Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for B returned 4320 results.
After a funeral the best friend of the deceased is given a bowl of boiled wheat, a glass, and silverware. This little ceremony transfers the worldly goods of the deceased to the living.
Submitter comment:
Informant noted that this custom is not as popular as it used to be but it is still practiced.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): DEATH ; Deceased ; FRIENDSHIP ; GLASS ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; RITUAL ; Silverware ; SYMBOL ; Symbolic ; SYMBOLISM ; UTENSILS ; Wheat
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Nine Times Tables
Easy way to multiply by nine:
1x9=9
2x9=18
3x9=27
4x9=36
5x9=45
6x9=54
7x9=63
8x9=72
9x9=81
Count from one to eight for the first didgits top down, and then again from the bottom up (for the second digits).
Data entry tech comment:
Possible name variations for Collector: Cuisloh, Crisloh, Cisloh
Possible name variations for Informant: Frabiky, Frabilsy, Zrabiky, Zrabilsy
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Arithmetic ; Calculation ; Cheat ; COUNTING ; MATHEMATICS ; MULTIPLICATION ; Multiplication Tables ; NUMBERS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Numbers System of counting Calculation |
Frogs and Pain
Years ago, people had rainbarrels. They would use the water for many purposes. With this old aunt of mine, she kept frogs in this rainbarrel. (If anyone asks, there were floats of cork in the rainbarrel that the frogs could hop on; they can't stay in the water all the time of they'd drown.) She had a good reason for it, too!
Because she was tiny and worked very hard, she had a weak back. When she would get a severe backache, she would send her son out to the rainbarrel to get a frog. Then her son would put the frog in her girdle. Now, she was tiny and wore a girdle for back support. Wherever the pain was, the frog would go and it would sit right where the pain was. When the frog died, the pain was gone. (It took about 15 minutes for the frog to die.) The frog would take the pain away!
Submitter comment:
[Question by Collector:] How did the frog know where the pain was?
[Answer by Informant:] The frog always goes to where the pain is localized. This never failed to work with her and all her children do the same. Men do the same with a tightly wrapped sheet around their backs in stead of a girdle.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL CURE ; BACKACHE ; CURE ; FROG ; Girdle ; MEDICAL ; Medicinal ; PAIN ; Pain Remedy
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Faerie: Elves and Time Travellers
There is no such thing as "a fairy," but rather "Faerie" is a place - a half-remembered world perhaps existing in another dimension. "Faerie" was inhabited not by faeries but by elves. These Elves were not diminutive, but tall, pale, thin and fair. They were especially noted for their grey eyes. They are unable to touch iron: suggesting that these were early time-travellers unable to come in contact with magnetic sources without "grounding out" of the earthly dimension.
Data entry tech comment:
Collector stamped a home address stamp onto the card in the place of "collector data."
Stamp reads: Mrs.W.E. Givens, Jr.
They then crossed out the Prefix and first initials [Mrs. W.E.] of the name, and wrote an indecipherable scrawl over the suffix [Jr.]. This scrawl may possibly be Rev. or Esq.
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Boggs number P400 was crossed out and P423 was substituted.
Where learned: WALES ; ABERYSTWYTH
Keyword(s): Attributes ; Dimension ; Elf ; Elves ; Faerie ; Fairy ; IRON ; Legend ; Lore ; METAL ; MYTH ; Physics ; Time-Traveler
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Scare Stories
44
1) Teenage Couple driving in the country, run out of gas.
2) Hear drip, drip, drip - its blood.
28
1) Next door neighbors in love.
2) Girl wore a yellow ribbon around her neck that she wouldn't take off.
3) She untied it, her head fell off.
1
1) Two children home alon eon Halloween see a ghost.
2) Turns out to be their uncle in costume
Data entry tech comment:
No information listed on card. Omitted: Collector data, informant date.
Unknown meaning of numbers preceeding each story.
