Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Old returned 136 results.
RIDDLE
Q: IT SPINS AROUND BUT IS NOT (A) SPINNING WHEEL; IT CAN WALK A ROPE
BUT IT IS NOT A MONKEY.
A: A SPIDER.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; SHIPLE HALL
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANTITHETICAL ; HOUSEHOLD ITEMS (Q) ; INSECTS (A)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 12-02-1967
MIZSLE - LITHUANIAN RIDDLE
Q: KAS AUDSIA BE STAKLUZ? (WHAT WEAVES WITHOUT A LOOM?)
A: VORAS - A SPIDER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTION (Q) ; HOUSEHOLD ITEMS (Q) ; INSECTS (A) ; PRIVATIONAL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 03-08-1968
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT IS GREEN AND WHITE AND COLD ALL OVER?
A: GRASS WITH SNOW ON IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): LITERAL ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; STATES OF BEING (Q) COLOR
James Callow Keyword(s): WORD-PLAY: PUN ON "GOLD"
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 11-28-1967
RIDDLE
Q: THE LONGER I LIVE, THE SMALLER I GROW. YOU CAN STOP WHAT I'M DOING
WITH JUST ONE BLOW. WHAT AM I?
A: A CANDLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; HOUSEHOLD ITEMS (A) ; STATE OF BEING (Q)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
RIDDLE
Q: ITS HANDS ARE ALWAYS ON ITS FACE./ WHEN IT GOES, IT STAYS IN ONE
PLACE./ WHAT IS IT?
A: A CLOCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HOUSEHOLD ITEMS ; PARTICULAR AREA (Q) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
RIDDLE
Q: ILE ICMLE, NE NE, A XOGUMLE I DE.
Q: DOESN'T EAT, DOESN'T DRINK, BUT RUNS AND RINGS.
A: CLOCK.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM GRANDMOTHER IN UKRAINE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; HOUSEHOLD ITEMS (A) ; PRIVATIONAL OPPOSITIONAL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 10-14-1967
RIDDLE
Q: LONG LEGS, CROKED (CROOKED?) THIGHS, LITTLE HEAD, NO EYES.
A: A PAIR OF TONGS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): HOUSEHOLD ITEMS (A) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q) ; PRIVATIONAL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
RIDDLE IN VERSE
Q: I'M AS HELPFUL AS CAN BE/ BUT I MAKE AN AWFUL DIN/ WHEN I LEAVE,
NO DIRT YOU'LL SEE/ FOR I TAKE THE DIRT RIGHT IN.
A: VACUUM CLEANER. (VACUUM CLEANER)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; HOUSEHOLD ITEMS (A) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
RIDDLE
Q: WHILE I WAS ON MY WAY TO ST. IVES/ I MET A MAN WITH SEVEN WIVES/
EACH WIFE HAD SEVEN BAGS/ EACH BAG HAD SEVEN CATS/ EACH CAT HAD
SEVEN KITTENS/ WIVES, BAGS, CATS AND KITTENS/ HOW MANY WERE GOING
TO ST. IVES?
A: ONE.
Data entry tech comment: TWO VARIANTS IN U OF D FOLKLORE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMALS (Q) ; HOUSEHOLD ITEM (Q) ; NUMBERS ; PERSONS (Q)
James Callow Keyword(s): CUMULATIVE VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle C890.400 |
Date learned: 11-18-1970
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM
AFTER THE FEAST OF ST. MATTHEW YOU NEED AN OVERCOAT FOR A FRIEND.
NA SWIENTEGO MACIEJA TRZEBA KORZUCZKA DOBRODRZIEJA. (POLISH)
Data entry tech comment:
FOR A FRIEND EQUALS AS A FRIEND.
TRANSLATION BY MRS. K.J. UNIECHOWSKI
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): WEATHER PROVERB
James Callow Keyword(s): COLD WEATHER ; TRANSLATION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- September 21 BELIEF -- Air Weather Fire PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 12-00-1965
SPIRIT OF THE HOUSE
IT IS AN ITALIAN BELIEF THAT EVERY HOUSEHOLD HAS A GOOD
SPIRIT THAT REMAINS WITH IT AND SOMETIMES CAN BE SEEN.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; AUBURN
James Callow Keyword(s): COBOLD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 12-00-1971
OH SUZANNAH
CHORUS: OH, TRI SIGMA, OH HOW WE HONOR THEE,
FOR I'M JUST A LITTLE PLEDGE WITH
A PLEDGE PIN PINNED ON ME.
WITH SPIRIT AND WITH FORTITUDE
THESE SEVEN WEEKS WE TRY,
TO LEARN TO BE THE KIND OF GIRL
THAT RATES WITH SIGMA TRI.
CHORUS
AS PLEDGES WE WILL DO OUR BEST
TO TRY TO SATISFY.
IN HOPES THE BONDS OF SISTERHOOD
WILL HOLD US TILL WE DIE
CHORUS
SONG OF SIGMA SIGMA SIGMA
BETA TAU CHAPTER
Data entry tech comment: WILL WE HOLD US...
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): OLD SUSANNAH ; SORORITY SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Admiration Praise Adulation Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Social reunion |
HARDER TO BEND A TREE WHEN THE TRUNK IS BIG AND OLD
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY INFORMANT
Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS ; OLD AGE? ; PLANT METAPHOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 12-04-1965
OLD
HE IS AS OLD AS JOB.
