Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for FEAR returned 48 results.
SHAGGY DOG STORY (WITH A MORAL)
A COUNT IN THE DAYS OF OLD WAS ACCUSED OF STEALING FROM
THE KING AND SENTENCED TO BE BEHEADED FOR HIS CRIME. HE
IS TAKEN UP TO THE HIGHEST TOWER IN THE CASTLE OF THE KING
AND HIS HEAD IS SET ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. THE AXMAN TURNS
TO HIM AND SAYS, "WILL YOU ADMIT THAT YOU DID THE STEALING
BEFORE I MUST BEHEAD YOU?" AND THE COUNT DENIES IT. AGAIN,
AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE AXMAN PLEADS, "TELL THAT YOU DID
THE STEALING AND YOU WILL BE RELEASED." AGAIN, THE COUNT
REFUSES TO TELL AND THE AXMAN PREPARED TO LIFT THE BLADE.
JUST AS THE AX GOES DOWN, THE COUNT SCREAMS OUT, "I DID IT."
BUT IT IS TOO LATE TO RECALL THE AX, AND HE IS BEHEADED.
THE MORAL OF THIS STORY IS AS FOLLOWS: "DON'T HATCHET
YOUR COUNTS BEFORE THEY CHICKEN."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
Keyword(s): FEAR
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 03-27-1971
(PROVERB)
THERE ONCE WAS A KING WHO HAD A COUNT SUSPECTED OF WITH-
HOLDING HIS PAYMENTS TO THE KING. THE KING THREATENED
HIM WITH THE AWE {AXE} IF HE WOULDN'T CONFESS TO WITHHOLDING.
THEN ONE DAY HE WAS DETERMINED TO GO THROUGH WITH IT. HE
HAD THE COUNT DRAGGED UP TO THE BLOCK AND STRAPPED IN.
"I'LL GIVE YOU ONE LAST CHANCE," SAID THE KING, BUT THE
COUNT SAID NOTHING.
THE KING TOLD THE HEADSMAN TO READY HIS AXE. AS THE AXE
WAS RAISED OVER THE COUNT'S NECK, THE KING SAID: "I'LL
GIVE YOU ONE MORE CHANCE." BUT THE COUNT STILL SAID
NOTHING. THE KING TOLD THE HEADSMAN TO CHOP. AS THE
BLADE WAS COMING DOWN, THE COUNT YELLED: "WAIT!" BUT IT
WAS TOO LATE.
THIS ONLY GOES TO SHOW THAT YOU SHOULDN'T HATCHET YOUR
COUNTS BEFORE THEY CHICKEN.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): FEAR
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 11-02-1970
IN THE OLD COUNTRY, AT FUNERALS, IT WAS CONSIDERED
RESPECTFUL FOR SOMEONE TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT WITH THE
BODY. SINCE EVERYONE WOULD RATHER "WHOOP IT UP" AT
THE WAKE, INSTEAD OF STAYING WITH THE BODY, THEY
USUALLY GOT A COBBLER, WHO STAYED UP ALL NIGHT
ANYWAY, WORKING ON HIS SHOES, TO DO THE JOB.
ONE NIGHT, A COUPLE PRANKSTERS DECIDED TO PUT A LIVE
PERSON IN THE COFFIN, INSTEAD OF THE BODY. TOWARDS
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THE "CORPSE" LIFTED ITS
RIGHT LEG. THE COBBLER, WITHOUT THINKING TWICE,
PUSHED IT BACK IN PLACE. A LITTLE WHILE LATER, AN
ARM WENT UP, AND THE COBBLER, SLIGHTLY ANNOYED,
PUSHED IT BACK. BUT THIS KEPT UP ALL NIGHT, UNTIL
THE COBBLER WAS PRETTY EXASPERATED. THE "CORPSE"
FINALLY PUT ITS HEAD UP AND LOOKED AT THE COBBLER.
AT THIS POINT, IN A FIT OF TEMPER, THE COBBLER PICKED
UP HIS HAMMER AND BASHED THE "CORPSE'S" HEAD IN.
THE MAN NOW REALLY WAS A CORPSE.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR IRONY BLASON POPULAIRE: COBBLERS ARE FEARLESS.
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 11-22-1967
GHOST STORY
IN A SMALL VILLAGE IN GREECE, AN OLD MAN DIED AND IT
WAS FOUND THAT HIS GHOST WAS ROAMING THE COUNTRYSIDE.
TO DISPEL THE GHOST, A BRAVE YOUNG MAN NAMED
KAFMAN TOLD THE VILLAGERS THAT HE WOULD STAY
BY THE OLD MAN'S GRAVE TO SEE IF THE GHOST WOULD
APPEAR. KAFMAN WORE A LONG, HOODED CAPE WHICH TOUCHED
THE GROUND, AND WHEN HE KNELT, THE CAPE SPREAD AROUND
HIM. BY AND BY, HE STARTED TO IMAGINE THINGS AND
HE STABBED AT THE DARKNESS WITH HIS DAGGER AND IT
STUCK INTO THE GROUND PIERCING THE CAPE. AS KAFMAN
STARTED TO LEAVE, HE FELT THE JERK OF THE CAPE
PINNED TO THE GROUND AND DIED OF A HEART ATTACK.
Submitter comment: JAMES LEARNED THIS FROM HIS FATHER.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN ; MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FEAR TEST DEATH FROM FRIGHT
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 10-10-1967
AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, WHEN IT WAS PREVALENT TO
WEAR LONG CAPES, A MAN, WHO CLAIMED TO TOTALLY
FEARLESS, WAS DARED TO STICK HIS DAGGER IN THE WOODEN
CROSS AT THE CENTER OF A CEMETERY, AT MIDNIGHT,
HALLOWEEN NIGHT. HE ACCEPTED THE DARE.
CONFIDENTLY, HE WALKED THROUGH THE CEMETERY THAT
NIGHT, DARK, EERIE AND WINDY, THOUGH IT WAS, AND DUG
HIS DAGGER IN THE CROSS. BUT, AS HE WALKED AWAY,
HE FELT A TUG AT HIS CLOAK. HE DISMISSED THE THOUGHT
THAT IT MIGHT BE THE DEVIL CALLING HIM BACK, AND TRIED
TO WALK AGAIN. BUT HE FELT ANOTHER TUG. HE WAS
WORRIED NOW, BUT REFUSED TO LOOK BACK. HE TRIED ONE
MORE TIME.
THE NEXT MORNING, HIS FRIENDS FOUND HIM LAYING BY THE
CROSS, DEAD FROM FRIGHT, WITH HIS CLOAK CAUGHT IN THE
DAGGER HE HAD STUCK IN THE CROSS.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): FEAR TEST
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween |
Date learned: 11-22-1967
THE COWARDLY COUNT
ONE TIME THERE WERE TWO COUNTRIES CARRYING ON A BLOODY WAR.
INTELLIGENCE REPORTS FROM THE SECRET SERVICE TOLD THE
GENERALS OF THE ONE COUNTRY THAT THEIR ENEMIES HAD A
SECRET WEAPON THAT THEY WERE PLANNING TO USE. IN ORDER TO
FIND OUT THIS SECRET WEAPON, THEYCAPTURED ONE OF THE ENEMIES'
HIGH RANKING COUNTS WHO HAD INFORMATION ON THIS WEAPON.
INTERROGATING HIM FOR HOURS, THEY COULD GET NO INFORMATION.
FINALLY, THEY THREATENED THE COUNT BY PUTTING HIM ON THE
CHOPPING BLOCK. THE EXECUTIONER HAD HIS AX READY TO BEHEAD
THE COUNT WHEN THE CHIEF INTERROGATOR GAVE THE LAST CHANCE
TO TELL THEM THE VALUABLE INFORMATION. AS THE COUNT REFUSED
AGAIN, THE SIGNAL WAS GIVEN FOR THE EXECUTIONER TO CUT OFF
THE COUNT'S HEAD. AS THE AX WAS COMING DOWN, THE COUNT
CHANGED HIS MIND AND CALLED OUT, "WAIT, WAIT. I'LL TELL YOU
EVERYTHING!" BUT BEFORE THE ORDER COULD BE REVERSED, SWISH,
THE HEAD WENT ROLLING OFF THE CHOPPING BLOCK. THE MORAL
OF THE STORY: DON'T HATCHET YOUR COUNTS BEFORE THEY CHICKEN.
Submitter comment: I HEARD THIS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT DON'T REMEMBER FROM WHOM.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): COWARD FEAR
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SHAGGY DOG STORY (WITH A MORAL)
A COUNT IN THE DAYS OF OLD WAS ACCUSED OF STEALING FROM
THE KING AND SENTENCED TO BE BEHEADED FOR HIS CRIME. HE
IS TAKEN UP TO THE HIGHEST TOWER IN THE CASTLE OF THE KING
AND HIS HEAD IS SET ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. THE AXMAN TURNS
TO HIM AND SAYS, "WILL YOU ADMIT THAT YOU DID THE STEALING
BEFORE I MUST BEHEAD YOU?" AND THE COUNT DENIES IT. AGAIN,
AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE AXMAN PLEADS, "TELL THAT YOU DID
THE STEALING AND YOU WILL BE RELEASED." AGAIN, THE COUNT
REFUSES TO TELL AND THE AXMAN PREPARED TO LIFT THE BLADE.
JUST AS THE AX GOES DOWN, THE COUNT SCREAMS OUT, "I DID IT."
BUT IT IS TOO LATE TO RECALL THE AX, AND HE IS BEHEADED.
THE MORAL OF THIS STORY IS AS FOLLOWS: "DON'T HATCHET
YOUR COUNTS BEFORE THEY CHICKEN."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
Keyword(s): FEAR COWARD
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 03-27-1971
(PROVERB)
THERE ONCE WAS A KING WHO HAD A COUNT SUSPECTED OF WITH-
HOLDING HIS PAYMENTS TO THE KING. THE KING THREATENED
HIM WITH THE AWE {AXE} IF HE WOULDN'T CONFESS TO WITHHOLDING.
THEN ONE DAY HE WAS DETERMINED TO GO THROUGH WITH IT. HE
HAD THE COUNT DRAGGED UP TO THE BLOCK AND STRAPPED IN.
"I'LL GIVE YOU ONE LAST CHANCE," SAID THE KING, BUT THE
COUNT SAID NOTHING.
THE KING TOLD THE HEADSMAN TO READY HIS AXE. AS THE AXE
WAS RAISED OVER THE COUNT'S NECK, THE KING SAID: "I'LL
GIVE YOU ONE MORE CHANCE." BUT THE COUNT STILL SAID
NOTHING. THE KING TOLD THE HEADSMAN TO CHOP. AS THE
BLADE WAS COMING DOWN, THE COUNT YELLED: "WAIT!" BUT IT
WAS TOO LATE.
THIS ONLY GOES TO SHOW THAT YOU SHOULDN'T HATCHET YOUR
COUNTS BEFORE THEY CHICKEN.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): FEAR COWARD
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 11-02-1970
Superstition
Belief:
A pregnant woman should avoid being scared or shocked because this will disfigure or mark the baby.
Examples:
1. During a fire, a terrified pregnant woman grabbed her face with her hands and the baby was born with a red streak on its face.
2. A pregnant woman was scared by a mouse, and her baby was born with a marking on its shoulder similar to a mouse.
Submitter comment:
The informant heard of these two instances while she as a young girl in Poland.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Reference
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Biology ; BIRTH ; Birthmark ; CHILD ; FEAR ; FIRE ; Mouse ; Offspring ; Old Wives Tale ; PREGNANCY ; RODENT ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Superstition
Pregnancy Belief:
When the informant was a student nurse in obstetrics at Mt. Carmel Hospital in 1968, she had a Slavic patient who had a patch of hair on her back at the base of her spine. the woman haad been told by her mother that she had been frightened by a bear while she was carrying her daughter. She was extrememly frightened when she suddenly saw the bearbut as she made the spontaneous gesture of clutching herself, she thought it would be dangerous to her child if she raised her hands to her face in fear in the front, so she reached behind and grabbed her back. She belived this had caused the patch on her daughter's back.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Reference
Where learned: Public Health Nurse
Keyword(s): BABY ; Bear ; BELIEF ; CHILD ; CURSE ; FEAR ; infant ; jinx ; Offspring ; Old Wives Tale ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Superstition
If a pregnant woman is frightened by fire, the baby will have a red or purple birthmark.
