Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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BLOODY BONES
THERE WAS THIS LITTLE BOY AND HIS MOTHER SENT HIM TO
THE STORE TO GET SOME LIVER. BUT INSTEAD THE LITTLE
BOY BOUGHT CANDY. ON HIS WAY HOME HE PASSED A GRAVEYARD
AND DECIDED TO GO DIG UP A LIVER TO TAKE HOME. HE CAME
TO A HEADSTONE WITH THE NAME BLOODY BONES ON IT AND BEGAN
TO DIG. AT DINNER, EVERYONE RAVED ABOUT HOW GOOD THE
LIVER WAS. AFTER DINNER EVERYONE WENT TO BED, BUT WHILE
THE BOY WAS SLEEPING HE HEARD A VOICE. THE VOICE SAID,
"BLOODY BONES GONNA GET YA TONIGHT. BLOODY BONES IN
YOUR CLOSET TONIGHT." FRIGHTENED, THE BOY RAN INTO THE
KITCHEN, BUT THE VOICE FOLLOWED AND SAID, "BLOODY BONES
GONNA GET YA TONIGHT. BLOODY BONES IN THE KITCHEN TONIGHT."
HE TRIED TO ESCAPE BY GOING INTO HIS PARENTS' ROOM BUT
BLOODY BONES FOLLOWED HIM. FINALLY, BLOODY BONES KILLED
HIM AND TOOK HIS LIVER.
Submitter comment:
THE STORY WAS TOLD TO THE INFORMANT TO FRIGHTEN HER INTO
OBEYING. IF SHE DID SOMETHING WRONG HER GRANDFATHER
WOULD SAY, "BLOODY DONES GONNA GET YA!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): COMPENSATION AND POETIC JUSTICE ; FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: 04-00-1983
Entry filtered.
A BLIND MAN WALKS INTO A STORE WITH HIS SEEING EYE DOG,
AND STARTS TO SWING HIM AROUND BY HIS TAIL. THE
CLERK THEN SAID, "CAN I HELP YOU SIR?" THE BLIND MAN
REPLIED, "NO THANKS, I AM JUST LOOKING AROUND!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-00-1983
SODA POP CELEBRITIES
WHAT DOES MICHAEL JACKSON AND RICHARD PRYOR HAVE IN COMMOM?
RICHARD PRYOR WAS BURNED BY COKE AND MICHAEL JACKSON WAS BURNED
BY PEPSI.
Where learned: DETROIT ; PARENTS HOME
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: 02-20-1984
Entry filtered.
HOW MANGO-STEEN (A THAI FRUIT) WAS NAMED
"A 'FALANG' (WESTERNER) ASKED A THAI SALESWOMAN AT A THAI
FRUITMARKET WHAT THE NAME OF A FRUIT WAS. BECAUSE HE ONLY KNEW
MANGO (ANOTHER KIND OF FRUIT), HE ASKED IF THIS FRUIT WAS A MANGO
SINCE HE HAD NEVER ACTUALLY SEEN ONE. SHE REPLIED, 'NO. IT'S
CALLED "MUNG-KOOT."' HE MISUNDERSTOOD AND ASKED AGAIN IF IT WAS
A MANGO TO WHICH SHE REPLIED AS BEFORE. AFTER MANY EXCHANGES
AND FRUSTRATION, THE WOMAN REPLIED THAT IT'S CALLED 'MANGO-SOAN-
TEEN' WHICH MEANS 'MANGO-AT-THE-BOTTOM-OF-THE-FOOT.' THE NAME IS
STILL USED TODAY BUT IS SHORTENED TO 'MANGO-STEEN.'"
Submitter comment:
THE THAIS REFER TO THE FOOT AS THE LOWEST PART OF THE BODY. TO
USE IT WHEN REFERRING TO SOMETHING, AND ESPECIALLY SOMEONE, IS
CONSIDERED VERY IMPOLITE.
