Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C890.200 returned 73 results.
ELIZABETH RIDDLE
Q: ELIZABETH, ELSPETH, BETSY AND BESS,/ THEY ALL WENT TOGETHER TO
SEE A BIRD'S NEST./ THEY FOUND A BIRD'S NEST WITH FIVE EGGS IN,/
THEY ALL TOOK ONE AND LEFT FOUR IN.
A: ELIZABETH, ELSPETH, BETSY AND BESS ARE ALL THE SAME GIRL.
Data entry tech comment: FUNCTION: TO TEACH NICKNAMES
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMALS (Q) ; EATABLES (Q) ; NUMBERS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
RIDDLE
Q: ROUND AS A MOON,/ BLACK AS A COON,/ AND IT HAS A HANDLE -/ WHAT
IS IT?
A: A FRYING PAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMALS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q) ; UTENSILS (A)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: 11-10-1968
TRUE RIDDLE
Q: THOUGH GOOD FELLOWS WE ARE/ WE CAN'T HOPE TO BE SAVED; / FROM OUR
VERY FIRST DAY/ TO OUR LAST WE'RE ENSLAVED./ OUR OFFICE IS HARDEST/
AND FOOD SURE THE WORST/ BEING CRAMMED WITH RAW FLESH/ TILL WE'RE
READY TO BURST./ THOUGH LOW IN OUR STATE/ EVEN KINGS WE SUPPORT/ AND
AT BALLS HAVE/ THE PRINCIPAL SHARE OF SPORT.
A: A PAIR OF SHOES.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT THIS IS ONE RIDDLE SHE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER
BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY QUESTION ON A SENIOR ENGLISH EXAM AT
DETROIT'S MILLER HIGH SCHOOL AROUND 1940.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; EATABLES (Q) ; ENTERTAINMENT (Q) ; PERSONS (Q)
James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME INVERSION ; SYNTAX
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: 10-20-1971
RIDDLE
Q: THEY HAVE TONGUES, BUT THEY DO NOT TALK./ YOU TIE THEM UP WHEN
YOU GO FOR A WALK./ WHAT ARE THEY?
A: SHOES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; CAUSAL ; CLOTHES (A) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
RIDDLE
Q: ROUND AS A BISCUIT,/ BUSY AS A BEE;/ CUTEST LITTLE THING/ YOU
EVER DID SEE.
A: A WATCH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ECORSE
Keyword(s): CLOTHES (A) ; EATABLES (Q) ; INSECT (Q) ; STATE OF BEING (Q)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: 09-12-1969
WHAT AM I? RIDDLE
Q: I HAVE NO FEET, AND WHEN I RUN,/ I USE MY HANDS INSTEAD./ MY
FACE IS ROUND, JUST LIKE THE SUN, / AND YET I HAVE NO HEAD.
A: A WATCH.
Submitter comment:
I FOUND THIS ACTIVITY BOOK IN THE ATTIC.
FROM: "LOTS OF THINGS TO DO"
(AKRON, OHIO: THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING CO., 1951)
THE PAGES ARE NOT NUMBERED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: 08-00-1964
RHYME
A HAMMER HAS A HEAD, BUT NEVER WEARS A HAT,/
ALTHOUGH A SHIRT HAS A TAIL, IT'S NO RELATION TO A CAT.
Submitter comment:
A SIMPLE PLAY ON WORDS WHICH PERSONIFIES A HAMMER AND
GIVES LIFE TO A SHIRT.THE INFORMANT REMEMBERS THIS RHYME
FROM HIS CHILDHOOD DAYS. IT'S SIMPLY A NICE LITTLE RHYME THAT
CAN BE INTERPRETED TO SUIT THE SITUATION.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): CAT ; Contrary ; Hammer ; Hat ; HEAD ; Opposition ; PERSONIFICATION ; RHYME ; RIDDLE ; Shirt ; Tail
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: 11-10-1971
RIDDLE
SINGS AND CAN'T TALK. RUNS AND CAN'T WALK. A SPINNING WHEEL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Keyword(s): PRIVATIONAL CONTRODICTIVE RIDDLE.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
RIDDLE
BLACK WITHIN, AND RED WITHOUT, FOUR CORNERS ROUND ABOUT. A CHIMNEY
Submitter comment: THIS RIDDLE I LEARNED WHEN I WAS BABYSITTING MY NIECE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
SPELLING VERSE
CHICAGO: CHICKEN IN THE CAR,
THE CAR WON'T GO.
Submitter comment:
MY HOMETOWN DIALECT DOES NOT PRONOUNCE THE "R" ON CAR, MAKING
THIS PHRASE MORE LIKE CHICAGO THAN IT LOOKS.
VARIATION OF THIS ON PAGE 27 OF "JUMP ROPE RHYMES".
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
WORD SPELLING
MISSISSIPPI: M I DOUBLE-S I
DOUBLE-S I
HUMP BACK, HUMP BACK I
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS POPULAR WHEN I WAS A FOURTH GRADER.
VARIATION OF THIS ON PAGE 27 OF "JUMP ROPE RHYMES".
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; EDGEFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
LITTLE NANCY ETTICOAT
WITH A WHITE PETTICOAT
AND A RED ROSE.
SHE HAS NO FEET OR HANDS;
THE LONGER SHE STANDS
THE SHORTER SHE GROWS.
(A CANDLE)
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; PALOS PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
What doesn't drink, doesn't eat, but runs and beats? (rhymed in Ukrainian)
Answer: A clock
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |