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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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NEVER TAKE THE LAST PIECE OF ANYTHING ON A PLATE
OR YOU WILL BE AN OLD MAID.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship
BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero

Date learned: 10-00-1968

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YOU ARE ENGAGED. THE THIRD PERSON WHO TRIES ON YOUR
ENGAGEMENT RING IS A LOSER. THEY WON'T GET A HUSBAND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
BELIEF -- Marriage P545.015

Date learned: 01-25-1968

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IF YOU TELL A LIE, YOUR NOSE WILL GROW LONG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PINOCCHIO

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 03-04-1968

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IF YOU EAT THE LAST COOKIE ON THE PLATE, YOU WILL
BE AN OLD MAID.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert
BELIEF -- Use of Object Food

Date learned: 10-04-1967

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Entry filtered.

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

NEGROES WERE TAUGHT THE FOLLOWING:
1. DON'T LOOK AT A WHITE WOMAN BECAUSE THEY WILL HANG YOU. (MAN)
2. DON'T TOUCH ANY ARTICLE WHEN YOU ENTER A STORE OR THEY'LL
THINK YOU ARE SHOPLIFTING.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): Black ; Inter-racial ; Men ; RACISM ; Relationships ; SEXISM ; Shoplifting ; SHOPPING ; White ; WOMEN

James Callow Keyword(s): RACISM ; SEXISM ; SHOPPING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business

Date learned: 08-09-1968

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WRAPPING A LARIAT AROUND YOU AT NIGHT KEEPS SNAKES AWAY

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): CAMPING

Subject headings: Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration

Date learned: 04-20-1969

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IF SOMETHING IS BEING PASSED AROUND AND OFFERED TO A
GROUP OF PEOPLE AND YOU TAKE THE LAST ONE, YOU'LL BE
AN OLD MAID.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): SPINSTER

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Number Last events: the last person to the table...

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BABIES BORN WITH OPEN HANDS WILL GROW UP TO BE FRANK AND
GENEROUS AND THOSE BORN WITH HANDS TIGHTLY CLOSED WOULD BE
STINGY AND CLOSE MOUTHED.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): TIGHT PINCH-PENNY UNGENEROUS MISERLY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails
BELIEF -- Birth

Date learned: 07-00-1968

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IN MY CHILDHOOD, WE WOULD STAMP A GRAY HORSE. (THIS IS DONE
BY LICKING ONE'S THUMB AND PUTTING IT IN YOUR HAND, AND
THEN STAMPING IT). THE ONE WHO DID IT FIRST GOT THE
GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): STAMPING

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mammal
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color
BELIEF -- Good luck Animals

Date learned: 06-25-1970

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PROVERB

LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): JIMINY CRICKET PINNOCHIO

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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PROVERB: NATURE-RAINBOW

RAINBOW IN THE MORNING, SAILORS TAKE WARNING;
RAINBOW AT NIGHT, SAILORS DELIGHT.

Where learned: IOWA ; COLUMBUS JUNCTION

Keyword(s): PINK SKY RED SKY

Subject headings: Prediction / Divination
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 02-15-1969

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CURE FOR WHOOPING COUGH:
TWO LEVEL TABLESPOONFULS OF POWDERED ALUM, TWO-THIRD
OF A CUPFUL OF BROWN SUGAR, DISSOLVED IN TWO QUARTS
OF WATER; BOTTLE AND OUT IN A DARK CLOSET WHERE IT
IS COOL.
ONE YEAR OLD CHILD'S DOSE: ONE TEASPOON THREE TIMES A
DAY OR AN EMPTY STOMACH
TWO YEAR OLD CHILD'S DOSE: TWO TEASPOONS PER DOSE OF
ONE YEAR OLD CHILD
FIVE YEAR OLD CHILD'S DOSE: ONE TABLESPOON PER DOSE OF
ONE YEAR OLD CHILD

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): Alum ; Brown Sugar ; COUGH ; Dosage ; RECIPE ; REMEDY ; Whooping Cough

James Callow Keyword(s): AGE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 07-09-1973

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IF YOU SAY THE EXACT THING AT THE SAME TIME, YOU HOLD
PINKIES WITH EACH OTHER AND MAKE A WISH BEFORE SAYING
ANOTHER WORD AND YOUR WISH WILL COME TRUE.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): METONYMY: PINKIES FOR LITTLE FINGERS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Prayer
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 10-13-1973

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YELLOW FINGER

ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A CASTLE THAT WAS GUARDED BY
A HUGE YELLOW FINGER, WHO WOULDN'T LET ANYONE PASS
THE KING FROM A RIVALING CASTLE SENT ONE OF HIS BRAVEST
KNIGHTS TO GET BY THE FINGER, BUT THE FINGER KILLED HIM.
SO THE KING SENT A DUKE, BUT HE, TOO, WAS KILLED. THEN
THE KING SENT ONE OF HIS PAGES. HE JUST WALKED RIGHT
THROUGH.
MORAL: LET YOUR PAGES DO THE WALKING THROUGH THE YELLOW
FINGER.