THIS IS A POPULAR STORY IN THAILAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
THAI STORY
"A FALANG (WESTERNER) WAS ON A RIVERBOAT IN THAILAND AND SOMEHOW
SLIPPED OVERBOARD INTO THE RIVER. ONE OF THE OTHER PEOPLE GRABBED
A LADDER AND ATTEMPTED TO HELP HIM. HE SHOUTED TO THE MAN IN THE
WATER TO GRAB THE LADDER IN THAI LANGUAGE. 'GAW-GAH-DAI! GAW-
GAH-DAI!' HE SHOUTED. HEARING THIS THE FALANG SWAM EVEN FASTER
BECAUSE HE THOUGHT THE MAN WAS SHOUTING 'CROCODILE! CROCODILE!'"
Submitter comment: "GAW-GAH-DAI" MEANS "GRAB THE LADDER" IN THAI LANGUAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
BLACK-AMERICAN TALE
ONCE ON A SOUTHERN PLANTATION, THE BUTLER, MOSES,
A HOUSE SLAVE WOULD TATTLE TO THE MASTER ABOUT
EVERYTHING THE HOUSE AND FIELD SLAVES DID. ON
ONE OCCASSION, MOSES TOLD THE MASTER THAT A
FIELD SLAVE HAD STOLEN SOME FOOD. THE MASTER
TOOK THE THIEF TO THE RIVER AND THREW HIM IN.
LATER, DURING A PARTY AT THE BIG HOUSE, MOSES
TOOK A STROLL DOWN NEAR THE RIVER. HE SAW
A SKELETON. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, THE
SKELETON SPOKE, SAYING, "TEETH AND TONGUE
BROUGHT ME HERE". MOSES INQUIRED, "WHAT?"
THE SKELETON REPLIED, "TEETH AND TONGUE
BROUGHT ME HERE". MOSES, BIG EYED AND
VERY FRIGHTENED, SCURRIED BACK TO THE
BIG HOUSE CRYING FOR HIS MASTER.
THE MASTER, PERTURBED AT BEING DISTURBED DURING
HIS PARTY, ASKED MOSES WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM.
MOSES TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD SEEN A TALKING
SKELETON AT THE RIVER. THE MASTER WARNED
MOSES ABOUT DISTURBING HIS PARTY WITH SUCH
FOOLISHNESS. MOSES PERSISTED WITH HIS ACCOUNT
OF THE TALKING SKELETON DOWN NEAR THE RIVER.
THE MASTER, TIRED OF MOSES' SILLY BABBLING, DE-
CIDED TO CHECK THE RIVER. HOWEVER, HE WARNED
MOSES THAT IF HE WAS LYING, HE WOULD KILL HIM.
THEY RUSHED TO THE RIVER AND COULD NOT FIND
THE TALKING SKELETON. THE MASTER SHOT MOSES
AND LEFT HIM BY THE RIVER TO DIE BEFORE RE-
TURNING TO HIS PARTY. WHILE MOSES LAY DYING,
BY THE RIVER, THE SKELETON REAPPEARED SAYING
"TEETH AND TONGUE BROUGHT ME HERE."
Submitter comment: LEGEND TOLD BY GRANDFATHER WHEN WE TATTLED.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: 00001950S
ONCE THERE WAS A SMALL VILLAGE IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE A VALLEY. IN
THE VILLAGE THERE LIVED A FAMILY WITH A SCHOOL-AGED CHILD NAMED
SANJAY. EACH DAY DURING CROP SEASON THE FAMILIES THAT LIVED IN THE
VILLAGE WOULD GO DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO THE VALLEY TO WORK WITH THE
CROPS. SANJAY DIDN'T LIKE GETTING UP IN THE MORNING TO WORK THE
CROPS, SO HE WOULD WAIT UNTIL MOST OF THE FAMILIES WERE DOWN THE
MOUNTAIN. THEN HE WOULD YELL "FIRE! FIRE!" AND ALL THE FAMILIES
WOULD RUSH BACK TO THE VILLAGE AND THE DAY OF WORK WOULD BE LOST.