Bogg Number added by TRD
James Callow comment:
18400 Praire
Corner of Pickford and Praire
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): Car ; Costume ; Drip ; Fable ; HALLOWEEN ; Ribbon ; Scary ; Stories ; SYMBOLISM ; Urban Legends ; Yellow Ribbon
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative |
Story
The recruit would go around the base in a constant search looking for a piece of paper. He would go through elaborate to attract attention [sic]. He would turn over rocks, pick up other pieces of paper or what have you. After each act he would exclaim "no, that's not it!" Finally he got the attention of the camp doctors who then had him confined. Finally the doctors deemed him unfit for service and gave him a medical discharge. Then the guy said he finally found the right piece of paper.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Bogg Number [B600] crossed out and replaced with B646
Keyword(s): Discharge ; FEIGNED INSANITY TO GET OUT OF MILITARY SERVICE. ; Fool ; INSANITY ; INSANITY ; Mental Disorder ; MILITARY ; Parable ; Recruit ; Sanity ; Wise Fool
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Romantic Realistic |
Goblin Story
A few years ago, in the main plant of Valente's Men's Formal Wear, the general manager, Marty Rapp, and David Palm were cleaning out the drainage wells beside the 50 pound washers down in the laundry. These wells are about 3 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep. Marty, being general manager, directed, while Dave did the cleaning. All of a sudden, Dave found himself being pulled into the well. He was waist deep in the murky water before Marty pulled him out by the arm. Maybe it was well that Marty was there directing, far Max, a vile, loathsome creature that lives in the sewers under Valente's had tried to pull Dave down into his submarine lair. For what purpose, no one knows, but it is certain it wouldn't have been pleasant. From then on, people are cautioned not to walkalone in the laundry in the dark.
Submitter comment:
For us at Valente's, Max is something to blame accidents on. Dave didn't really get pulled into the well, Marty pushed him in. Though, if you ask anyone there about Dave falling into the well, you will probably get the version with Max in it, then the real one.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; VALENTES MENS FORMALWEAR
Keyword(s): FANTASY ; Goblin ; Lore ; Mischief ; OMEN ; SEWER ; Submarine ; SUPERNATURAL ; WATER
| Subject headings: |
Goblin Story
A few years ago, in the main plant of Valente's Men's Formal Wear, the general manager, Marty Rapp, and David Palm were cleaning out the drainage wells beside the 50 pound washers down in the laundry. These wells are about 3 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep. Marty, being general manager, directed, while Dave did the cleaning. All of a sudden, Dave found himself being pulled into the well. He was waist deep in the murky water before Marty pulled him out by the arm. Maybe it was well that Marty was there directing, far Max, a vile, loathsome creature that lives in the sewers under Valente's had tried to pull Dave down into his submarine lair. For what purpose, no one knows, but it is certain it wouldn't have been pleasant. From then on, people are cautioned not to walkalone in the laundry in the dark.
Submitter comment:
For us at Valente's, Max is something to blame accidents on. Dave didn't really get pulled into the well, Marty pushed him in. Though, if you ask anyone there about Dave falling into the well, you will probably get the version with Max in it, then the real one.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; VALENTES MENS FORMALWEAR
Keyword(s): FANTASY ; Goblin ; Lore ; Mischief ; OMEN ; SEWER ; Submarine ; SUPERNATURAL ; TRICKSTER ; WATER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
The Nun in the Bar
A guy picked up a nun in the street and invited her into a bar to have a drink with him. "I really shouldn't," said the nun. But the man finally convinced her. when they got into the bar she told him she'd have a double martini, but to bring it in a coffee cup so that other people wouldn't knwo she was drinking. "Hey bartender," the man yelled out. "Give me a double martini in a coffee cup!" "oh," replied the bartender, "That nun's back again."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): BAR ; Bartender ; Bartender Jokes ; Comic dialogue ; DIALOGUE ; DRINKING HUMOR ; HUMOR ; JOKES ; Pub ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS ; Religious Jokes
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious |
THERE IS A LEGEND THAT SAYS THAT ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS IN
COUNTY SLIGO, IRELAND HAS A LUMP IN THE MIDDLE AND THE PEOPLE
SAY THAT ONE DAY THE DEVIL TOOK A BITE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND SPIT
IT AT CASHEL.
Submitter comment:
KATHY HEARD THIS FROM AN IRISHMAN WHILE HITCH-HIKING FROM CORK
TO LIMERICK IN IRELAND. CASHEL IS A ROCK ABOUT THREE HUNDRED FEET
HIGH WITH A RUIN OF A CASTLE AND CATHEDRAL ON IT. I BELIEVE IT WAS
ONCE THE SEAT OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS BUT AM NOT SURE. I DO NOT KNOW
IF THE MAN WHO TOLD KATHY BELIEVED IT BUT KATHY DOESN'T.
Data entry tech comment:
Additional (non-numbered) Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
[Please make a copy. Label it B472] - handwritten at the bottom of the card.
