Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for ANIMAL returned 508 results.
LITTLE TEDDY BEAR SONG
MY LITTLE TEDDY BEAR
SITTING IN HIS ROCKING CHAIR,
HE FELL DOWN AND HE BUMPED HIS HEAD.
WOOF WOOF WOOF MY TEDDY SAID.
Where learned: CAMP DEARBORN
Keyword(s): ANIMAL SOUND ; TOY TEDDY BEAR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
CUCKOO MOTHER
A LONG, LONG TIME AGO, A WIDOW MOTHER LIVED ON A FARM WITH HER
THREE SONS; STRONG AS OAK TREES AS BROAD AS TREE-TRUNKS. THEY
LIVED MANY YEARS HAPPILY, EVERYONE'S RESPECTED, TILL HER SONS
GREW UP. AND WHEN THEY GREW UP, THE KING INVITED THEM TO RIDE
WITH HIM INTO WAR. ONE RODE OUT TO THE EAST, ANOTHER TO THE SOUTH,
AND THE THIRD, THE YOUNGEST--TO THE WEST. WHEN THEY RODE OUT,
THROUGH THE THREE YEARS NOT ONE SENT ANY WORD AND THE MOTHER
DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER THEY WERE ALIVE OR DEAD. SHE CRIED, BUT
DIDN'T GIVE UP HOPE, THAT SOMEDAY THEY WILL RETURN, TO CALM
HER OLD DAYS. BUT WHEN THE THIRD SPRING CAME, SHE WENT OUT
ON TOP OF A HILL AND SAW, THAT A HORSE WAS RIDING EMPTY-SADDLED.
AND SHE RECOGNIZED IT AS HER OLDEST SON'S HORSE. SHE
RECOGNIZED AND REALIZED, THAT HER OLDEST SON WAS NO LONGER ALIVE.
AND WHEN SHE REALIZED THIS, SHE CRIED FOR THREE DAYS AND THREE
NIGHTS. BUT THE PEOPLE TOLD HER: "DON'T CRY, THAT YOUR SON DIED
IN WAR. GOD GAVE, AND GOD TAKETH AWAY. BETTER YOU ASK HIM TO
RETURN YOUR OTHER TWO SONS WELL." WHILE THEY WERE CALMING HER,
THEY SAW A SECOND HORSE COME GALLOPING UP, NEIGHING AS IF
WEEPING HIMSELF. THE REIGNS PULLED OFF, THE SADDLE SPLASHED WITH
BLOOD AND THE HORSE ITSELF WOUNDED. HE RAN UP TO THE GATE, KNELT
DOWN ON ALL FOURS AND FELL OVER DEAD. AND THE MOTHER RECOGNIZED
THAT THE SECOND HORSE BROUGHT HER PAINFUL NEWS. SHE BEGAN TO CRY
EVEN MORE PAINFULLY, THAT NOW HER SECOND SON WAS DEAD. THE
PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW TO COMFORT HER NOW. "IF ONLY. LORD, I KNEW
WHERE MY SONS LIE. WITH A FOX I'D RUN THERE, WITH A BIRD I'D FLY
THERE, ON THEIR GRAVES I WOULD CRY." SHE CRIED DAY AND NIGHT,
CURSING HER FUTURE, WAITING FOR HER YOUNGEST SON. BUT WHILE
SHE WAS CRYING, THE THIRD HORSE CAME HOME, TOO, INJURED AND
WOUNDED. HE RAN UP TO THE GATES, NEIGHED SORROWFULLY AND
KNEELING ON ALL FOURS, FELL OVER DEAD. THE MOTHER RECOGNIZED THAT
NOW HER THIRD SON WOULDN'T COME HOME. SHE FELL TO THE GROUND
FROM THE GRIEF AND TURNED INTO A CUCKOO BIRD, CUCKOOD IN A
SORROWFUL WAY AND FLEW AWAY TO FOREIGN LANDS IN SEARCH OF HER
SONS: SHE FLIES AND HUNTS FOR THEM YEAR ROUND IN THE STRANGE LANDS,
AND IN THE SPRING TIME COMES HOME, FLIES THROUGH THE FORESTS,
CRYING FOR HER SONS. AND WHEN THE DAY COMES THAT THE YOUNGEST
SON'S HORSE CAME HOME, SHE AGAIN FLIES OUT TO THE FOREIGN LANDS
TO SEARCH FOR THEM. AND THAT'S HOW IT ALWAYS WAS, AND ALWAYS WILL
BE....
