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The Sun and the Wind

The Wind decided one day that he was the strongest creature
in the sky. As soon as the Sun came out that day, he said, "My
friend the Sun, let's have a contest to see who is stronger?"
This idea did not seem very good to the kindly Sun, who had only
just come out, "If you please, Wind, I would just as soon not do
that. I have a long day ahead of me to spread my sunshine." I
believe you know I am stronger than you. I will find someone
else to play this game with me." At this the Sun became a bit
annoyed with the Wind and decided after all that he would be
willing to try his strength. "How shall we play our game?" said
the Sun. "I know," said the Wind. "There's a traveler down
below who is wearing a heavy coat. Let's see who can get that
coat off the traveler's back. I'll go first." The Wind blew as
hard as he could. But whenever the Wind blew, the traveler
wrapped his coat tighter and tighter about him. Finally the Wind
could blow no more. Then the Sun turned on his kindly rays and
warmed the traveler up until the man had no need for his coat.
Soon enough, the man took off his coat and carried it on his arm.
"You win," said the Wind, who had learned a Lesson. KINDLY
ACTIONS CAN DO MORE THAN FORCE.

Submitter comment: My informant remembers reading this fable in Aesop.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Sun
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Wind Whirlwind Hurricane Cyclone Tornado
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale

Date learned: 11-00-1991

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The Ant and the Grasshopper

All day long all through the warm days of summer, a green
grasshopper went happily about. Whenever the grasshopper was
thirsty, he would sip nectar from any plant he saw. One
afternoon, as the grasshopper was leaping from flower to flower,
he saw beneath him a little black ant struggling to carry a fat
leaf bigger than himself. "Little friend," said the grasshopper,
"What are you doing down there?" "Why, I am carrying this leaf
off to my nest. I must fill my nest with food to last through
winter." "Winter?" said the grasshopper. "Who cares about
winter? Why don't you climb up to this flower and enjoy its
sweet nectar? Winter will take care of itself." "That isn't the
way things work in this world," said the ant. "Winter will be
here soon. The flowers will be gone, and there will be nothing
to eat." "Well, suit yourself," said the grasshopper. And off
he went, singing happily and having no cares at all. The ant
returned to carry each leaf, but he did not mind. He knew he
would have enough to last the winter. Soon the cold weather
came. The ant was snug in his
nest with plenty of food to eat. The grasshopper? He had
nothing to eat and soon was no more. A WISE PERSON KNOWS THAT
SUMMER DOES NOT LAST FOREVER.

Submitter comment: My informant remembers reading this fable in Aesop.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

Keyword(s): Nectar = A sweet liquid secreted by plants

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale
BELIEF -- Measure of time Winter

Date learned: 11-00-1991

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Cure

To avoid the swelling of a minor contusion; one should cover
the contusion with a heavy piece of metal and press. When the
metal feels hot on the contusion, remove it. There will be no
swelling, but there might be discoloration of the skin.

Submitter comment: My informant received this information from her grandmother
when she was a young girl.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

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Cure

To remove the pinkeye; one should take the milk from a woman
who is breast feeding and put a few drops into the eye for two
days.

Submitter comment: The informant's mother told her to do this for her son and it
worked.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

Subject headings: 686 Seconds / Twice / Two
BELIEF -- Birth
BELIEF -- Animal

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Enemies

A woman who practices "who-do" told her this when she visited
relatives in Chester County, Tennessee. To get rid of someone
that is no longer welcomed in your home, one should pour salt on
the doorway when the person leaves and sweep the salt out on the
ground.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

James Callow Keyword(s): Hoodoo

Subject headings: Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration
Favorites
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Wall Partition Door Window
BELIEF -- Earth
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 02-10-1992

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How To Become Invisible

Find a black cat. On a full moon go to where the roads cross
and boil a kettle of water. Drop the cat into the water. Boil
the flesh off the bones. Put the bone between your eyes and then
in your mouth. This will allow you to become invisible. Take
the bone out of your mouth and you will become visible again.