The original Boggs Number [P400] is crossed out and B425 and B472 are written next to it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; PARTY
Keyword(s): Castle ; Cathedral ; DEVIL ; GEOLOGY ; IRELAND ; IRISH BELIEF ; MOUNTAIN ; NATURE ; Pagan ; RELIGION ; RELIGIOUS LEGEND ; Rock ; Rock Formation
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
Legend of Writing to Dead People for Lottery Numbers
When writing to dead people for numbers in the lottery, don't cross your t's or dot your i's. And don't use punctuation. At night, put it over a glass of water, under the bed, on top of silver three-pence. A number is to be provided somehow.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Boggs Number [B420 429] crossed out and others added: P840, P429, P686
Where learned: DORM ROOM
Keyword(s): Clairvoyance ; Gamble ; GAMBLING ; GRAMMAR ; Lottery ; NUMBERS ; RITUAL ; Spell ; SPIRIT ; SUPERNATURAL
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Number |
Ghost Belief
A ghost won't enter your house if a camel's bones are buried beneath the doorstep.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original letter of the Boggs Number [B429] has been crossed out and replaced with a P.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BONES ; Camel ; GHOST ; House ; Protection ; PROTECTION AGAINST EVIL FORCES ; SUPERNATURAL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Goats Feet
There was a girl who liked to dance and socialize very often. Her parents objected so she used to sneak out of the house. One day her mother caught her and put a curse on her. If she went out of the house to go dancing again her feet would turn to goat's ffet. She didn't believe her mother. Next time she went out her beau picked her up and off they went. When she went to get out of the car, she looked down and her feet had turned to goat's feet. The moral is: listen to your parents.
Submitter comment:
Polish Tale (Written across the top of the card)
Co - Feet of girl turned into feet of goat when/after she is cursed by her mother for dancing. (written on an attached card that listed motifs. Signed by M. Butzen
Data entry tech comment:
Non-numbered motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Boggs Number [B600] crossed out and B642 written nest to it.
Collector's note of Polish Tale is crossed out.
Why Polish is written at the bottom of the card, then crossed out and followed by: B. Fagan says this is a Polish FolkTale.
A separate card is attached with motif numbers listed. Bottom of card is signed by an M. Butzen.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Dancing ; DATING ; Fable ; FAMILY ; FEET ; Goat ; Moral ; PARENTAL RESPECT ; PARENTS ; POLISH ; SOCIAL RELATIONS ; Teenager ; YOUTH
James Callow Keyword(s): POLISH
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Magic |
House-Demons
By a clean river, there grew oak trees from centuries before. Not far from there lived a Samogitian of many years. Together with im lived his beautiful and larg efamily. Their barns were full of cattle, the corn overflowed into the storehouse. No farmer, happier or richer than him, was around.
The other farmers, jealous of his success, started talking about him, that a house demon brought him all his riches. Many said that they saw the demons flying around the house.
The people's council, hearing such talk from the neighbors, sent an inspector over to the farmer's house; they ordered him to forbid the farmer, to tell him to finally learn to live with the other people.
the inspector, showing up at the farmer's house, told him directly that yhe should be ashamed to keep a demon in his house and that he should do only what is good for his neighbors.
the Samogitian only laughed at him. Still laughung he told the inspector that not a single of his demons has yet done wrong to any of his neighbors. Then the inspector told him to show him his demons. With that,. the farmer led the inspector by hand to his barn where all his farming tools stood.
-These- said the farmer, -are my demons that do good for me and my neighbors.-
Submitter comment:
Translated from Lithuanian by Ramune Stonys
An asterisk denotes a message for the word Samogalia, and explains that: Lithuania is divided into different regions. Samogalia is one region, located in Northern Lithuania.
On tha back of the card is an address for the translator:
R. Stonys
17276 Milton
Southfield, MI 48075
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Grammatical correction: Leave to Live.
Keyword(s): AGRICULTURE ; Demon ; Demons ; DISCIPLINE ; FARMER ; FARMING ; HARD WORK ; House ; Moral ; Neighbors ; Parable ; Relationships ; SELF DISCIPLINE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon |
The Blacksmiths Son
Long ago in a small village there lived a blacksmith. Now although blacksmiths were poor, they were, nevertheless, held in respect because they were the strongest men in the village.
People used to go to the blacksmith for advice and help. This particular balcksmithhad one son, and the blacksmith wanted his son to be a blacksmith also. But the son was lazy and did not like to work. One day he told his father: "father, I have a very brilliant idea. I'm going to learn your trade in an easy way. Here's my plan: Put me in a large basket above yuor workshop and I will watch everything you do. And by watching you constantly, I will earn your trade."