Submitter comment:
Belief: Means of Cursing
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Reference
Original BN [P740] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): BABY ; BIRTH ; Birthmark ; CHILD ; COLOR ; CURSE ; FEAR ; FIRE ; jinx ; Offspring ; Old Wives Tale ; Purple ; Red ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Superstition
Pregnancy Superstition:
If a pregnant woman is frightened her baby will be born marked in some way.
Submitter comment:
This is a superstition common in the Oswald family
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Reference
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BABY ; BELIEF ; Birthmark ; CHILD ; CURSE ; FEAR ; jinx ; Mark ; Offspring ; PREGNANCY ; Scare ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Superstition
My grandmother has a mark, which she calls a "fire mark" on her upper arm. It is oddly similar ro a birthmark, bu this is the story of its origin according to my grandmother:
When her mother was pregnant with her, there was a fire in the Russion town where they lived. Her mother went out to look at it, and the night was quite cold. She grasped her upper arm because of this cold, and so my grandmother was born with a mark in the same place her mother had held her arm.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Reference
Original BN [P840] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: Myself
Keyword(s): BABY ; BIRTH ; Birthmark ; Cold ; CURSE ; FEAR ; FIRE ; jinx ; Offspring ; Russia ; Scare ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Superstition
Belief:
If you're frightened during pregnancy after the 7th month the child will be born with a birth mark such as a strawberry or in the shape of a thing that produced the fright.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Reference
Original BN [P880] crossed out. Replaced with Current Classification
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): BABY ; BIRTH ; CHILD ; CURSE ; FEAR ; jinx ; Offspring ; Old Wives Tale ; Scare ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Superstition
"Mouse"
My brother has a birthmark on his thigh. But my grandmother refuses to believe that it did not come about inthis way: She says that when my mother was pregnant a mouse must have frightened her and she must have grabbed her leg at the thigh, in the place where my brother has the "mouse." Her proof is that my uncle has the same kind of mark in the same place on his leg, and she is sure that she was scared by a mouse when pregnant with him.
Data entry tech comment:
motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Reference
Original BN [P840] crossed out and replaced with current classification.
Where learned: Myself
Keyword(s): BIRTH ; Birthmark ; CHILD ; CURSE ; FEAR ; Mouse ; Offspring ; Scare ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Superstition: Pregnancy
Cats:
Cats shouldn't be allowed in the same room as a sleeping baby because the smell of milk on a baby's breath will cause the cat to suffocate the baby when the cat attempts to suck the milk out of the baby through the baby's mouth.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P400] crossed out / replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; ASPHYXIATION ; BABY ; CAT ; CHILD ; DEATH ; FEAR ; Feline ; FOOD ; Kill ; Milk ; Newborn ; Offspring ; Suffocate ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition: Pregnancy
Cats and Babies:
Many mothers will not leace cats in the same room as an infant. They believe a cat can suck all the aior out of a baby's lungs and kill it.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ASPHYXIATION ; BABY ; CAT ; CHILD ; FEAR ; Feline ; infant ; Newborn ; Suffocate ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition: Pregnancy
Cat Belief:
Never place a baby unattended in the same room as a cat, because the cat will leap up onto the child and take hold of the child's tongue and strangle the child.
Submitter comment:
Informant said she saw a cat do this and was able to save the child before the child expired.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P740] crossed out / replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO
Keyword(s): ASPHYXIATION ; BABY ; CAT ; CHILD ; FEAR ; Feline ; infant ; Newborn ; STRANGULATION ; SUFFOCATION ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition
Cats:
It isn't good to keep a cat in the house while sleeping, for it would soon become fascinated in watching your Adam's Apple moving up and down, would try to catch it and eat it.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P750. P400] crossed out / replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): Adam's Apple ; CAT ; Consumption ; Devour ; FEAR ; Feline ; SLEEP ; SUPERSTITION ; SUPERSTITION ; Throat
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
Superstition: Pregnancy
Cats:
Never let a Tom Cat sleep in the same bedroom with a child, it will take the child's breath away and smother it, killing the child.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P549] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Where learned: OHIO ; LUCAS COUNTY
Keyword(s): ASPHYXIATION ; BABY ; CAT ; CHILD ; FEAR ; Feline ; SUFFOCATION ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |