The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE

NOVEMBER 10, 1937
WHEN YOU GET MARRIED,
DON'T MARRY A FOOL.
MARRY A BOY
FROM CARY SCHOOL. MM
2 DAY
+2 MORROW
4 GET ME NOT
GERALDINE RITCHIE MM
DECEMBER 8, 1937
IF I WAS A LITTLE RABBIT
AND HAD A TAIL OF FLUFF,
I WOULD SIT ON YOUR DRESSER
AND BE YOUR POWDER PUFF.
ELEANOR FODOR MM
DECEMBER 12, 1937
YOU MAY LIVE IN ITALY.
YOU MAY LIVE IN SPAIN.
BUT THE WAY I LOVE YOU BABY,
WOULD MAKE A BULLDOG BREAK ITS CHAIN.
YOURS TIL BUTTER FLIES.
GEORGIA CASH MM
FEBRUARY 7, 1938
WHEN YOU GET MARRIED
AND HAVE TWINS,
DON'T SEND TO ME
FOR SAFETY PINS.
SYLVIA GAZDAG MM
FEBRUARY 14, 1938
YOU MAY BE FRENCH OR GERMAN,
BUT MARRY A BOY NAMED HERMAN.
CAROLYN

Submitter comment: THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE WAS COLLECTED BY THE INFORMANT
WHILE A PUPIL AT HUGH CARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 6501 SOUTH
STREET, DETROIT, MICHIGAN. THE INFORMANT ATTENDED CARY
SCHOOL FROM 1931-1940 (KINDERGARTEN-EIGHTH GRADE) AND
ESTIMATES THE ETHNIC MAKE-UP AS 50% ARMENIAN, 20% HUNGARIAN,
20% ITALIAN, AND 10% OTHER (LESS THAN 1% BLACK).
"STEP-INS" ARE PANTIES. "TOYS", ACCORDING TO THE
INFORMANT, MEANS "I AM FOND OF YOU."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG: BABY FOR SWEETHEART

Date learned: 09-00-1982

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