ONE DAY THERE WAS A REAL FIRE. WHEN SANJAY YELLED "FIRE! FIRE!"
NO ONE CAME UP THE MOUNTAIN. THE VILLAGE BURNED DOWN AND SANJAY
DIED IN THE FIRE.
Submitter comment:
STORY WAS LEARNED IN GRADE SCHOOL. THE NAME OF THE BOY COULD
BE CHANGED TO FIT THE CLASS IN SCHOOL.
James Callow comment: LIKE THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
Entry filtered.
JOKE
"WHAT SUPERB GRAPEFRUIT!" EXCLAIMED A VISITOR TO TEXAS AS
HE PASSED A CITRUS GROVE. "OH, OUR LEMONS ARE A LITTLE
SMALL NOW," SAID THE TEXAN NONCHALANTLY. "WE'VE HAD A
BAD SEASON, YOU KNOW." A LITTLE FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD
THE VISITOR REMARKED ON THE SIZE AND COLOR OF SOME
FLOWERS. "JUST SOME LITTLE OL' WEEDS, " THE TEXAN SAID
MODESTLY. FINALLY THEY CAME TO THE RIO GRANDE. "HMM-M"
MURMURED THE VISITOR, "SOMEONE'S RADIATOR MUST BE
LEAKING!"
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
James Callow Keyword(s): SIZE
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |
Date learned: 04-00-1990
Wait'll Martin Comes
A man decided to spend the night in a haunted house on a
dare. He was reading and all of a sudden he saw two cats
come in. One asked the other "What'll we do with im?"
The other says "Wait'll Martin comes."
Soon another cat came in, one bigger than the first two.
He asked the other two "What'll we do with im?"
The others say, "Wait'll Martin comes."
The man is scared but keeps his calm.
Soon however, a great big black cat comes strolling in.
He asks the other three cats, "What'll we do with im?"
The others say "Wait'll Martin comes."
The man runs out the door saying,
"Tell Martin I couldn't wait!"
Submitter comment:
I learned this while we were camping with my cousins
telling ghost stories
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; Hampton
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: OOOO1970s
TALES
THE POPULAR TALES OF RAT'S TALES FOUND IN COCA-COLA BOTTLES OR
SPIDER'S NESTS IN GIRLS' UNCOMBED HAIR ARE USUALLY UNTRUE; BUT
THEY CIRCULATED AS HAVING OCCURED IN MY HOMETOWN WHEN I WAS A
CHILD. FOR EXAMPLE: POTATO STICKS USED TO BE CANNED IN REPAINTED
BUDWEISER CANS. AS CHILDREN WE ASSUMED THAT THEY WERE USED CANS
THAT HAD HAD BEER IN THEM AT ONE TIME, SO BOYS WERE PROUD TO
FIND AS MANY AS THEY COULD.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
THE SORCERERS STONE OR THE SNAKE QUEEN
MANY YEARS AGO IN THE POLISH CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS, THERE
LIVED A POOR MAN NAMED BACA. HE LIVED IN A HOUSE MADE
OUT OF CLAY AND HAD A SMALL FLOCK OF SHEEP AND TWO BEST
FRIENDS WHO WERE A CAT AND A DOG.
HE WAS RENTING A SMALL VALLEY FROM A LANDLORD. EVERY
YEAR THE POOR MAN HAD TO PAY FOR IT AND IT WAS VERY
HARD TO DO.
ONE TIME, BACA WAS WALKING THROUGH A FOREST AND HE
HEARD A QUIET VOICE. "MAN, SAVE ME." HE LOOKED BACKWARD
AND HE SAW A SNAKE IN A BURNING BUSH. BACA WAS AFRAID
OF IT, SO HE ONLY HANDLED IT BY USING HIS CANE. THE
SNAKE WAS SAFE AND STARTED TO TALK TO HIM IN A HUMAN
VOICE. "THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SAVING MY LIFE." "WOULD
YOU WAIT FOR ME A LITTLE?"
