The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THREE WORMS

ONCE THERE WERE THREE WORMS - MOM, DAD, AND WEE LITTLE BABY -
WHO DECIDED TO HAVE A PICNIC. THEY PACKED A LUNCH AND
SCAMPERED OFF. WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE PARK IT CLOUDED UP
SO THEY RAN AS FAST AS THEY COULD TO THEIR HOLE. WHEN THEY
ARRIVED THERE SAFELY THE WEE BABY WORM SAID, "GEE, I'M GLAD THE
FOUR OF US ARRIVED SAFELY." WHY DID HE SAY "FOUR" WHEN THERE
WERE THREE? (TELLER IS ASKED QUESTIONS WITH "YES" AND "NO"
RESPONSES)
-- HE WAS TOO YOUNG TO COUNT ACCURATELY.

Submitter comment: FIRST HEARD IN 1952 AND MANY TIMES SINCE. SOMETIMES WITH
MICE INSTEAD OF WORMS.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT

Keyword(s): HUMOR INTELLIGENCE ATTIBUTED TO ANIMALS

Date learned: 00-00-1952

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