Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IF YOU GET UP AND RUN AROUND THE TABLE WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING CARDS
IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LUCK.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): CIRCUMAMBULATION ; REVERSAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Conversions Games Pastimes Sports |
Date learned: 07-19-1968
IF THREE PEOPLE LIGHT A CIGARETTE ON ONE MATCH, BAD LUCK
WILL FOLLOW THE YOUNGEST TO USE THE MATCH.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): YOUNGEST IS THE LAST BORN
Date learned: 07-19-1968
SPIT ON TOE WHEN STUMPED.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LOUISVILLE
Keyword(s): STUBBED?
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails |
Date learned: 03-00-1969
WHEN A HEN CROWS, A CHILD WILL DIE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): AS OPPOSED TO A ROOSTER--UNNATURAL BEHAVIOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 07-00-1972
PULL ON A WISHBONE WITH A FRIEND. WHOEVER GETS THE LONGEST
PIECE WILL MARRY FIRST.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): BREASTBONE ; FO
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Meat BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 08-06-1968
WHEN PREGNANT, DO NOT PUT YOUR ARMS ABOVE YOUR HEAD, OR THE
CORD WILL WRAP AROUND YOUR BABY'S NECK AND CHOKE HIM.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; BRENTWOOD
Keyword(s): UMBILICAL CORD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Use of Object Human beings and their activities |
Date learned: 07-05-1973
IF A PREGNANT WOMAN DOESN'T EAT A PIECE OF CHALK, HER BABIES
TEETH WILL COME IN ROTTEN.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Food BELIEF -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF A PITCHER STRIKES OUT THE FIRST BATTER, HE WILL LOSE THE
BALLGAME.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): BASEBALL
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance BELIEF -- Bad luck Games Pastimes Sports |
Date learned: 07-26-1968
IT'S BAD LUCK TO WALK AROUND MY CHAIR WHEN PLAYING CARDS.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; HOPKINSVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): CIRCUMAMBULATION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) BELIEF -- Bad luck Games Pastimes Sports |
CHILDREN'S STORY
SOME TROLL LIVED UNDER A BRIDGE--SORT OF A CULVERT, BUT HE
CALLED IT A BRIDGE--AN', UH, I BELIEVE THERE WAS THREE GOATS
LIVED ON ONE SIDE OF A HILL, AN' THERE WAS A GREEN PASTURE
ON THE OTHER SIDE (OF THE BRIDGE). THEY'D JUST EATEN UP
EVERYTHING THEY HAD ON THEIR SIDE AN' THEY WANTED TO GO OVER TO
THIS GREEN PASTURE. BUT THEY WERE AFRAID OF THE TROLL 'COS
EVERYBODY THAT WENT ACROSS THIS BRIDGE, HE CAME OUT, Y'KNOW
AN' HE GOBBLED 'EM UP, ONE WAY OR 'NOTHER, AN' THESE THREE
GOATS DECIDED THEY WOULD GO ACROSS TO THE PASTURE. SO THEY
DECIDED THEY WOULD TRY THIS RUSE, AT LEAST THEY'D GET THEIR
LITTLE ONE ACROSS AN', UH, GET OVER WHERE THE PASTURE WAS
GREEN, 'COS IT WAS PROB'LY STARVATION IF THEY DIDN'T. SO
THE LITTLE FELLA, THEY THOUGHT HE'S SO LIGHT MAYBE HE WOULDN'T
HEAR HIM ANYWAY, AN' HE'D GET ACROSS, HE TRIPPED ACROSS THIS
BRIDGE. THE OLD TROLL SAID, "WHO'S THAT TRIPPIN' ACROSS MY
BRIDGE?" HE SAID, "I'M THE LITTLE GOAL BILLY." HE SAID, "I'M
COMIN' OUT AN' EAT YOU UP." AN' HE SAID, "OH, DON'T EAT ME
UP," SAID, UH, "MY FATHER'S COMIN' AFTER A WHILE AN' HE'S
MUCH BIGGER THAN I." AN' HE SAID, "VERY WELL THEN, GO ON."
SO THEN THE MIDDLE-SIZED GOAT, WHICH WAS THE MOMMA GOAT,
WENT ACROSS. AN' HE WANTED TO KNOW, THE OLD TROLL SAYS,
"WHO'S THAT TRAPPIN' ACROSS MY BRIDGE?" THE LITTLE ONE TRIPPED,
& THIS ONE TRAPPED. "WHO'S THAT CROSSIN' MY BRIDGE?" TRAP,
TRAP, TRAP. SHE SAID SHE'S THE MIDDLE-SIZE GOAT BILLY . . .