AFTER A TIME THE SNAKE CAME WITH A VALUABLE GEM. IT WAS
SO SHINY THAT BACA HAD TO COVER HIS EYES. THE STONE HAD
THE POWER OF FORTUNE TELLING. FROM THAT TIME, BACA'S
HOUSE WAS WITH EVERYTHING.
WHEN SPRING CAME THE SERVANTS OF THE LAND OWNER CAME TO
COLLECT PAYMENT AND SAW ALL THE WEALTH IN THE HOUSE AND
WERE VERY AMAZED. A STORM WAS COMING AND THEY DECIDED
TO STAY THE NIGHT. THEY SAW THE VALUABLE FORTUNE TELLING
GEM THAT LIGHTED THE WHOLE HOUSE. THEY WERE VERY
INTERESTED IN IT AND STARTED TO ASK BACA WHERE HE GOT IT
FROM. HE TOLD THEM THE TRUTH ABOUT THE STONE AND ITS
POWER. THE SERVANTS WENT BACK AND TOLD THE LANDLORD
ABOUT THE STONE.
THE LANDLORD DECIDED TO VISIT THE HOUSE AND SEE FOR
HIMSELF. WHEN HE ENTERED BACA'S HOUSE HE TOLD HIM THAT
THE STONE BELONGED TO HIM. BACA BEGGED HIM TO LEAVE
THE STONE, BUT THE LANDLORD TOOK THE STONE WITH HIM.
THROUGH ALL THE COMMOTION THE CAT AND DOG WERE
LISTENING. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LANDLORD LEFT THEY
WENT AFTER HIM TO HIS CASTLE. THE LANDLORD HID THE
MAGIC STONE IN HIS WALLET AND WENT TO BED WITH IT.
WHEN THE LANDLORD FELL FAST ASLEEP THE CAT AND DOG
ENTERED HIS BEDROOM VERY QUIETLY AND TOOK THE WALLET
WITH THE STONE.
AFTER A LONG JOURNEY, THEY CAME TO BACA'S HOUSE.
THERE TOGETHER WITH BACA THEY DECIDED TO LEAVE THE
VALLEY OF THE LANDLORD. THEY WENT FAR AWAY, PAST THE
HILLS AND FORESTS AND MADE THEIR HOME FAR AWAY FROM
OTHER PEOPLE. THEY HAD ALL THE WEALTH THEY NEEDED AND
LIVED VERY HAPPILY EVERY AFTER.
Submitter comment:
POLISH, HANDWRITTEN TEXT IS ATTACHED TO TYPEWRITTEN
ENGLISH TEXT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK ; POLAND ; LEZAJSK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
THE MEAN KNIGHT WHO WAS TRANSFORMED INTO A BEAR
THERE WAS A WHITE CASTLE ON A HIGH HILL IN WHICH A KNIGHT AND HIS MOTHER LIVED.
HE WAS VERY DISTINGUISHED BUT HAD A MEAN HEART. HE WAS ALWAYS WALKING SAD AND THINKING.
ONE TIME HE DEMANDED FROM HIS MOTHER THAT SHE PLANT BLUE ROSES AROUND THE CASTLE.
SPRING CAME AND WHITE ROSES STARTED TO BLOOM AROUND THE CASTLE. THEY WERE VERY PRETTY
SO THE MOTHER CALLED HER SON TO SEE THEM. WHEN THE SON CAME, HE BECAME VERY UPSET ABOUT
THE COLOR AND TOOK OUT HIS SWORD AND STARTED TO CUT DOWN ALL THE ROSES. THE POOR MOTHER
TRIED TO SAVE THEM WITH HER HAND AND TEARS CAME TO HER EYES. ONE OF THEM DROPPED ON A FLOWER
AND THE FLOWER TURNED BLUE. WIPING HER TEARS THE MOTHER SAID TO HER SON, "HERE YOU HAVE A BLUE ROSE."