James Callow comment: See Hyatt 5: nos. 10061, 10076, 10078, 10082-10086, 10091-
10095, etc. for the invisibility (disappearance) effect. Also
see Hyatt 1: 74-97 for an earlier section on the black cat bone.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

Subject headings: Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration
Favorites
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Moon
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
BELIEF -- Color

Date learned: 02-10-1992

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To Remove A Mole

In the south people would use a strand of horse hair and
heavy oil to remove a hanging mole. Put a lot of heavy grease on
the mole and very tightly tie the horse hair on the mole. Keep
the hair tied on the mole for three days and the mole will fall
off.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
BELIEF -- Animal
BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 02-10-1992

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Cure

To stop a keloid from growing, one should place the keloid on
the face of a dead love one.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

James Callow Keyword(s): Loved one

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 02-10-1992

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Content filter on this entry.

There was a man who urined in the woods quite often. A
friend told him that if he kept it up the snakes would become
very mad with him and trace his scent one day. Later as the days
went by the man decided to urine on a rock; to the man this was a
lot of fun.
While wetting the rock a snake bit him on his penis and the man
began to panic, fearing that he would die. His friend went for
help to the nearest doctor. He returned to the man in pain and
told him that the doctor's only cure for him to live would be to
suck the poison from his penis. They both looked at each other
and the friend told him, "Well my friend I told you to stop
urining out in the woods because the snakes didn't like it, so I
guess the snakes have won because you will have to die!"

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

James Callow Keyword(s): Urinated urinating

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 02-10-1992

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If you skin your knee or elbow let a dog lick it for two days
and it will heal.

Submitter comment: This is what her father told her to do when she was younger
and she said it worked and felt a lot better than alcohol.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

Subject headings: 686 Seconds / Twice / Two
BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Animal

Date learned: 02-10-1992

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IT IS CONSIDERED A SIGN OF GOOD LUCK TO "STAMP"
THE FIRST FEW ROBINS ONE SEES IN THE SPRING. THIS
MERELY CONSISTS OF LICKING THE THUMB AND THEN
PLACING THE WET SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE OTHER
HAND. THEN THIS SPOT IS "STAMPED" A COUPLE OF
TIMES WITH THE OTHER FIST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck Animals
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 11-01-1968

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LEGEND OF THE DUNE COVERED LUMBER CAMP ON LAKE

THERE IS SAID TO BE AN OLD LUMBER VILLAGE WHICH WAS
ABANDONED AND EVENTUALLY COVERED UP BY THE SAND OF THE
DOONS {DUNES} NEAR THE LAKE MICHIGAN. WHEN THE WIND
BLOWS VERY HARD, THOUGH, YOU CAN SEE THE TOPS OF THE
HOUSES. THIS PLACE IS CALLED GOSHORN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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LEGEND: WHY BURNT CHIPS ALWAYS FLOAT UP ALONG SHORE ON LAKE

SOMEWHERE AROUND THE 1920'S A MAN WHO WAS QUITE RICH SAILED IN HIS
YACHT BETWEEN BENTON HARBOR AND PORT HURON. HIS WIFE HAD DIED,
AND HE WAS VERY DESPONDENT. ONE NIGHT NEAR BENTON HARBOR, HIS
BOAT, WHICH HAD HE AND HIS THREE CREWMEN ABOARD, CAUGHT FIRE.
RESCUE EFFORTS FAILED AND THE BOAT FINALLY SANK OFF GLEN,
MICHIGAN. EVEN TODAY BURNT CHIPS STILL FLOAT UP ALONG THE SHORE
OF THE BIG LAKE.