MAYBE THE NANNY GOAT . . . HE SAYS HE'S COMIN' OUT AN' EAT HER UP.
AN' SHE SAID, "OH, NO, DON'T COME OUT AN' EAT ME UP NOW,"
SHE SAID, "WE'RE GOIN' ACROSS IN A GREEN PASTURE WHERE WE CAN
EAT GRASS AN' GROW FAT, AN' THEN WHEN WE COME BACK WE'LL BE
GOOD FOR YE TO EAT." AND HE TOLD HER, VERY WELL, THEN, BUT
BE SURE THEY CAME BACK THAT WAY. SO AFTER A WHILE THE PAPA
GOAT, THE BIG BILLY GOAT, WENT ACROSS, TROMP, TROMP, TROMP.
AN' HE SAID, "WHO'S THAT TROMPIN' ACROSS MY BRIDGE?" AND HE
SAID, "THE BIG GOAT BILLY." HE SAID, "I'M COMIN' OUT AN'
EAT YOU UP." AN' HE SAID, UH, "WELL, COME AHEAD, THEN."
SO, THE TROLL CAME OUT, AND HE (THE GOAT) WAS SO STRONG HE
TOOK HIS OL' HORNS, Y'KNOW, AN' GORED HIM WITH 'EM; HE TOOK
AHOLD OF HIS NOSE AN' BROKE IT. THE TROLL'S NOSE WAS AS
LONG AS A BROOMSTICK AN' HIS EYES WAS AS BIG AS SAUCERS, AN'
HIS HAIR LOOKED LIKE, WELL . . . IT LOOKED ABOUT LIKE YOURS
(THE COLLECTOR'S LONG HAIR). ANYWAY, HE GORED HIM AN' HE
PICKED HIM UP AN' PITCHED HIM OVER IN THE RIVER, AN'
HE WAS GONE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT WAS DOUBTFUL AS TO WHETHER SHE WAS CORRECTLY
REPEATING THE STORY, BUT SHE FELT SHE HAD IT MOSTLY CORRECT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal |
Date learned: 07-06-1973
YEARS AGO ONE TEACHER TOLD EVERYONE THAT IF THEY DIDN'T BRING
SOMETHING TO WRITE WITH TO HER CLASS, SHE'S CUT THEIR GRADE
DOWN A POINT EACH TIME THEY CAME IN WITHOUT ANYTHING. EVEN
AFTER A NEW TEACHER TOOK HER PLACE, EVERY DAY, EVERYONE TOOK
A BRAILLER WHICH IS BIG AND CUMBERSOME TO ENGLISH CLASS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; TSB ; TALKING WITH HIM THERE
Keyword(s): BRAILE WRITER BRAILE WRITING
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
CROWHEART BUTTE
THERE IS A BUTTE IN WYOMING CALLED CROWHEART BUTTE
WHICH HAS A HISTORICAL STORY ATTACHED TO ITS NAME, BUT
THE LOCAL PEOPLE PREFER THIS ONE. TWO INDIAN CHIEFS,
ONE OF THEM A CROW, WERE FEUDING, AND, RATHER
THAN RISK LOSING SO MANY BRAVES IN OPEN BATTLE,
DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE SETTLED ON TOP OF CROWHEART
BUTTE AND BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM ONLY. THEY
MET ON THE TOP THAT DAY (NO ONE HAS EXPLAINED HOW
THEY GOT UP THE STEEP SIDES) AND FOUGHT TO THE DEATH.
THE CROW CHIEF WAS KILLED, SO, ACCORDING TO TRADITION,
THE OTHER CHIEF CUT OUT HIS HEART AND ATE IT
WHILE THE BODY WAS STILL WARM TO SIGNIFY VICTORY.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): CANNIBALISM ; SINGLE COMBAT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
CABIN FEVER
IN THE MOUNTAINS IN WYOMING THERE IS A PARTICULARLY
BLEAK TIME OF THE YEAR DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WITH
THE INTENSE COLD AND GREAT QUANTITIES OF SNOW. DURING
THIS TIME, THE NATIVES WILL WARN YOU OF "CABIN FEVER,"
WHICH REFERS TO THE STIR-CRAZY ATTITUDE ONE CAN GET
DURING THIS TIME. ONE FEVER STORY CONCERNS TWO LOGGERS
WHO WERE SENT UP INTO THE TIMBER IN THE EARLY AUTUMN
AND TOLD TO COME DOWN WHEN THEY HAD CLEARED THE AREA.