ALL OF A SUDDEN AN AWFUL STORM CAME AND THE TIRED KNIGHT FELL ON THE GROUND UNCONSCIOUS. WHEN HE REGAINED
CONSCIOUSNESS, THERE WAS NO CASTLE AND HE HAD TURNED INTO A BEAR. FROM THAT TIME HE MADE HIS HOME
IN THE FOREST SO HUMAN EYES COULDN'T SEE HIM. HE BUILT HIMSELF A LOG CABIN AROUND WHICH HE PLANTED
BLUE ROSES. ONE TIME A STRONG WIND CAME AND BLEW A PETAL TO A POOR FARMER BY THE FOREST WHO HAD TWO
DAUGHTERS, HELEN AND MARY. THEY WERE QUITE ATTRACTIVE. THE YOUNGER, GIRL, HELEN, PICKED UP THE FLOWER
PETAL AND WAS SURPRISED ABOUT ITS BEAUTY SO SHE HID IT FOR HERSELF. THE PETALS NEVER WILTED AND
ALWAYS SMELLED NICE. SHE WAS YEARNING ABOUT THE BLUE ROSES UNTIL SHE BECAME ALMOST ILL AND SHE WAS
PRESSURING HER FATHER TO FIND HER SOME. HER DAD WENT LOOKING FOR THEM AND AFTER A LONG JOURNEY HE
FOUND THE BEAR'S HOUSE SURROUNDED WITH THE BLUE ROSES. HE STARTED TO PICK THEM UP AND AT THAT MOMENT
THE BEAR CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE. HE BECAME FRIGHTENED BUT REMEMBERING THE SICKNESS OF HIS DAUGHTER,
HE STARTED TO BEG THE BEAR FOR THE BLUE ROSES. THE BEAR ANSWERED HIM IN A HUMAN VOICE. "I WILL GIVE
YOU THE ROSES BUT WHEN YOU TAKE THEM HOME AND WHEN YOUR DAUGHTER GETS WELL SHE HAS TO COME TO ME FOR
THIRTY THIRTY DAYS." SEEING THE BLUE ROSES, HELEN REGAINED HER HEALTH AND WITH A LITTLE HORROR,
DECIDED TO GO TO THE BEAR'S HOUSE. SHE STAYED THERE FOR THIRTY DAYS AND HELPED THE BEAR TAKE CARE
OF THE ROSES. AFTER THE THIRTY DAYS SHE CAME BACK HOME AND SHE NOTICED THAT HER BLUE ROSES STARTED
TO WILT. SHE WENT BACK TO THE BEAR'S HOUSE AND SHE FOUND THAT THE BEAR WAS VERY ILL. SHE WAS SORRY
FOR HIM AND HER EYES STARTED TO FILL WITH TEARS. ONE OF THEM DROPPED ON A BLUE ROSE AND THE ROSE
BECAME WHITE. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BEAR'S HOUSE DISAPPEARED AND IN ITS PLACE WAS THE WHITE CASTLE
AROUND WHICH WERE WHITE ROSES. ON THE PORCH THERE WAS A HANDSOME KNIGHT AND HIS MOTHER. WITH A SMILE
ON HIS LIPS, THE KNIGHT CAME TO HELEN AND TOLD HER, "YOUR GOOD HEART AND TRUTHFUL TEARS GAVE ME BACK
MY STATURE." HE ASKED HER FOR HER HAND IN MARRIAGE AND THERE WAS A BIG WEDDING AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
Submitter comment: POLISH, HANDWRITTEN TEXT IS ATTACHED TO TYPEWRITTEN ENGLISH TEXT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK ; POLAND ; LEZAJSK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
LEGEND OF JESUS
A LONG TIME AGO WHEN JESUS WAS WALKING IN THIS WORLD, HE DECIDED TO TAKE ST.
