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MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN,
BLESS THESE WHEELS WE TRAVEL ON.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): PARODY ; PRAYER

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

Date learned: UNKNOWN

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LITTLE MISS MUFFET SAT ON A TUFFET,
EATING HER CURDS AND WHEY.
ALONG CAME A SPIDER AND SAT DOWN BESIDE HER,
AND SHE BEAT IT TO DEATH WITH HER SPOON.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM A FRIEND IN CLASS.

Where learned: SCHOOL ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): PARODY

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

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CRY BABY

KINDERGARTEN BABY, WASH YOUR FACE IN GRAVY!
NA NA NA NA!

Submitter comment: THIS LITTLE DITTY IS SUNG TO THE UNFORTUNATE VICTIM WHO
HAS JUST BEEN PUNISHED AND STARTS TO CRY, OR FOR ANYONE
WHO CRIES. USUALLY ONE STARTS AND ALL THE OTHERS JOIN
IN. ONCE IT GETS GOING, IT TAKES A LITTLE WHILE TO STOP.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

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

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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O ALMIGHTY DOLLAR, THY SHINING FACE
THAT SPEAKS THY MIGHTY POWER
IN MY POCKET, FIND A RESTING PLACE,
FOR I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR.
AMEN.

Where learned: SCHOOL ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): APOSTROPHE MONOLOGUE QUATRAIN ; INDIRECTION SATIRE MONEY ; METER: IAMBIC, ANAPESTIC ; MOCK-PIOUS ; RHYME: MASCULINE, IMPERFECT, ABAB

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

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
AND ALL THROUGH THE TOWN
ST. JOSEPH WAS SEARCHING,
WALKING UP ROADS AND DOWN.
OUR LADY WAS WAITING
SO MEEK AND SO MILD,
WHILE JOSEPH WAS SEEKING
A PLACE FOR THE CHILD.
THE CHILDREN WERE NESTLED,
EACH SNUG IN HIS BED;
AND THE GROWNUPS WOULDN'T BOTHER,
"THERE'S NO ROOM," THEY SAID.
WHEN EVEN THE INNKEEPER SENT THEM AWAY
AND JOSEPH WAS WONDERING WHERE THEY WOULD STAY,
HE THOUGHT OF THE CAVE IN THE SIDE OF THE HILL.
"LET'S GO THERE," SAID MARY, "IT'S SILENT AND STILL."
THE MOON ON THE BREAST
OF THE NEW FALLEN SNOW
MADE A PATHWAY OF LIGHT
FOR THEIR TIRED FEET TO GO.
AND IN THE CAVE
IN A CRADLE OF HAY
THE SAVIOR WAS BORN
ON THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS DAY!
THE FATHER WAS WATCHING
IN HEAVEN ABOVE,
AND SENT FOR HIS ANGELS,
HIS COURTIERS OF LOVE.
MORE RAPID THAN EAGLES,
GOD'S BRIGHT ANGELS CAME,
REJOICING AND EAGER,
AS EACH HEARD HIS NAME.
"COME POWERS, COME CHERUBS,
COME VIRTUES AND RAPHAEL;
COME THRONES AND DOMINIONS,
COME MICHAEL AND GABRIEL."
"NOW FLY TO THE EARTH
WHERE MY POOR PEOPLE LIVE,
ANNOUNCE THE GLAD TIDINGS
MY SON COMES TO GIVE!"
THE SHEPHERDS WERE WATCHING
THEIR FLOCKS ON THIS NIGHT;
AND SAW IN THE HEAVENS
AN UNEARTHLY LIGHT.
THE ANGELS ASSURED THEM
THEY'D NOTHING TO FEAR,
"IT'S CHRISTMAS," THEY SAID,
"THE SAVIOR IS HERE."
THEY HASTENED TO FIND HIM,
AND STOOD AT THE DOOR,
UNTIL MARY INVITED THEM IN
TO ADORE.
HE WAS SWADDLED IN BANDS
FROM HIS HEAD TO HIS FEET,
AND NEVER DID SHEPHERDS
SEE A BABY SO SWEET.
HE SPOKE NOT A WORD,
BUT THE SHEPHERDS ALL KNEW
HE WAS TELLING THEM SECRETS,
AND BLESSING THEM, TOO.
THEN SOFTLY THEY LEFT HIM,
THE BABE IN THE HAY,
AND REJOICED WITH GREAT JOY,
ON THAT FIRST CHRISTMAS DAY.
MARY HEARD THEM EXCLAIM
AS THEY WALKED UP THE HILL,
"GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST;
PEACE TO MEN OF GOOD WILL."

Submitter comment: SISTER BANKERT SAID THAT IT WAS A CUSTOM FOR MANY YEARS,
FOR THE SISTERS TO MAKE UP PICTURE BOOKS OF THIS POEM FOR
NIECES AND NEWPHEWS. SISTER GAVE ME THIS COPY IN 1953.

Data entry tech comment: VARIATION OF "THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS"

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): METER: ANAPESTIC ; PIOUS, THIRD PERSON NARRATIVE ; RELIGION CHRISTMAS NATIVITY ; RHYME: MASCULINE, ABCB

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

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PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH

YOU LOOK GOOD IN THE FACE.

Where learned: OAKVILLE ; ONTARIO, ASSUMED

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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THIS WAS COLLECTED APRIL 11, 1967 FROM MY SISTER. SHE
HEARD IT FROM HER CLASSMATES; SHE IS IN JUNIOR HIGH
SCHOOL.
WHEN TWO PEOPLE TALK AT THE SAME TIME, ONE MUST SAY
"NEEDLES AND PINS" IN ORDER TO PREVENT BAD LUCK.

