The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

RIDDLE

Q: WHAT HOUSE HAS NO DOORS?
A: AN EGG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BUILDINGS (Q) ; EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; PRIVATIONAL

Date learned: 10-00-1971

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TRUE RIDDLE

Q: I WENT TO THE WOODS AND FOUND IT. I SAT ME DOWN TO LOOK FOR IT.
I BROUGHT IT HOME WITH ME BECAUSE I COULDN'T FIND IT. WHAT WAS IT?
A: A THORN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TRAVERSE CITY

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; BUILDINGS (Q) ; NATURAL ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q)

Date learned: 02-02-1970

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT ROOF NEVER KEEPS OUT THE WET?
A: THE ROOF OF YOUR MOUTH.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): BUILDINGS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q) ; PARTS OF THE BODY (A)

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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TRUE RIDDLE

Q: A POLICEMAN IS WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND HEARS A SHOUT FROM A
NEARBY BUILDING, "NO, NO, DON'T SHOOT" AND ANOTHER
MAN'S VOICE SAID,
"YES, I'M GOING TO SHOOT." A SHOT RANG OUT AND HE RUSHED INTO THE
ROOM WHERE HE FOUND A DEAD MAN AND 4 OTHER PERSONS , A LAWYER, A
DOCTOR, A DENTIST AND A MORTICIAN. THE POLICEMAN IMMEDIATELY
ARRESTED THE DOCTOR. HE FOUND THE GUN ON THE FLOOR. HOW DID HE
KNOW IT WAS THE DOCTOR THAT SHOT THE MAN?
A: THE OTHER THREE WERE WOMEN.

Submitter comment: YES AND NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RIDDLE ARE ASKED OF THE RIDDLER.

Data entry tech comment: MISSPELLINGS HAVE BEEN CORRECTED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; BUILDINGS (Q) ; PARTICULAR AREA (Q) ; PERSONS (Q)

Date learned: 09-26-1969

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RIDDLE

Q: IN MARBLE HALLS AS WHITE AS MILK
LINES (LINED) WITH SKIN AS SOFT AS SKIN. (SILK)
WITH A FOUNTAIN CRYSTAL CLEAR,
A GOLDEN APPLE DOTH APPEAR.
NO DOORS ARE THERE TO THIS STRONGHOLD,
YET THIEVES BREAK IN AND STEAL THE GOLD.
A: AN EGG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): BUILDINGS (Q) ; EATABLE (Q) ; EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; PERSONS (Q)

Date learned: 02-22-1970

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THERE WAS A LITTLE GREEN HOUSE - RIDDLE

Q: THERE WAS A LITTLE GREEN HOUSE,/ AND IN THE LITTLE GREEN HOUSE/
THERE WAS A LITTLE BROWN HOUSE,/ AND IN THE LITTLE BROWN HOUSE/
THERE WAS A LITTLE YELLOW HOUSE,/ AND IN THE LITTLE YELLOW HOUSE/
THERE WAS A LITTLE WHITE HOUSE,/ AND IN THE LITTLE WHITE HOUSE/
THERE WAS A LITTLE HEART.
A: A WALNUT.

Submitter comment: I FOUND THIS IN AN OLD MOTHER GOOSE COLORING BOOK WHICH WAS IN THE
ATTIC. THE COVER AND SOME PAGES WERE MISSING. IT IS AT LEAST TEN
YEARS OLD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BUILDINGS (Q) COLOR ; EATABLES AND DRINKS ; PART OF THE BODY (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): CUMULATIVE VERSE ; INITIAL ITERATION ; MEDIAL ITERATION

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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TRUE RIDDLE

Q: UP ON A HILL IS A GREEN HOUSE,
IN THE GREEN HOUSE IS A WHITE HOUSE,
IN THE WHITE HOUSE IS A RED HOUSE WITH A LOT OF COLORED BABIES,
WHAT IS IT?
A: A WATERMELON.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; BUILDINGS (Q) ; EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; PERSONS (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): CUMULATIVE VERSE ; FINAL ITERATION ; INITIAL ITERATION

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TRUE RIDDLE

Q: A HOUSEFUL, A SPOONFUL,/ YOU CAN'T CATCH A SPOONFUL.
A: SMOKE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT BELIEVES SHE HEARD IT FROM HER SON WHEN HE WAS ATTENDING
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT LEAST FIFTEEN YEARS AGO. SHE ALSO REMEMBERS
IT BEING REPEATED BY A CUB SCOUT WHILE SHE WAS DEN MOTHER ABOUT
1956.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; BUILDINGS (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; UTENSILS (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): ROOMFUL?