PETER TO DISTANT COUNTRIES. THEY WERE WALKING AND IT BECAME NIGHT. STOPPING AT ONE
PLACE, THEY ASKED IF THEY COULD SLEEP OVER NIGHT THERE. A DOUBLE BED WAS IN THE
ROOM NEAR THE WALL. JESUS SLEPT BY THE WALL AND PETER BY THE EDGE. THE VERY SAME
NIGHT, TWO BUMS CAME TO THE HOUSE. THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR THEM TO SLEEP AND WITH
DISGUST THEY DECIDED TO SLEEP ON THE FLOOR. THEY LOADED THEIR ANGER ON ST. PETER
BY BEATING HIM UP. HE COULD HARDLY BREATHE. THE SECOND NIGHT ST. PETER SAID TO
JESUS: "YOU SLEEP ON THE EDGE AND I WILL SLEEP BY THE WALL." THE SAME TWO BUMS
CAME IN AND WANTED TO BEAT JESUS UP THE SAME WAY. ONE OF THE BUMS SAID: "LEAVE
THIS ONE AT THE EDGE, HE GOT IT YESTERDAY," AND AGAIN THEY STARTED TO FIGHT WITH
ST. PETER. POOR ST. PETER WAS BEATEN TWICE.
Submitter comment:
POLISH, HANDWRITTEN TEXT IS ATTACHED TO TYPEWRITTEN
ENGLISH TEXT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK ; POLAND ; LEZAJSK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
WHERE THE DEVIL CAN'T DO THE WORK, HE SENDS A WOMAN
THERE WAS A HAPPY, RELIGIOUS FAMILY WITH TWO CHILDREN.
EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE LIVING IN POVERTY, THEY WERE A
LOVING FAMILY. THE DEVIL COULDN'T SEE WHY THEY HAD
SO MUCH HAPPINESS AND WANTED TO DESTROY IT.
HE SENT HIS HELPER TO THIS FAMILY AS A SERVANT TO
OBSERVE THEM TO SEE IF THEY COULD DO ANYTHING WRONG.
HE WAS TO LET THE DEVIL KNOW ABOUT IT, AS HE WAS
WAITING. HIS HELPER HAD A SOFT HEART. HE WAS HELPING
THE MANY BY PLOWING THE FIELDS, CUTTING THE WOOD, AND
WATCHING THE CHILDREN WHO LOVED HIM VERY MUCH. HE WAS
WORKING FOR THEM ABOUT A YEAR AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING
TO SAY AGAINST THEM, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS LIVED A VERY
PEACEFUL LIFE.
NOT SO FAR FROM THEM THERE WAS A MEAN WOMAN. SHE WAS
UNABLE TO GET ALONG WITH HER NEIGHBORS. THE MAIN
DEVIL, LUCIFER, WENT THERE AND PROMISED HER NEW SHOES
IF SHE COULD MAKE SOME MISUNDERSTANDING IN THE PEACEFUL
FAMILY WHERE HIS HELPER WAS LIVING. SHE AGREED.
WHEN SHE CAME TO THE FAMILY, THE WIFE WAS BY HERSELF
AT HOME. SHE HAD A SMALL CONVERSATION WITH HER AND
CONVINCED HER THAT HER HUSBAND WOULD DIE SOON. THERE
WAS ONLY ONE WAY TO PREVENT IT. WHEN HER HUSBAND CAME
HOME IN THE EVENING, SHE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A LONG
KNIFE AND WHEN HE WOULD FALL ASLEEP, SHE WOULD HAVE TO
CUT ONE GREY HAIR SO HE WOULD LIVE LONG.
AFTER TALKING TO THE WIFE THE WICKED WOMAN WENT TO
THE FIELD WHERE THE MAN WAS PLOWING THE FIELD. SHE
TOLD HIM THAT HIS WIFE WAS CHEATING ON HIM AND HAD A
LOVER AND THAT SHE WOULD VISIT HIM OFTEN. THE HUSBAND
COULDN'T BELIEVE IT AND CHASED HER AWAY. SHE TOLD HIM:
"WAIT, SHE WILL KILL YOU TODAY!"