Where learned: JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; WYANDOTTE

James Callow Keyword(s): FORMULA SPEECH

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Conversions Activities
SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 04-11-1967

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SOME DAYS YOU GET THE BEAR
AND OTHER DAYS THE BEAR GETS YOU.

Submitter comment: HEARD IT AT HOME

Where learned: UNION, ASSUMED

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 11-17-1967

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ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE,
YOU GO TO MAGNIFICAT, I WISH I DID, TOO.

Where learned: OHIO, ASSUMED ; NORTH OLMSTED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Roses are red and other such associations

Date learned: 00-00-1966

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DIVERS' GESTURES

THUMB AND INDEX FINGER CLOSED IN A CIRCLE, OTHER FINGERS
STRAIGHT: ALL RIGHT? AND ALL RIGHT.
HIT CHEST WITH CLOSED FIST: LOW ON AIR.
MAKE CUTTING MOTION ACROSS THROAT WITH INDEX FINGER:
OUT OF AIR.
TAKE MOUTHPIECE OUT OF MOUTH: GIVE ME AIR.
CLOSED FIST WITH THUMB POINTING UP/DOWN: LET'S
GO UP/DOWN.

Where learned: DEARBORN ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
SPEECH -- Instructions Directions

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY AND THEN MY BROTHER TAKEN SICK. THEN
MY MOTHER CAME TO MY BEDSIDE AND STOOD IN THE DOOR ONE MORNING.
I WAS LAYING THERE, I WASN'T SLEEP, AND SHE CALLED MY NAME THREE
TIMES...MARTHA...MARTHA...MARTHA. SHE SAID GO AND SEE ABOUT
BUDDY. BUDDY WAS MY BROTHER, BUT HIS NAME WAS CHARLIE. SHE SAID
HE'S SICK AND I WENT OVER TO SEE ABOUT HIM AND HE WAS SICK.
HE WAS LYING THERE SO SICK, I ASKED HIM, BUDDY, WHY DIDN'T YOU
LET ME KNOW YOU WERE SICK. HE SAID, WELL I DIDN'T WANT TO BOTHER
YOU. I SAID THAT'S NOT BOTHERING ME, I'M SUPPOSE TO HELP YOU
WHEN YOU GET SICK AND WHEN I GET SICK YOU SUPPOSE TO TAKE CARE OF
ME. IT HURTED ME SO BAD I CRIED BECAUSE HE WAS SO SICK I COULDN'T
HELP HIM. I WASHED CLOTHES AND IRONED FOR HIM AND DID OTHER
THINGS TOO. BUT HE BECAME MORE SICK AND HE PASSED AWAY AND THAT
WAS THE END OF THAT.

Submitter comment: MY GRANDMOTHER ALSO TOLD ME THAT HER SECOND HUSBAND HAD VISITED
HER AFTER HE DIED. SHE SAID SHE TOLD THE PASTOR'S WIFE ABOUT IT,
BUT SHE DIDN'T BELIEVE IT. MY GRANDMOTHER SAID IT WAS TRUE. SHE
SAID HER FIRST HUSBAND ALSO CAME TO SEE ABOUT HER. SHE SAID SHE
HAD NO REASON TO LIE. IT REALLY DID HAPPEN. SHE SAID THEY BOTH
TALKED TO HER AND JUST VANISHED AWAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; ECORSE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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THE BRIDE MUST NOT SEE THE GROOM ON THE DAY OF THE
WEDDING, UNTIL THEY MEET IN CHURCH, OR ELSE BAD LUCK
WILL FOLLOW.

Where learned: DEARBORN ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage Bride and groom must not see each other
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 06-00-1968

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EACH YEAR, BECAUSE BOTH OF THEIR BIRTHDAYS ARE
DECEMBER 17, OUR FAMILY CELEBRATES BOTH MY GRANDFATHER
AND MY FATHER'S BIRTHDAYS WITH A BIG PARTY THE SUNDAY
NEAREST THEIR BIRTHDAYS. COUSINS, AUNTS AND UNCLES,
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, ALL GATHER FOR CAKE AND ICE CREAM.

Where learned: DEARBORN ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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POLISH CUSTOM ASSUMED

THE WHITE GLOVES OF PALLBEARERS ARE PUT ON TOP OF THE
CASKET BEFORE BURIAL.

Submitter comment: OBSERVED AT GRANDMOTHER'S BURIAL.

Where learned: DEARBORN ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 11-16-1968

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COMMENT ON LAZINESS

I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT MANUAL LABOR
WAS A MEXICAN GENERAL.

Where learned: DEARBORN ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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ALWAYS MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS WITH YOUR KNIFE ON A
LOAF OF BREAD BEFORE STARTING.

Where learned: DEARBORN ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home

Date learned: CHILDHOOD

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GOOD FRIDAY

IF IT RAINS ON GOOD FRIDAY, IT WILL RAIN THE NEXT SEVEN SUNDAYS.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; OMEN ; RELIGION

Subject headings: 663 Good Friday
686 Seven / Sevenths / Several
BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour
PROVERB -- Weather Proverb

Date learned: 02-20-1968

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PROVERB

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE SELDOM FOUND IN WOMEN AND NEVER FOUND IN MEN

Where learned: DEARBORN ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

James Callow Keyword(s): COMPARISON ; DEFINITION ; OBSERVATION ; SEXISM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero
PROVERB -- Blason Populaire

Date learned: 01-21-1970

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PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM

NEVER WISH ANYONE BAD LUCK OR IT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU

Submitter comment: ITEM IS TRANSLATED FROM THE POLISH

Where learned: DEARBORN ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; RETRIBUTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 10-00-1968

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TWO IN A CAR,
TWO LITTLE KISSES,
ONE DAY LATER,
MR. AND MRS.
(SIGNED) LORENA SALI

Where learned: FERNDALE ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Matrimony

Date learned: 00-00-1959

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