THESE TWO MEN QUARRELED RIGHT ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THE
CABIN FEVER TIME AND QUIT SPEAKING. WEEKS WENT BY AND
THE TWO MEN CONTINUED TO WORK OPPOSITE ENDS OF A SAW,
SHARING BED AND BOARD, YET NEVER SPEAKING TO ONE
ANOTHER, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE AROUND
TO SPEAK TO. THEN, ONE DAY AFTER ABOUT SIX WEEKS OF
THIS, THEY FINISHED THE JOB AND WENT INTO DUBOIS TO
CELEBRATE. THAT NIGHT THEY ENCOUNTERED EACH OTHER NINE
TIMES IN THE BARS AND EACH TIME THEY HAD A VIOLENT
FIGHT. TOWNSPEOPLE WILL STILL POINT OUT WINDOWS THAT
WERE BROKEN AND WHERE BLOOD WAS SPILLED. AFTER THIS
RIOTOUS NIGHT, THE TWO MEN SHOOK HANDS AND WENT
BACK TO THE HILLS AGAIN. CABIN FEVER WAS OVER.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): BOREDOM ; LONLINESS ; WILDERNESS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
BELCHEWELL SOPHIE
THE INFORMANT CAN DATE THIS STORY IN HIS FAMILY AT LEAST
AS FAR BACK AS 1820.
ONCE THERE WAS A COW WHO HAD A PARTICULARLY POPULAR CALF,
LOVED BY ALL THE OTHER ANIMALS. THIS CALF'S NAME WAS
BELCHEWELL SOPHIE, AND EVERY EVENING AT DINNERTIME, THE
MOTHER COW WOULD CALL OUT:BELCHEWELL SOPHIE
COME GET YOUR INDIA LINEN
COME GET YOUR CALICO
AND THE CALF WOULD COME FOR HER DINNER. ONE NIGHT WHEN
THE MOTHER COW CALLED, BELCHEWELL SOPHIE DIDN'T COME.
NOR DID SHE COME HOME THE NEXT DAY. BY THIS TIME, THE
MOTHER WAS SURE SHE HAD BEEN EATEN BY ONE OF THE OTHER
ANIMALS, SO A CONCLAVE OF ALL THE ANIMALS WAS CALLED TO
DECIDE HOW TO FIND THE CULPRIT. FINALLY, IT WAS DECIDED
THAT THEY WOULD BUILD A BONFIRE AND ASK ALL THE ANIMALS
TO JUMP OVER IT, THE IDEA BEING THAT ANY ANIMAL WHO HAD
EATEN AS MUCH AS A CALF WOULD BE TOO FAT TO MAKE IT OVER
THE FIRE. SO THE FIRE WAS BUILT, AND THE ANIMALS LINED UP
TO JUMP OVER. THE RABBIT WAS FIRST AND AS HE JUMPED, HE SANG
(MUSIC WRITTEN ON THE 5 X 8 CARD):
I AIN'T NO LIAR AND I AINT NO ROGUE;
I DIDN'T EAT BELCHEWELL SOPHIE SO JUMP OVER ITT
AND OVER HE WENT. ALL THE OTHER ANIMALS FOLLOWED HIM
SINGING THE SAME SONG, EXCEPT THE WOLF. HE SLUNK IN THE
SHADOWS AND REFUSED TO JUMP. FINALLY WHEN HE HAD
EXHAUSTED THE PATIENCE OF THE OTHERS, HE APPROACHED
THE FIRE AND SANG:
(MUSIC ON THE 5 X 8 CARD)
I AM A LIAR AND I AM A ROGUE;
I DID EAT BELCHEWELL SOPHIE SO JUMP IN IT.
SO HE JUMPED INTO THE FIRE AND WAS BURNED UP.
(MUSIC WRITTEN ON 5 X 8 CARD)
James Callow comment: MUSIC ON THE 5 X 8 CARD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): CANTE FABLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal |
Date learned: 08-12-1968
MURDERED BOYFRIEND
A GIRL AND BOY ON A DATE RAN OUT OF GAS ON A DARK,
LONELY ROAD. THE BOY TOLD HER TO STAY IN THE LOCKED
CAR AND NOT LOOK BACK, WHILE HE WENT FOR HELP. SHE
STAYED ALL NIGHT, AND IN THE MORNING, SHE TURNED AND
LOOKED OUT THE BACK WINDOW. HER BOYFRIEND'S HEAD WAS
ON THE TRUNK, LOOKING IN AT HER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): HORROR ; The Boyfriend's Death
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 00001960 CA
THE SQUIRREL LADY
THIS OLD LADY HAS BEEN AROUND THE VANDY CAMPUS EVER
SINCE ANYONE CAN REMEMBER. SHE JUST COMES AROUND THREE
OR FOUR DAYS A WEEK AND FEEDS THE SQUIRRELS AND SHE HAS
NAMES FOR ALL OF THEM. SHE FIGHTS FOR THE SQUIRRELS
WHEN BUILDING IS GOING ON AND THEY START TEARING DOWN
THE TREES WHERE THE SQUIRRELS HAVE THEIR HOMES. OH
YES, SHE WALKS WITH A WALKER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMALS ANIMAL-LOVER ; VANDY=VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 04-13-1969
I ONCE SAW THIS THING IN 1964, LIKE A JET VAPOR TRAIN
AND IT WOULD GO ACROSS THE SKY WITHOUT SPREADING OUT.