HE DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE THIS, BUT DOUBT CAME TO HIS
HEART. AFTER SUPPER HE WENT TO BED AND PRETENDED TO BE
SLEEPING. WHEN HIS WIFE CAME TOWARDS HIM WITH A LONG
KNIFE HE WOKE UP AND JUMPED OUT OF BED AND STARTED A
BIG QUARREL.
WHEN LUCIFER CAME TO THE MEAN WOMAN TO DELIVER THE
BOOTS, HE HANDED THEM TO HER ON A LONG STICK BECAUSE
HE HIMSELF WAS AFRAID OF HER. FROM THAT TIME, THERE WAS
A SAYING IN THE POLISH LANGUAGE--"WHERE DEVIL CAN'T
MAKE IT, HE SENDS A WOMAN AND SHE WILL DO IT." "GDZIE
DIABEL NIE MOZE TAM BABE POSALE."
Submitter comment:
POLISH, HANDWRITTEN TEXT IS ATTACHED TO TYPEWRITTEN
ENGLISH TEXT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK ; POLAND ; LEZAJSK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
THE COURAGEOUS MAN
IN THE EARLY DAYS, POLAND HAD MANY DEEP FORESTS. THERE
WAS A VERY COURAGEOUS RANCHER WHO WAS TELLING EVERYONE
THAT HE WAS NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING. ONE DAY, HE
DECIDED TO TAKE A TRIP TO THE NEAREST TOWN, WHICH WAS
MANY MILES AWAY.
HE TOOK ONE OF HIS CARRIAGE DRIVERS AND WENT ON HIS WAY.
THEY WERE DRIVING THROUGH THE FOREST AND SAW A MAN
HANGING ON A TREE. HE STOPPED HIS CARRIAGE AND TOLD
HIS DRIVER TO CUT THE ROPE OFF AND PUT THE MAN IN THE
BACK OF THE CARRIAGE.
EVENING CAME AND THEY NOTICED, FAR AHEAD IN THE FOREST,
THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE COTTAGE. THEY COULD SEE A
LIGHT SHINING THROUGH ITS WINDOW. THE COURAGEOUS MAN
DECIDED TO STOP THERE OVERNIGHT.
WHEN THEY CAME TO THE COTTAGE AND KNOCKED AT THE DOOR
THERE WAS NO ANSWER. HE OPENED THE DOOR AND THERE WAS
A DEAD MAN LAYING ON A BENCH WITH TWO LIGHTED CANDLES
ON EACH SIDE OF HIM.
HE TOOK THE MAN WHO WAS HUNG AND PLACED HIM IN THE
CORNER OF THE COTTAGE. HIS DRIVER WAS SLEEPING IN THE
CARRIAGE. THE COURAGEOUS MAN SLEPT IN THE COTTAGE
WITH THE TWO DEAD MEN. AROUND TEN O'CLOCK, FROM
NOWHERE TWO MEN CAME TO THE COTTAGE. THEY WERE THE
DEVILS. THE COURAGEOUS MAN WAS SLEEPING BEHIND THE
HEATING STOVE IN THE COTTAGE. THEY SEEMED TO NOT
NOTICE HIM THERE. ONE OF THE MEN TOLD THE OTHER THAT
HE WAS GOING TO SKIN THE DEAD MAN AND HE STARTED TO DO
SO. THE COURAGEOUS MAN WAS HALF ASLEEP AND LOOKING
FROM BEHIND THE STOVE. AFTER THE DEAD MAN GOT SKINNED,
ONE OF THE MEN STARTED TO TALK TO THE OTHER, NOT PAYING
ANY ATTENTION TO THE DEAD MAN'S SKIN. THE COURAGEOUS
MAN SNEAKED OUT FROM BEHIND THE STOVE, PULLED THE DEAD
MAN'S SKIN FOR {OVER?} HIMSELF. WHEN THE MEN NOTICED
THAT THERE WAS NO SKIN THEY STARTED TO FIGHT WITH EACH
OTHER. ONE OF THE MEN LOOKED AT THE HUNG MAN IN THE
CORNER AND SMASHED HIM IN THE FACE, SAYING THAT HE
HAD TAKEN THE SKIN. THE HUNG MAN ALL OF A SUDDEN
BECAME ALIVE AND JOINED THE FIGHT. THE DEAD MAN SAT
UP ON THE BENCH AND STARTED TO SCREAM, "WHERE IS MY
SKIN?" THE FIGHT WAS GETTING WORSE AND THE COURAGEOUS
MAN WAS WATCHING FROM BEHIND THE STOVE.
