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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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CROUP

TO CURE THE CROUP, PUT GOOSE GREASE ON YOUR CHEST; THEN PUT
A PIECE OF RED FLANNEL OVER IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME

Keyword(s): COLOR ; POULTICE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Method of Curing

Date learned: 03-15-1970

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CROUP

USE HOG LARD, POLECAT GREASE, AND WARM LAMP OIL AS A CHEST POTION FOR
THE CROUP.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ECORSE

Keyword(s): POULTICE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: 09-12-1969

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EARACHE

BAKE ONION IN OVEN, MAKE A POULTICE-- CLEAR UP EAR INFECTION.

Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): POULTICE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Remedy

Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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HEADACHE

FOR THE CURE OF HEADACHES, CHOP ONIONS FINE AND PREPARE A
POULTICE AND PLACE ON THE CALVES OF THE LEGS.

Where learned: DETROIT

Keyword(s): POULTICE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant

Date learned: 10-26-1969

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VERSE FROM MURDER

LIZZY BORDON TOOK AN AX/
AND GAVE HER MOTHER FORTY WHACKS/
WHEN SHE SAW WHAT SHE HAD DONE/
SHE GAVE HER FATHER FORTY-ONE.

Submitter comment: THE FOLLOWING VERSE CAME ABOUT AFTER A FAMOUS MURDER TOOK PLACE.
I AM NOT SURE OF THE SPELLING OF THE NAME.

Data entry tech comment: SPELLING CORRECTED BY KETPUNCHER

Where learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): ANTICLIMAX ; NARRATIVE VERSE JUMP ROPE RHYME ; NONSEQUITUR ; RHYME: AABB ; SURPRISE ENDING

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

Date learned: 11-22-1968

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PARODY-JACK & JILL

KAISER BILL/WENT UP THE HILL/TO FETCH A PIECE OF FRANCE
KAISER BILL/RAN DOWN THE HILL /WITH BULLETS IN HIS PANTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Keyword(s): ANTICLIMAX ; CONTRAST

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

Date learned: 09-29-1968

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MULE IN THE BARNYARD TIRED AND SICK
BOY WITH A PIN ON THE END OF A STICK
BOY JABS MULE, MULE GIVES A LURCH
SERVICES MONDAY AT THE CORNER CHURCH.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THIS IS A FAVORITE POEM RIDDLE OF HIS MOTHER'S.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SAINT FRANCIS CLUB

Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS ; INDIRECTION EUPHEMISM ; MISTREATMENT OF ANIMALS, PUNISHMENT FOR ; POETIC VUSTICE ; RHYME: AABB

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

Date learned: 03-20-1972

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LIMERICK

THERE WAS AN OLD LADY FOM WOOSTER/WHO WAS OFTEN ANNOYED BY A ROOSTER.
SHE CUT OFF HIS HEAD/ UNTIL HE WAS DEAD/ AND NOW HE CAN'T CROW LIKE
HE USETER.

Where learned: HOME

Keyword(s): FEMININE RHYME ; IMPERFECT RHYME ; NONSENSE ANTICLIMAX ; RHYME: AABBA ; SLANG

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

Date learned: 11-18-1968

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TALE

THERE WAS A TEACHER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT WHO WAS REALLY
STRANGE, ONE DAY HE WAS LECTURING ON A PLAY BY SHAKESPEARE, AND
HE STARTED TO READ A CHARACTER IN THE PLAY WHO HAPPENED TO BE WOUNDED
IN THE LEG. THE TEACHER LIMPED AROUND IN FRONT OF THE CLASS, HOLDING
HIS LEG WITH ONE HAND AND GESTURING WILDLY WITH THE OTHER.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SPEECH, THE BELL RANG. THE TEACHER PICKED UP
HIS BRIEF CASE AND LIMPED OUT OF THE ROOM, STILL HOLDING
HIS LEG.

Submitter comment: INFORNANT HEARD THE STORY FROM A FACULTY MEMBER AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ECCENTRIC ENGLISH PROFESSOR ; FEIGNED LAMENESS CONTINUED ; PSYCHOSOMATIC ILLNESS (LAMENESS)

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being

Date learned: 03-10-1970

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METHOD OF CURING

TO CURE A COLD, USE AN ONION "POLTIST". BOIL ONIONS IN A LITTLE WATER
TAKE OUT OF WATER, CRUSH, PUT IN TOWEL AND APPLY TO CHEST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PONTIAC

James Callow Keyword(s): POULTICE

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

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MULTIPLYING TECHNIQUE

THERE IS A WAY OF MULTIPLYING BY NINES ON YOUR HANDS.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HOLD UP YOUR TEN FINGERS AND PICK THE NUMBER
THAT YOU WANT TO MULTIPLY NINE BY AND THEN YOU PUSH DOWN THAT FINGER.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU WANT TO MULTIPLY NINE BY THREE YOU WOULD PUT
DOWN YOUR THIRD FINGER.
ON ONE SIDE OF THIS THIRD FINGER YOU WOULD HAVE TWO FINGERS HELD
UP, ON THE OTHER SIDE YOU WOULD HAVE SEVEN FINGERS HELD UP,
THEREFORE YOUR ANSWER WOULD BE TWENTY-SEVEN.

Data entry tech comment:

Uodated by TRD on 10.11.13

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNTINGTON WOODS

Keyword(s): Arithmetic, Mathematics, Multiplication, Trick, Memory, Aid, Learning, Tool, Fingers,

James Callow Keyword(s): MULTIPLICATION ON FINGERS

Subject headings: 686 686.1.9
Favorites
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Number P686.3.9
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 02-22-1979

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Entry filtered.

