD SEW UP YOUR LIPS AND
THEY WOULD STAY LIKE THAT FOREVER.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Legend |
PROTECTION FROM "EVIL EYE"
MOSLEMS BELIEVE THAT THE FIVE FINGERS OF THE HAND OR ANY DESIGN OR
PHRASE ASSOCIATED WITH THE NUMBER FIVE WILL PROTECT AGAINST THE
"EVIL EYE" OR VARIOUS EVILS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NORSE BELIEF
WHEN THEY WERE OUT ON ICE THEY EAT FISH RAW BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE
THAT THE RAW FISH HAS SOME KIND OF VITAMIN WHICH GIVE OFF INTERNAL
HEAT.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NOT GIVEN
WHEN MRS. MURPHY WAS YOUNG, THERE WAS A GREAT FEAR OF LIGHTNING
IN HER HOME. HER MOTHER SINCERELY BELIEVED THAT, DURING AN
ELECTRICAL STORM, IF SHE CLOSED ALL THE DOORS AND WINDOWS IN THE
HOUSE AND TURNED OFF EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL, THEN LIGHTNING WOULD
NOT STRIKE THE HOUSE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 05-22-1965
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU ENTER A FRONT DOOR THEN YOU SHOULD LEAVE ALSO BY THE FRONT
DOOR OR ELSE YOU GET COMPANY.
Submitter comment: FROM INFORMANT'S GRANDPARENTS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 10-05-1967
RUSSIAN SUPERSTITION
BEFORE A MOVE OR A JOURNEY, PEOPLE SIT DOWN A FEW MOMENTS FOR LUCK.
Submitter comment:
TAKEN FROM A FOOTNOTE ON PAGE 52 IN "DOCTOR ZHIVAGO," (NEW YORK:
PANTHEON BOOKS, INC., 1958).
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SUPERSTITION
THROW FOOD AT THE CEILING AND IF IT STICKS IT WILL BE A
PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.
Submitter comment: HANK LEARNED THIS FROM HIS GRANDPARENTS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Observation CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve |
Date learned: 12-01-1967