IT WAS CLOSE TO FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND THE
ROOSTER STARTED TO CROW. ALL OF A SUDDEN, ALL THE
SCENERY DISAPPEARED. ALL THE FOUR MEN WERE DEVILS.
THEY DID NOT SCARE THE COURAGEOUS MAN. THE COURAGEOUS
MAN WALKED OUT OF THE COTTAGE, WOKE UP HIS DRIVER AND
THEY CONTINUED ON THEIR WAY TO TOWN. NO ONE COULD
SCARE THEM.
Where learned: POLAND
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1935
THE MOON REVEALS THE TRUTH
AFTER THE FIRST WORLD WAR, THERE WERE MANY HARDSHIPS
IN THE COUNTRY OF POLAND.
THERE WAS A WIDOW WHO OWNED A FEW ACRES OF LAND, A
HORSE, MILK COW, SOME CHICKENS AND A FEW GEESE. HER
TAX BILL CAME IN EARLY SPRING. SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE
MONEY TO PAY, SO SHE DECIDED TO SELL HER COW AT THE
MARKET.
SHE RECEIVED A GOOD PRICE FOR THE COW, BUT SHE HAD TO
WALK A COUPLE OF MILES THROUGH BUSH COUNTRY.
AFTER SHE CROSSED A LITTLE RIVER, SHE WAS APPROACHED
BY A YOUNG MAN THAT SHE KNEW WHO WANTED ALL HER MONEY.
SHE GAVE HIM THE MONEY AND HE TOLD HER THAT BECAUSE
SHE KNEW HIM, HE WOULD HAVE TO KILL HER. THE WOMAN
SAID THAT SHE WOULD NOT TELL ANYONE WHO ROBBED HER. BE-
FORE SHE DIED, THE WOMAN TOLD THE MAN THAT THE MOON
WOULD TELL EVERYONE ABOUT IT. THE MAN DIDN'T PAY
ANY ATTENTION AND KILLED HER.
THE NEXT MORNING, HER BODY WAS FOUND BY THE RIVER BED.
THE POLICE COULDN'T TRACE THE KILLER EVEN THOUGH
THEY HAD TRIED VERY HARD.
YEARS WENT BY AND THE YOUNG MAN GOT MARRIED. ONE NIGHT
HE WAS RESTING ON A COUCH AND THE MOON WAS SHINING.
HE STARTED TO LAUGH. HIS WIFE BECAME VERY CURIOUS
AND SHE TRIED TO COAX HER HUSBAND TO TELL HER AOBUT IT.
HE ANSWERED HER BY SAYING THAT HE COULDN'T TELL HER.
THE WIFE INSISTED THAT HE TELL HER AND HE FINALLY TOLD
HER THE STORY ABOUT THE WOMAN HE KILLED, WHO HAD MADE
THE REMARK THAT THE MOON WOULD TELL.
THE NEXT MORNING, HIS WIFE REPORTED TO THE POLICE
WHAT HER HUSBAND HAD TOLD HER. UPON INVESTIGATION,
THE POLICE CONFIRMED THAT HE WAS THE KILLER. THE
MOON REVEALED THE TRUTH LIKE THE WOMAN HAD PREDICTED.
Where learned: POLAND
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1935
Entry filtered.