WHATEVER YOU DO YOU SHOULD NEVER HARM ANOTHER
PERSONS ANIMAL. PEOPLE HAVE STRONG BONDS WITH
THEIR ANIMALS, SOME PEOPLE WILL EVEN KILL YOU
ABOUT THEIR ANIMALS. I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE
BECAUSE MY MOTHER TOLD ME ABOUT A WOMAN AND THE
LOVE SHE HAD FOR HER HORSE. WELL, THIS WOMAN HAD
HER HORSE TEN YEARS BEFORE SHE TOOK A HUSBAND. THAT
OLE HORSE WAS REALLY MEAN. TIME CAME WHEN THAT HORSE
KICKED THAT WOMAN'S HUSBAND, SO THE HUSBAND SHOT THE
HORSE. WELL, THAT WOMAN DIDN'T TAKE THE DEATH OF HER
HORSE EASY. AFTER SHE FOUND OUT WHAT HER HUSBAND DID
SHE TOOK A PIECE OF LOG AND CRACKED HER HUSBAND'S SKULL
AND HE DIED. THERE IS A LESSON TO BE LEARNED, NEVER
HARM ANYONE'S ANIMAL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): CRUELTY TOWARD ANIMALS ; THERIONICIDE HOMICIDE

Subject headings:

Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Animal
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 00-00-1985

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THE COWARDLY COUNT

ONE TIME THERE WERE TWO COUNTRIES CARRYING ON A BLOODY WAR.
INTELLIGENCE REPORTS FROM THE SECRET SERVICE TOLD THE
GENERALS OF THE ONE COUNTRY THAT THEIR ENEMIES HAD A
SECRET WEAPON THAT THEY WERE PLANNING TO USE. IN ORDER TO
FIND OUT THIS SECRET WEAPON, THEYCAPTURED ONE OF THE ENEMIES'
HIGH RANKING COUNTS WHO HAD INFORMATION ON THIS WEAPON.
INTERROGATING HIM FOR HOURS, THEY COULD GET NO INFORMATION.
FINALLY, THEY THREATENED THE COUNT BY PUTTING HIM ON THE
CHOPPING BLOCK. THE EXECUTIONER HAD HIS AX READY TO BEHEAD
THE COUNT WHEN THE CHIEF INTERROGATOR GAVE THE LAST CHANCE
TO TELL THEM THE VALUABLE INFORMATION. AS THE COUNT REFUSED
AGAIN, THE SIGNAL WAS GIVEN FOR THE EXECUTIONER TO CUT OFF
THE COUNT'S HEAD. AS THE AX WAS COMING DOWN, THE COUNT
CHANGED HIS MIND AND CALLED OUT, "WAIT, WAIT. I'LL TELL YOU
EVERYTHING!" BUT BEFORE THE ORDER COULD BE REVERSED, SWISH,
THE HEAD WENT ROLLING OFF THE CHOPPING BLOCK. THE MORAL
OF THE STORY: DON'T HATCHET YOUR COUNTS BEFORE THEY CHICKEN.

Submitter comment: I HEARD THIS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT DON'T REMEMBER FROM WHOM.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): COWARD

Subject headings:

6677 Formula Tale

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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JESUS HELPS THOSE THAT HELP THEMSELVES

ONE DAY JESUS WAS TAKING A WALK WITH PETER DOWN AN OLD
ROAD. THEY SAW A MAN WITH A DONKEY BY THE SIDE OF THE
ROAD, THE DONKEY GOT STUCK IN THE MUD. THE MAN FELL DOWN
ON HIS KNEES AND HE STARTED PRAYING, "GOD, OH GOD, PULL
MY DONKEY OUT OF THE MUD." BUT JESUS JUST KEPT WALKING
BY. AS HE KEPT WALKING, ANOTHER MAN AND DONKEY WERE
STUCK IN THE MUD. BUT THE MAN WAS CUSSING, SWEARING,
SAYING, "YOU DAMN BASTARD MULE." AS HE SWORE HE WAS
PULLING AND PUSHING THE DONKEY. JESUS WENT DOWN AND
HELPED HIM.
AFTER, PETER ASKED JESUS, "WHY DID YOU HELP THIS MAN
WHO CUSSED, AND NOT THE MAN WHO PRAYED?" JESUS SAID
THAT HE HELPED HIM 'CAUSE HE WAS HELPING HIMSELF.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK

Keyword(s): BIBLICAL TALE RESOURCEFULNESS REWARDED

Subject headings:

PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero

Date learned: 01-24-1972

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THE COWARDLY COUNT

Submitter comment: I HEARD THIS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT DON'T REMEMBER FROM WHOM.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Keyword(s): COWARD FEAR

Subject headings:

6677 Formula Tale

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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SHAGGY DOG STORY (WITH A MORAL)

A COUNT IN THE DAYS OF OLD WAS ACCUSED OF STEALING FROM
THE KING AND SENTENCED TO BE BEHEADED FOR HIS CRIME. HE
IS TAKEN UP TO THE HIGHEST TOWER IN THE CASTLE OF THE KING
AND HIS HEAD IS SET ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. THE AXMAN TURNS
TO HIM AND SAYS, "WILL YOU ADMIT THAT YOU DID THE STEALING
BEFORE I MUST BEHEAD YOU?" AND THE COUNT DENIES IT. AGAIN,
AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE AXMAN PLEADS, "TELL THAT YOU DID
THE STEALING AND YOU WILL BE RELEASED." AGAIN, THE COUNT
REFUSES TO TELL AND THE AXMAN PREPARED TO LIFT THE BLADE.
JUST AS THE AX GOES DOWN, THE COUNT SCREAMS OUT, "I DID IT."
BUT IT IS TOO LATE TO RECALL THE AX, AND HE IS BEHEADED.
THE MORAL OF THIS STORY IS AS FOLLOWS: "DON'T HATCHET
YOUR COUNTS BEFORE THEY CHICKEN."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW

Keyword(s): FEAR COWARD

Subject headings:

6677 Formula Tale

Date learned: 03-27-1971

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(PROVERB)

THERE ONCE WAS A KING WHO HAD A COUNT SUSPECTED OF WITH-
HOLDING HIS PAYMENTS TO THE KING. THE KING THREATENED
HIM WITH THE AWE {AXE} IF HE WOULDN'T CONFESS TO WITHHOLDING.
THEN ONE DAY HE WAS DETERMINED TO GO THROUGH WITH IT. HE
HAD THE COUNT DRAGGED UP TO THE BLOCK AND STRAPPED IN.
"I'LL GIVE YOU ONE LAST CHANCE," SAID THE KING, BUT THE
COUNT SAID NOTHING.
THE KING TOLD THE HEADSMAN TO READY HIS AXE. AS THE AXE
WAS RAISED OVER THE COUNT'S NECK, THE KING SAID: "I'LL
GIVE YOU ONE MORE CHANCE." BUT THE COUNT STILL SAID
NOTHING. THE KING TOLD THE HEADSMAN TO CHOP. AS THE
BLADE WAS COMING DOWN, THE COUNT YELLED: "WAIT!" BUT IT
WAS TOO LATE.
THIS ONLY GOES TO SHOW THAT YOU SHOULDN'T HATCHET YOUR
COUNTS BEFORE THEY CHICKEN.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): FEAR COWARD

Subject headings:

6677 Formula Tale

Date learned: 11-02-1970

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A FLEMISH SAYING AT HOME

THE MEANEST WEASELS GET THE EGGS.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; HOLDEN HALL

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL ; OBSERVATION ; PESSIMISM: EVIL REWARDED

Subject headings:

PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 09-00-1967

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SALUTATION GESTURE

WAVING GOODBYE AMONG SICILIANS AND MOST LATIN AMERICANS
ENTAILS CUPPING AND UNCUPPING THE HAND--AS IS COMMON IN
THE U.S. HOWEVER, THIS IS DIRECTED TOWARD'S ONE'S OWN
BODY AND NOT TOWARD THE DEPARTING PERSON. THIS GESTURE
IS REPUTED TO BE A SYMBOLIC YEARNING OF THE OTHER'S SOON
RETURN.

Where learned: FLORIDA ; MIAMI

Keyword(s): CUP THE FINGERS, AND WAVE THEM TOWARD YOURSELF.

Subject headings:

602 Body Parts
SPEECH -- Goodbyes Leavetakings
SPEECH -- Wishes Wants Desires Predictions

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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