Date learned: 10-20-1971

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( 20 ) RIDDLES

Q: 1. DUI SESLES PER KALNELIZ NESOEINA. - TWO SISTERS DO NOT MEET
OVER A HILL.
A: EYES.
Q: 2. DU RATU PAGIRY STOUI. - TWO WHEELS STANDING BY THE FOREST.
A: EARS.
Q: 3. PILNA LUKTELE BALTEZ VISTELIZ. - A HOUSE FULL OF WHITE HENS.
A: MOUTH AND TEETH.
Q: 4. MIZSLIUZ TEVAS KALNE GULI. - THE FATHER OF RIDDLES IS LYING
IN THE HILL.
A: TONGUE.
Q: 5. ZIBA DIENA, ZIBA NAKTIZ. - SPARKLES AT NIGHT, SPARKLES DURING
THE DAY.
A: WINDOW.
Q: 6. VISI JODO, NIEKAS NEPASERIA. - EVERYONE FOR IODINE, NO ONE
FEEDS IT.
A: DOOR STEP.
Q: 7. NEI PATI VDGO, NEI KITAM DUODA. - NEITHER DOES SHE EAT HERSELF,
OR GIVE TO ANOTHER.
A: A LOCK.
Q: 8. MASA MOTERELE VISAZ PASAULIZ APRENGIA. - A SMALL WOMAN DRESSES
THE WHOLE WORLD.
A: A SEWING NEEDLE.
Q: 9. MAZAS PUODELIS, SKANI KOSELE. - A SMALL POT, GOOD BROTH.
A: PEANUT. ?M Q: 10. PRAMUSI LEDAZ, RASI SIDABRAZ; PRAMUSI SIDABRAZ, RASI AUKSAZ. -
BREAK THE ICE, YOU'LL FIND SILVER; BREAK THE SILVER, YOU'LL FIND
GOLD.
A: AN EGG.
Q: 11. DVIEM PUPOM VISAZ LAUKAZ APSEJA. - WITH TWO PEAS YOU SOW A
WHOLE FIELD.
A: WITH EYES.
Q: 12. DU BEGA, DU VEJA. - TWO RUN, TWO CHASE.
A: WHEELS.
Q: 13. ATLEKE PAUKSTIS BE SPARNUZ, IZKANDO ZINOQUI BE DANTUZ. - A
BIRD FLEW BY WITH NO WINGS, BIT A MAN WITH NO TEETH.
A: BULLET.
Q: 14. SUDEGE AZUOLAS BE ANGLIUZ, BE PELENIZ. - AN OAK BURNED WITH
NO COAL, WITH NO ASHES.
A: A CANDLE
Q: 15. MISKE GIMEZS, IMSKE ANGES, PAREINA NAMO KEPUIUZ KILNOTI. -
BORN IN A FOREST, GREW UP IN A FOREST, COMES HOME TO RAISE HATS.
A: CROSS.
Q: 16. ILGAS - BE GALO, GILUS - BE DUGNO. - LONG - WITH NO END, DEEP
- WITH NO BOTTOM.
A: A RING.
Q: 17. PENKI TVARTAI, VIENOS DURYS. - FIRE BURNS, ONE DOOR.
A: GLOVES.
Q: 18. PER VANDENIZ EIDAMAS NEPRIQERIA, PER UGNIZ - NESUDEGA.
WALKING THROUGH WATER, DOESN'T DROWN; THROUGH FIRE - DOESN'T BURN.
A: A SHADOW.
Q: 19. JOKI ZIRGAS ZVENGIA, NET KAMANOS SKAMBA. - FAR DOES A HORSE
NEIGH, EVEN THE ROOF TOPS ECHO.
A: THUNDER.
Q: 20. KAD ATSIKELTUZ, DANGEZ PAREMTUZ, KAD RENKAS TURETUZ, VAGIZ
PAGAUTUZ. - IF COULD GET UP, HOLD UP THE HEAVEN; IF HAD HANDS,
WOULD CATCH A THIEF.
A: A ROAD.

Submitter comment: IN LITHUANIAN, THESE RIDDLES RHYME. HOWEVER, THE TRANSLATION DOES NOT
BRING OUT THE TRUE AND REAL RHYTHM OF THEM.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMALS (Q) ; BUILDINGS (Q) ; HARDWARE (Q) ; NATURAL

Date learned: 03-24-1972

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