SO ALL OF US KIDS WHO SAW IT ON THE PLAYGROUND AT
ROSEBANK STARTED GETTING REAL EXCITED THINKING WE
WERE BEING VISITED BY OTHER PLANETS AND EVERYTHING.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALIENS ; UFO U. F. O. UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT ; VAPOR TRAIL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Celestial Body |
Date learned: 07-20-1968
ONCE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, IN SUMMER OF LAST YEAR, I SAW
THIS BRIGHT STAR-LIKE THING IN THE SKY. IF I TOOK
IT TO THE AIR FORCE, THEY'D TELL ME IT WAS THE PLANET
VENUS. HOWEVER, IT WAS ABOUT TEN O'CLOCK AT NIGHT--
TOO LATE AT NIGHT FOR THE PLANET VENUS TO BE SEEN.
ALSO, THE OBJECT WAS TOO BRIGHT. IT WASN'T MOVING
AT ALL, SO IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A LIGHT FROM AN
AIRPLANE, HELICOPTER OR BLIMP. I TOOK A PICTURE OF IT
WHICH DIDN'T TURN OUT, SO WE HAVE NO PROOF. WHEN I
WENT OUTSIDE LATER THE THING WAS GONE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALIENS ; UFO U. F. O. UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Celestial Body |
Date learned: 07-20-1968
FATAL HAIRDO TALE
WHEN I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN NASHVILLE (1963-66)
THERE WERE A RASH OF FATAL HAIRDO STORIES CIRCULATING
AMONG THE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS. EVERYONE WHO TOLD THE
STORIES VOWED THAT THEIR VERSION WAS THE T R U E
VERSION. I CAN REMEMBER THAT THE GIRL
WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN A STUDENT AT STRATFORD HIGH
SCHOOL IN NASHVILLE, AND AT DONELSON HIGH SCHOOL
IN DONELSON, TENNESSEE WHICH IS A SUBURB OF NASHVILLE.
THE STORY BASICALLY WENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
THERE WAS THIS GIRL WHO HAD HER HAIR FIXED IN A
SPECIAL, ELABORATE WAY FOR A PROM OR SOME OTHER EVENT.
AFTER THE GIRL HAD HER HAIR DONE, FOR DAYS, AND EVEN
WEEKS AFTERWARDS, SHE ROLLED IT WITH TOILET PAPER EACH
NIGHT TO HOLD THE STYLE'S SHAPE AND NEVER BRUSHED IT OUT
BECAUSE SHE LIKED THE HAIRDO SO WELL. ONE DAY THIS GIRL
WAS SITTING IN CLASS AND BLOOD STARTED RUNNING DOWN
HER FACE. SHE FAINTED AND WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.
AT THE HOSPITAL, HER HAIRDO WAS DISMANTLED AND A NEST
OF ROACHES WAS FOUND IN HER HAIR. THEY HAD BURROWED
AND EATEN THEIR WAY INTO HER HEAD AND INTO HER BRAIN
AND KILLED HER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALSO SEE SAME BASIC STORY WITH A SPIDER IN IT.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 08-13-1968
ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I WAS LOOKING OUT THE DEN WINDOW AND I
SAW THIS STRANGE OBJECT THAT WAS OBLONG HOVERING VERY
LOW OVER TREES. IT WAS IN AUGUST. IT HAD VERY, VERY
BRIGHT ORANGE LIGHTS SHINING THROUGH ROWS AND ROWS OF
WINDOWS. SO, I DISMISSED IT FROM MY MIND AND I WAS
DETERMINED NOT TO TELL ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY'D THINK
I WAS NUTS. SO, IN A FEW DAYS AT MY DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY
PARTY ONE OF THE LITTLE GUESTS CAME IN AND SAID, "GUESS
WHAT, MY SISTER AND I SAW THE OTHER DAY?" A FLYING SAUCER."
IT TURNED OUT IT WAS AT THE SAME LOCATION AND TIME AS
THE ONE I HAD SEEN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALIENS ; UFO U. F. O. UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Celestial Body |
Date learned: 07-19-1968