So the son was put in the basket and watched his father fort several months. Then the son said to his father: "Father, I think I'm ready." And so the father gave the son tools, and a large piece of iron, and said to his son: "now son, what are you going to make?"
"Father," the son said, "I think I'll make a hammer."
"Son," the father said, "If you can make a hammer, you will be a better blacksmith than I, because it took me five years to learn how to make a hammer." And the son worked feverishly for several days but to no avail. So the son went to his father and said: "Father, I think I'll make a horseshoe instead."
The father said; "Son, if you can make a horseshoe, you will be a better blacksmith than I, because it took me three years to learn how to make a horseshoe." The son again went out, pounding and forming, but to no avail. He said to the fahter: "Father, I think I will make a nail instead of a horseshoe."
The fahter said: "Son, if you can make a nail, you will be a better blacksmith than I, because it took me two years to learn how to make a nail." The son worked for several hours, but to no avail. He said to his father: "Father, I will make something you never made. I will make a needle."
"Son," said the father, "if you make a needle, you will be a better blacksmith than I, for no smith has made a needle. " And so, the son worked and worked until finally there was nothing left. but he did not give up. He said: "Father, I will make something with no iron at all."
"Son, if you can make something without iron, it will indeed make you a great blacksmith," the father replied.
The son said: "Come watch, Father." He took a pair of tongs and heated them red hot, and suddenly plunged them into a barrel of water, and said: "Father, I did it. I made a pss."
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Boggs Number [ B665] crossed out and B646 is written next to it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): Blacksmith ; FAMILY ; Father ; Hammer ; HORSESHOE ; HUMOR ; IRON ; Learn ; Lesson ; Needle ; Outsmart ; Skill ; Son ; TRADE ; Wise ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Romantic Realistic |
Yellow Ribbon
This is a story about John and Jane. They lived next door to each other, went to school together, and loved each other very much. John was a normal happy boy and Jane was a happy girl who always wore a yellow ribbon . Jane kept answering "perhaps some day I'll tell you."
Time went by, and John and Jane were engaged. Jane told John she would tell him about the ribbon on their wedding day. On their wedding day, they forgot about the yellow ribbon. Next day, however, John asked why she wore it again. She replied that they were happily married so what difference does it make?
Time went by and it was their golden anniversary and John asked about the ribbon again. Jane asked him to wait a little longer since he has waited so long already. Finally, Jane became very ill and was dying. John asked again to please tell him why she wore the yellow ribbon.
"All right," said Jane. "You can untie it." So John untied the yellow ribbon and Jane's head fell off.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Boggs Numbers [B600 B642] are crossed outand B667.1 is substituted.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Myself
Keyword(s): Anniversary ; BEHEADING ; BODY ; CURIOSITY ; Curious ; DEATH ; DECAPITATION ; DYING ; HEAD ; LOVE ; MARRIAGE ; Neighbors ; SECRET ; Yellow Ribbon
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Did you hear about the butcher who backed into a meat cutting machine and got a little behind in his work?
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Boggs Numbers [W400, B667] are crossed out and B660 is substituted.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Butcher, Meat, Machine ; EUPHEMISM ; Jest, Anecdote, Pun, Joke, Irony ; PARODY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Translations, plays on words, symbol writing |
Jokes
A man walked into a rest-room and seen a ten dollar bill laying on a table. As he picked it up and started to put it ini his pocket he heard a weird voice say: "I'm the ghost of Betty Grable and I say the ten dollar bill stays on the table." The man grew frightened, threw the ten dollar bill back on the table and ran out.
Another man walked in , picked up the ten dollar bill and started to walk out. Again the voice came and repeated the same line. The man laughed and put the ten dollar bill back on the table and walked out. A third man came in and picked up the ten dollar bill and put it in his pocket. As he was leaving he heard the haunting voice say: "I'm the ghost of Betty Grable and I say the ten dollar bill stays on the table." The man smiled, and said: "*I am the ghost of Davy Crockett, and I say the ten dollar bill stays in my pocket!"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [B667] crossed out and replaced with B660
Editing marks for spelling errors. ( crossed out an errant tin the word laughed).
Where learned: Myself
Keyword(s): Anecdote ; BATHROOM ; Betty Grable ; Davy Crockett ; GHOST ; GHOSTLY VOICES ; Jest ; MONEY ; Voice ; Wit
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Entry filtered.
Belief
When driving past a cemetery place on efinger on the roof of the car and put another finger on your mouth and say "shhhh". This is so you will not wake up the dead.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; BELIEF ; CEMETERY ; GESTURE ; GRAVEYARD ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Gesture |