Submitter comment: (TRANSLATED FROM LITHANIA BY RAMUNE M. STONYS)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): BIRDS, ANIMALS, TRANSFORMATION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
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
THE CHICKENS
SAID THE FIRST LITTLE CHICKEN/WITH A QUEER LITTLE SQUIRM,
"I WISH I COULD FIND/ A FAT LITTLE WORM."
SAID THE NEXT LITTLE CHICKEN,/ WITH AN OLD LITTLE SHRUG:
"I WISH I COULD FIND,/ A FAT LITTLE BUG."
SAID A THIRD LITTLE CHICKEN,/ WITH A FAINT LITTLE MOAN:
"I WISH I COULD FIND/ A WEE GRAVEL STONE."
"NOW SEE HERE," SAID THE MOTHER,/ FROM THE GREEN GARDEN PATCH,
"IF YOU WANT ANY BREAKFAST,/ JUST COME HERE AND ASK."
Submitter comment: DEMONSTRATE ACTIONS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): CHAIN ; QUATRAIN FOOD ; RHYME: ABCB ; TALKING ANIMALS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
LIMERICK
THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY NAMED SUE/WHO SAW A STRANGE BEAST AT THE ZOO.
WHEN SHE ASKED, IS IT OLD?/ SHE WAS SMILINGLY TOLD,/ IT'S NOT AN OLD
BEAST, BUT A GNU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE
Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; DIALOGUE ; PUN ; RHYME: AABBA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 11-12-1968
AUTOGRAPH BOOK (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; FRIENDSHIP (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)
WHEN A FEATHER WEIGHS A POUND,/ WHEN A FOX SHALL CHOOSE A HOUND,/
WHEN THE WORLD WILL COME TO AN END,/ THEN WILL I CEASE TO BE
YOUR FRIEND?
Where learned: LIBRARY
Keyword(s): RHETORICAL QUESTION ; RHYME ANIMAL ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Friendship |
Date learned: 09-00-1967
AUTOGRAPH (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; READING OR WRITING BACKWARDS OR UPSIDE DOWN (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)
ONLY MONKEYS LOOK UPSIDE DOWN}
Submitter comment: WRITTEN UPSIDE DOWN ON THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.
Where learned: AUTOGRAPH BOOK
Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; CATCH INSULT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Reading or writing backwards, upside down |
Date learned: 03-01-1970
AUTOGRAPH BOOK RHYME (COLLECTOR'S TITLE) ; WISECRACKS, GAGS, SILLY STORIES, INSULTS (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)
DOESN'T IT GET YOUR NANNY,/ DOESN'T IT GET YOUR GOAT,
WHEN YOU'RE IN THE BATHTUB,/ AND CAN'T FIND THE SOAP.
Submitter comment: FROM INFORMANT'S JUNIOR HIGH AUTUGRAPH BOOK, 1929-1933
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; GLENSHAW
Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; BATHTUB VERSE ; IMPERFECT RHYME ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults |
Date learned: 00001929-1933 ; 10-02-1971
DEER DRAGGING A BOAT
ONE TIME I WAS UP IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN IN A ROWBOAT IN A RIVER. I
HAD A LASSO WITH ME, AND I SAW A DEER ON THE SHORE. SO I DECIDED TO
LASSO THE DEER. THE LASSO WAS TIED TO THE BOAT, AND I GOT THE DEER,
ALL RIGHT, BUT THE DEER BEGAN TO RUN, PULLING THE BOAT WITH HIM. I
FELL OUT OF THE BOAT, AND WHEN I FINALLY GOT MYSELF OUT OF THE WATER,
I COULDN'T FIND THE BOAT.