GOOD MORNING BY DONNA SMITH, AGE: 8

THE SUN WAS SHINING BRIGHTLY
AND I COULD HARDLY WAIT,
TO PONDER AT MY WINDOW
AND GAZE AT MY ESTATE.
THE BREEZE WAS BLOWING BRISKLY,
IT MADE THE FLOWERS SWAY,
THE GARDEN WAS ENCHANTING
ON THIS INSPIRING DAY.
MY EYES FELL ON A LITTLE BIRD
WITH A BEAUTIFUL YELLOW BILL.
I BECKONED HIM TO COME AND
LIGHT UPON MY WINDOW SILL.
I SMILED AT HIM CHEERFULLY
AND GAVE HIM A CRUST OF BREAD,
THEN I QUICKLY CLOSED THE WINDOW
AND SMASHED HIS FUCKING HEAD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

James Callow Keyword(s): ANTICLIMAX ; CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ; FIRST-PERSON NARRATIVE ; SURPRISE ENDING

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: CA00001977

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PROVERB

THE GIRL WHO CANNOT DANCE SAYS THE BAND CANNOT PLAY.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION BUILDING

Keyword(s): CRITICISM

Subject headings: Favorites
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 03-30-1971

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PROVERBIAL COMPARISON

THE GIRL WHO CAN,T DANCE SAYS, 'THE BAND CAN'T PLAY.'

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK

Keyword(s): CRITICISM

Subject headings: Favorites
PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

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ROPE JUMPING RHYME

WHEN YOU GET MARRIED AND YOUR HUSBAND GETS CROSS,
JUST PICK UP A STICK AND SHOW HIM WHO'S BOSS.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE ; TOLD AT

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE POSITIVE ; PETTICOAT GOVERNMENT ; SEXISM

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

Date learned: 02-22-1971

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ERIEVIEW CONSTRUCTION WORKER

A FEW YEARS BACK THE CITY OF CLEVELAND WAS CONSTRUCTING AN URBAN
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT CALLED ERIEVIEW. THE PROJECT HAD BEEN BESET BY A
NUMBER OF STUMBLING BLOCKS FROM FINANCING TO RACIAL TROUBLE.
ONE WINDY DAY A WORKER FELL FROM ONE OF THE UPPER-MOST FLOORS TO HIS
DEATH. AS A LASTING REMEMBERANCE, HIS WORKERS ON THE LOWER FLOORS
QUOTED HIM AS SAYING, AS HE FLEW BY "OH, SHIT"

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): HUMOR ; OBSERVATION

James Callow Keyword(s): ANTICLIMAX ; OHIO

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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KNOCK-KNOCK JOKE

KNOCK-KNOCK. WHO'S THERE?
JOHN.
JOHN WHO?
JOHN THE BAPTIST.

Submitter comment: THE PERSON WHO IS TELLING THE JOKE IS SUPPOSED TO PUT A LITTLE
WATER IN HIS HAND BEFORE TELLING IT AND WHEN HE GETS TO THE END OF
THE JOKE HE SPRINKLES THE WATER ON THE PERSON HE IS TELLING IT TO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): HUMOR

James Callow Keyword(s): PRACTICAL JOKE

Subject headings: --

Date learned: 10-02-1967

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TELEPHONE PRANK

CALL A BAR; ASK IF THEY HAVE POP IN BOTTLES. IF ANSWER IS YES, SAY
"YOU'D BETTER LET HIM OUT, MOM WANTS HIM AT HOME."

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM MY CHILDHOOD

Where learned: SUN PRAIRIE ; WISCONSIN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): HUMOR PRACTICAL JOKE METAPHOR SODA

Subject headings: --

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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THE DOVES

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW PANE
THE DOVES ARE MATING ONCE AGAIN
THEY BOW, THEY BILL, THEY FLAP, THEY FLUTTER
FROM ROOF TO RAIL, FROM GATE TO GUTTER.
THEY PECK AND PREEN AND SCRATCH AND SCATTER,
MAKING THE MOST INFERNAL CHATTER--
A COURSE OF CONDUCT OPPORTUNE,
NO DOUBT, TO SUCH A MONTH AS JUNE.
AND YET, I MUST CONFESS I FIND
SUCH BEDLAM (TO THE TEMPERATE MIND),
WHEN EMPHASISED WITHOUT ABATEMENT,
MERELY BECOMES AN OVER-STATEMENT.

Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; HUMOR ; MONOLOGUE ; ONOMATOPAEIA ; PHONETIC INTENSIVE: FLAP, FLUTTER ; RHYME: AABB

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.444

Date learned: CA10001968

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MY FIRST EXPERIENCE

THE SKY WAS DARK, THE MOON WAS HIGH,
WE WERE ALONE, JUST HER AND I.
HER HAIR WAS SO SOFT, HER EYES SKY BLUE,
I KNEW JUST WHAT I HAD TO DO.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW, BUT I DID MY BEST.
I RAN MY FINGERS DOWN HER SPINE
I PUT MY HAND AGAINST HER BREAST.
I'LL NEVER FORGET MY BEATING HEART,
AS SHE SLOWLY SPREAD HER LEGS APART.
NOW ITS ( IT'S ) DONE--ITS ( IT'S ) OVER NOW
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE MILKING A COW.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; ANTICLIMAX ; HUMOR ; MONOLOGUE ; SURPRISE ENDING

James Callow Keyword(s): PRETENDED OBSCENE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.660

Date learned: 09-30-1970

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