Submitter comment: IT SEEMS TO ME THERE WAS SLIGHTLY MORE BUILD-UP ON THIS
STORY, BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): PUN ON TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENT: LET YOUR FINGERS DO THE WALKING THROUGH THE YELLOW PAGES. COMMERCIAL FOR THE BELL TELEPHONE CO., REGARDING SAVING TIME AND ENERGY BY PRE-SHOPPING THROUGH MAKING CAL

Subject headings: 6677 Formula Tale

Date learned: 11-18-1968

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YELLOW FINGERS

ONCE THERE WAS A KING WHO WANTED TO GET A MESSAGE THROUGH
TO A NEIGHBORING KINGDOM. BUT IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH,
THE MESSANGER WOULD HAVE TO PASS THE MONSTROUS YELLOW
FINGERS. FIRST A KNIGHT WAS SENT, BUT THE YELLOW FINGERS
PINCHED HIM TO DEATH. THEN A SQUIRE TRIED, BUT MET WITH
THE SAME FATE. FINALLY, A PAGE WAS SENT AND MADE IT
THROUGH.
THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS: LET YOUR PAGES DO THE WALKING
THROUGH THE YELLOW FINGERS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): PUN ON COMMERCIAL FOR THE BELL TELEPHONE CO., WHICH SAYS, "LET YOUR FINGERS DO THE WALKING, THROUGH THE YELLOW PAGES." TIMESAVING AND ENERGY SAVING METHOD OF SHOPPING--LOOK UP IN THE YELLOW PAGES O

Subject headings: 6677 Formula Tale

Date learned: 10-15-1969

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TEN ACRES OF SAND AND A RED-HEADED WIFE
IS UAUALLY {SIC} THE END OF A PINHEAD'S LIFE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE

Keyword(s): THINKS, PINHEAD MEANS DULL-WITTED.} ; {MEANING? COLLECTOR DOESN'T KNOW. PROBABLY, SHE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb

Date learned: 09-20-1967

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Custom

Chimney Sweep:

In Belgium, or Europe for that matter, each house usually had two or more chimneys. Since they needed cleaning periodically, chimney sweeps were common. Some of these were employed by the cities for the purpose. But, in each case, it was good practice to give the sweeper a good tip, for if you didn't he would play tricks on you. For instance, he might come back to clean your chimney at a future date, but not tell you. Then you would be unprepared and the soot would come into the house because you didn't close the soot door in time.

Submitter comment:

Recorded on Tape

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [M848] crossed out and replaced with F534

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH

Keyword(s): BUSINESS ; Chimney Sweep ; CUSTOM ; Gratuity ; OCCUPATIONS: CHIMNEY SWEEPING ; PRACTICAL JOKE ; TIPPING ; WORK

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business

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Belief: Children's Song

Step on a Crack-break mother's back

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P880] is crossed out. C860.740 replaces it.

The words Bad Luck are written across the top of the submission card, and subsequently crossed out.

Where learned: Myself

Keyword(s): Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; GAME ; Line ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief

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Belief: Children's Song

DON'T STEP ON A CRACK OR YOU'LL BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.

Submitter comment:

IS AN OLD CHILDHOOD SAYING THAT THIS INFORMANT REMINDED ME OF.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated on 12-01-2010 / Motifs and Keywords added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; GAME ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness
SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport S555.500

Date learned: 03-30-1968

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Belief: Children's Song

STEP ON A LINE,
BREAK YOUR FATHER'S SPINE.
STEP ON A CRACK,
BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK.
STEP ON A HOLE,
BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S SUGAR BOWL.

Submitter comment:

CHILDREN SING THIS SONG WHILE WALKING TO SCHOOL.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated on 12-01-2010 / Motifs and Keywords added by TRD

Where learned: UNKNOWN

Keyword(s): Back ; BELIEF ; CHILDHOOD ; CHILDREN ; Crack ; Domestic ; GAME ; Hole ; Line ; MOTHER ; RHYME ; SONG ; Spine ; Sugar ; SUPERSTITION ; VERSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief
BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness

Date learned: 01-21-1968

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