Submitter comment: TOLD BY MOTHER
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; HOLDEN HALL
Keyword(s): BIBLICAL CHARACTER ; OLD AGE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT
I'M A LITTLE TEAPOT SHORT AND STOUT,
HERE'S MY HANDLE, HERE'S MY SPOUT
WHEN I GET ALL STEAMED UP I JUST SHOUT
TIP ME OVER AND POUR ME OUT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HOUSEHOLD OBJECT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
CHILDREN,S VERSE
SAM, SAM THE DIRTY OLD MAN,
WASHED HIS FACE IN A FRYIN' PAN;
COMBED HIS HAIR WITH A DONKEY'S TAIL,
SCRATCHED HIS BELLY WITH A PIG'S TOE-NAIL.
Where learned: ONTARIO ; OAKVILLE
Keyword(s): COMPARE "OLD DAN TUCKER" ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM
GROWING OLD IS BAD UNTIL YOU CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVE.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): OLD AGE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 03-11-1971
DAN, DAN, THE FUNNY WEE MAN,
WASHED HIS FACE WITH A FRYING PAN.
COMBED HIS HAIR WITH THE LEG OF A CHAIR
DAN, DAN, THE FUNNY WEE MAN.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): COMPARE OLD DAN TUCKER QUATRAIN NONSENSE ; RHYME: AABA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C7309 |
Date learned: 10-29-1968
Entry filtered.
A GAMBLER'S LESSON
FAR AWAY BY A RIVER, THERE WAS A LITTLE WHITE HOUSE IN WHICH THERE LIVED A FAMILY.
A FATHER, MOTHER, A BOY AND A GIRL. THEY HAD ONE PROBLEM, THEIR FATHER LIKED TO GAMBLE
AND DRINK. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEIR MOTHER GOT VERY SICK. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO SEND
HER TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE THE FATHER GAMBLED EVERYTHING HE EARNED. THE MOTHER DIED. THE
GIRL WAS HELPING WITH EVERYTHING AROUND THE HOUSE AND THE BOY WAS TRYING TO EARN MONEY FOR
THE LIVING OF THE FAMILY. ONE DAY THE BOY WAS DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY. HE WAS ALWAYS WONDERING
HOW HIS SISTER WAS MANAGING AT HOME AND WAS ALWAYS VERY SAD. HIS ARMY BUDDY WAS ASKING HIM WHY
HE WAS SO SAD. HE TRIED TO HIDE THE ANSWER FROM HIM, BUT FINALLY TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD A BEAUTIFUL
SISTER WHO COULD NOT MANAGE THE HOME BECAUSE OF THE FATHER'S GAMBLING. HIS FRIEND PROMISED TO
HELP HIM DURING HIS NEXT FURLOUGH. HE WENT TO A THEATRE AND BOUGHT HIMSELF A DEVIL OUTFIT. WHEN
FURLOUGH TIME CAME, HE PUT THE OUTFIT ON, AND ON TOP OF IT, THE BEST SUIT THA HE COULD FIND.
WHEN THEY REACHED THE BOY'S HOME, THEY COULDN'T FIND THE BOY'S FATHER. THE SISTER TOLD HIM THAT
THEIR FATHER WAS A FEW MILES AWAY AT AN INN. THE BOY'S FRIEND WENT TO THE INN AND ASKED FOR THE MAN.
THE INNKEEPER TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS PLAYING CARDS IN THE CORNER. HE WENT OVER TO THE CORNER AND GREETED
THE GAMBLERS, ASKING PERMISSION TO JOIN THEM. THEY ACCEPTED HIM. HE WAS A VERY GOOD CARD PLAYER AND
STARTED TO WIN FROM THE BEGINNING. A FEW HOURS LATER, ONLY THE GIRL'S FATHER WAS LEFT IN THE GAME.
ALL THE OTHERS HAD STOPPED PLAYING BECAUSE THEY HAD LOST EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAD. THE GIRL'S FATHER
WAS LOSING ALSO. BY ELEVEN O'CLOCK, HE ASKED FOR ONE FREE HAND OF CARDS. HE HAD LOST EVERYTHING. THE
BOY GAVE IT TO HIM. IT ALSO WAS A LOSING HAND. THE MAN WANTED TO QUIT AND TOLD THE BOY THAT HE HAD NO
MONEY TO GAMBLE. THE BOY TOOK HIS GLOVES OFF. RED, LONG FINGERNAILS WERE STICKING OUT FROM HIS DEVIL'S
OUTFIT, AND WHEN HE REMOVED HIS HAT, LITTLE HORNS WERE STICKING OUT FROM HIS HAIR. HE SAID, "NOW WE ARE
GOING TO PLAY FOR YOUR SOUL. I WOULD LIKE TO WIN YOUR SOUL." THE MAN JUMPED UP AND STARTED TO RUN TOWARDS
HIS HOME. THE YOUNG MAN WAS PURSUING HIM. THERE WAS A CHURCH BY THE ROAD. THE MA RAN INTO IT. THE MAN TOOK
THE SEAT CLOSEST TO THE ALTAR. THE BOY, OUTSIDE THE CHURCH, WHISTLED HIS WAY TO HIS FRIEND'S HOME. THE MAN
WAITED TILL THE PRIEST CAME IN AND ASKED FOR CONFESSION. THE BOY RETURNED ALL THE WINNINGS TO HIS FRIEND AND
ASKED TO MARRY HIS SISTER. FROM THAT DAY ON, THEY WERE A VERY HAPPY FAMILY. THEIR FATHER DID NOT DRINK OR GAMBLE ANYMORE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS STORY AT AN EVENING OF FAMILY STORY TELLING I LUKOWA, POLAND.
HE LAUGHED QUITE A BIT WHEN DESCRIBING THE DEVIL AN THE EFFECT IT HAD ON THE GAMBLING FATHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; POLAND ; LUKOWA
James Callow Keyword(s): SOLDIER DISGUISED AS DEVIL REFORMS COMPULSIVE GAMBLER
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ordinary Tale PROSE NARRATIVE -- Magic |
Date learned: 00-00-1934