The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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

View just this record

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

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

View just this record

SHAGGY DOG TALE

ONCE THERE WAS THIS MAN WHO HAD A DOG THAT COULD TALK. HE TOOK THIS
DOG TO THE LOCAL TAVERN AND BEGAN TO BRAG ABOUT HIS TALKING DOG.
"I DON'T BELIEVE IT" SAID THE BARTENDER. "YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
PROVE IT" SAID ONE OF THE CUSTOMERS. "ALL RIGHT" SAID THE MAN
TURNING TO HIS DOG, "WHO WAS THE GREATEST BASEBALL PLAYER IN
HISTORY?" HE ASKED THE DOG. THE DOG REPLIED, "ROOF, ROOF."
UPON HEARING THIS THE PEOPLE IN THE BAR GOT PRETTY MAD AND
THREW THE MAN AND HIS DOG OUT ONTO THE STREET. CONFUSED,
THE DOG LOOKED UP TO HIS MASTER AND ASKED, "WAS IT WILLIE MAYS?"

Submitter comment: TOLD IN CAJUN DIALECT ON A JUSTIN WILSON RECORD

Data entry tech comment: CHAPTER 7 IN "WITCRACKS BY ALVIN SCHWARTZ
SPELLING CORRECTED BY KEYPUNCHER

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; DOG ; HUMOR ; SURPRISE ENDING ; TALKING ANIMALS ; TAVERN

James Callow Keyword(s): BABE RUTH

Date learned: 00-00-1967

View just this record