A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER, WHEN I WAS UP THERE HUNTING AGAIN, I
SAW A DEER WITH A ROWBOAT TIED TO HIM. SO I FIGURED IT WAS THE SAME
DEER.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY CLASS AT U OF D HIGH.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL
Keyword(s): WILD ANIMAL
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |
Date learned: 00001968 FALL
CHRISTMAS
ON CHRISTMAS EVE, FATHER OF HOUSEHOLD
MUST FEED ALL THE LIVESTOCK THE BEST
FOOD, BECAUSE IT IS BELIEVED THAT
THAT NIGHT LIVESTOCK CAN SPEAK, AND SO
MIGHT COMPLAIN TO GOD.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM PARENTS.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.4 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Straw |
Date learned: 11-17-1967
A CARROT FOR A REINDEER
THE YOUNGER CHILDREN IN HER FAMILY HANG A STRING FROM THE DOOR AT
CHRISTMAS TIME WITH A CARROT AT THE END FOR THE REINDEER TO EAT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; HOLDEN HALL ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FOOD FOR ANIMALS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Christmas Season See F645.2 for Advent Season. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Straw |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I USED TO LEAVE FOOD FOR SNATA
CLAUS AND HAY FOR HIS REINDEER.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; TOLD AT ; SOUTH QUAD
Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Santa Claus |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
Christmas Bean Serving
IT IS A POLISH CUSTOM, DURING CHRISTMAS
EVE DINNER, FOR ALL THE CHILDREN TO SAVE
ONE SPOONFUL OF BEANS UNTIL THE END OF
THE BEAN SERVING. THEY TAKE THIS SPOON AND
GO TO THE BACKDOOR AND THROW THEM
OUTSIDE.
Submitter comment:
THE REASON IS TO SYMBOLICALLY OFFER
THE WOLF FOOD SO HE WILL NOT COME
TO THE DOOR DURING THE UPCOMING YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; FOOD CUSTOM
Date learned: 11-00-1968
PARODY OF A NURSERY RHYME
MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB...THAT'S WHAT SHE GETS FOR SLEEPING IN THE
BARN.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BESTIALITY SODOMY BUGGERY ; BIRTH OF ANIMAL FROM HUMAN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: CA00001969
Entry filtered.
PROVERB
HUNGER WILL LEAD A FOX OUT OF THE FOREST.
Submitter comment: COULD REFER TO ANYTHING BEING LED BY A DRIVE.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; ANIMAL ; MOTIVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 01-00-1979
ADVICE
GET THE CAGE BEFORE YOU CATCH YOUR BIRDIE.
Where learned: PENNA
Keyword(s): 9ALLITERATION ; ANIMAL ; IMPERATIVE ; PREPARDNESS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-13-1971
THE BEAVER FAMILY
PAPA BEAVER WAS SAYING GRACE BEFORE SUPPER:
"GOD BLESS MAMA DAM, PAPA DAM, BROTHER DAM, SISTER DAM..."
BABY DAM INTERRUPTED HIM--
"GOD BLESS THE WHOLE DAM FAMILY!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PONTIAC
Keyword(s): BLESSING ; DAMN ; HUMOR ; PRAYERS ; TALKING ANIMALS ; WORD PLAY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
STORY OF THE STORK
ONE DAY GOD GAVE A MAN A BAG TO CARRY BUT DIDN'T
TELL THE MAN WHAT WAS IN IT. HE TOLD THE MAN TO CARRY THIS BAG
TO A CERTAIN PLACE ON EARTH BUT NOT TO OPEN IT OR LOOK INSIDE.
SO THE MAN TOOK THE BAG BUT GOT CURIOUS AND OPENED IT AND OUT
CAME ALL KINDS OF SNAKES AND FROGS AND WATER ANIMALS.
GOD GOT MAD AND TURNED THE MAN INTO A STORK AND GAVE HIM A LONG
BILL AND LONG LEGS SO HE COULD GO IN SWAMPS AND
GATHER ALL THE ANIMALS HE SET FREE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CREATION ; MYTH ; STORK ; WATER ANIMALS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Animal Life |
Date learned: 04-07-1972
Entry filtered.