Data entry tech comment: BENTON HARBOR AND PORT HURON, MICHIGAN, ARE ON LAKE HURON,

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Air Weather Fire
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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LEGEND OF THE DUNE COVERED LUMBER CAMP ON LAKE

THERE IS SAID TO BE AN OLD LUMBER VILLAGE WHICH WAS
ABANDONED AND EVENTUALLY COVERED UP BY THE SAND OF THE
DOONS {DUNES} NEAR THE LAKE MICHIGAN. WHEN THE WIND
BLOWS VERY HARD, THOUGH, YOU CAN SEE THE TOPS OF THE
HOUSES. THIS PLACE IS CALLED GOSHORN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 11-00-1968

View just this record

LEGEND: WHY BURNT CHIPS ALWAYS FLOAT UP ALONG SHORE ON LAKE

SOMEWHERE AROUND THE 1920'S A MAN WHO WAS QUITE RICH SAILED IN HIS
YACHT BETWEEN BENTON HARBOR AND PORT HURON. HIS WIFE HAD DIED,
AND HE WAS VERY DESPONDENT. ONE NIGHT NEAR BENTON HARBOR, HIS
BOAT, WHICH HAD HE AND HIS THREE CREWMEN ABOARD, CAUGHT FIRE.
RESCUE EFFORTS FAILED AND THE BOAT FINALLY SANK OFF GLEN,
MICHIGAN. EVEN TODAY BURNT CHIPS STILL FLOAT UP ALONG THE SHORE
OF THE BIG LAKE.

Data entry tech comment: BENTON HARBOR AND PORT HURON, MICHIGAN, ARE ON LAKE HURON, NOT

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Air Weather Fire
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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TOO GOOD FOR WORDS

WHEN TWO INDIVIDUALS (USUALLY ATHLETES) SLAP THE PALMS
OF THEIR HANDS TOGETHER, THEY ARE MAKING A GESTURE OF
MUTUAL CONGRATULATION. IF BOTH HANDS OF BOTH PERSONS
ARE SLAPPED THE MEANING IS REINFORCED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

Subject headings: 602 Body Parts
686 Seconds / Twice / Two
SPEECH -- Congratulations Appreciation

Date learned: 09-15-1969

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A GESTURE MEANING THE INVERSE OF SYMPATHY: WET ONE
FINGER TIP (RIGHT HAND TO LEFT EYE) IN THE NEAREST
WATER SOURCE, BUT NOT YOUR MOUTH, AND THEN PROCEEDING
TO PUT A FALSE TEARDROP IN YOUR EYE. VERY SARCASTIC.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Mock sympathy and mock enthusiasm

Date learned: 00001960S

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THIS IS A GESTURE WHICH I USED TO OBSERVE IN MY HOME
TOWN OF LANSING {MICHIGAN}. THE FOREFINGER OF ONE
HAND IS DRAWN BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE THUMB OF
THE SAME HAND. IT IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT THE
WORLD'S SMALLEST VIOLIN PLAYING "MY HEART CRIES FOR
YOU." IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS USED AS AN EXPRESSION
OF MOCK SYMPATHY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

Keyword(s): SARCASM

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Mock sympathy and mock enthusiasm

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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THIS IS A GESTURE WHICH I USED TO OBSERVE IN MY
HOME TOWN OF LANSING {MICHIGAN}. THE FOREFINGER
OF ONE HAND DESCRIBES A CIRCLE ON THE THUMB OF THE
SAME HAND. IT IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT THE WORLD'S
SMALLEST RECORD PLAYER PLAYING "MY HEART CRIES FOR
YOU." IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS AN EXPRESSION OF
MOCK SYMPATHY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing

Keyword(s): SARCASM

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Mock sympathy and mock enthusiasm

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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HOW DRY I AM

HOW DRY I AM,
HOW WET I'LL BE
IF I DON'T FIND
THE BATHROOM KEY.

Submitter comment:

KEYPUNCHER NOTES THAT SHE KNOWS ANOTHER VERSE TO THIS SONG.
IT FOLLOWS.
I FOUND THE KEY,
IT WAS TO LATE.
FOR THERE IT WAS
UPON THE FLOOR
AND IT WASN'T GINGERALE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing ; Jaskolski, Robert

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest

Date learned: 09-15-1969

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