Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IF YOU GLANCE UP AT THE SKY AND SEE THE NEW MOON (THIN CRESCENT)
LOOK TO SEE IF YOU ARE HOLDING SOMETHING OR IF YOU HAVE YOUR
HAND ON SOMETHING. IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE HOLDING SOMETHING, YOU'LL
GET A NEW "WHATEVER IT IS" YOU'RE TOUCHING WHEN YOU GLANCE UP
AT THE NEW MOON.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Moon |
Date learned: 06-19-1970
BAD LUCK WILL NOT COME IF YOU GIVE SOMEONE A PENNY WHEN YOU
GIVE THEM A PIN TO WEAR.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Medium of exchange BELIEF -- Bad luck Money BELIEF -- Bad luck Jewelry (gems, rings, etc.) BELIEF -- Bad luck Gifts BELIEF -- Bad luck Sharp objects BELIEF -- Conversions Gifts |
Date learned: 03-29-1972
WHEN YOU SEE A FALLING STAR, MAKE A WISH AND IT WILL COME TRUE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
IF YOU WISH ON THE FIRST STAR YOU SEE AT NIGHT, YOU WILL GET
YOUR WISH.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 04-21-1972
MISFORTUNE COMES IN SERIES OF THREES.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 04-21-1972
FINDING A LADYBUG MEANS GOOD LUCK WILL COME.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Good luck Animals |
Date learned: 04-21-1972
IT'S BAD LUCK TO WATCH YOUR VISITORS OUT OF SIGHT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck Leaving Entering Returning home Travel |
Date learned: 05-02-1972
IT IS BAD LUCK TO CUT A BABY'S FINGERNAILS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Bad luck Body parts and functions |
Date learned: 04-03-1972
WHEN I WAS A (AN) UNDERGRADUATE AT MOREHEAD (KY.) STATE TEACHERS'
COLLEGE, NOW MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY, IN 1939 AND 1940,
GOLDFISH SWALLOWING BECAME A FAD AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. REPORTEDLY A BOY AT MOREHEAD SWALLOWED
TWENTY-FOUR LIVE GOLDFISH. HE WAS TOPPED BY A BOY AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, WHICH WAS REFERRED TO LOCALLY AS THE
COUNTRY CLUB OF THE SOUTH, WHO SWALLOWED FORTY-TWO. I AM SURE
NEITHER OF THESE BOYS HELD THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. I DID
NOT WITNESS THE SWALLOWING, NOR DID ANYONE ELSE THAT I KNEW
TO BE TRUTHFUL. THE NEWSPAPERS REPORTED SWALLOWINGS THROUGH-
OUT THE COUNTRY. AS FAR AS I KNOW, NO GIRLS EVER COMPETED IN
THE GOLDFISH SWALLOWING CONTESTS.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fish PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- Custom |
DURING THE 1930'S THE FAD OF TREE SITTING SWEPT THE COUNTRY.
PRACTICALLY EVERY COMMUNITY HAD A TREE SITTER, AND THERE WAS
A CONTEST OF TRYING TO BREAK PREVIOUS RECORDS. IN ASHLAND,
KENTUCKY, WE HAD SEVERAL TREE SITTERS OVER A PERIOD OF TWO OR
THREE YEARS. THE ONE I REMEMBER MOST VIVIDLY ENDED IN TRAGEDY.
A BOY WHO HAD FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A
JOB DUE TO THE DEPRESSION, BUILT A PLATFORM ABOUT THIRTY FEET
FROM THE GROUND IN A LARGE TREE. HE MADE SOME PROVISION FOR
SHELTER AND HAD DEVISED A PULLEY BY WHICH HIS FAMILY SENT HIS
FOOD AND OTHER NECESSITIES UP IN A BUCKET. THE TOWN PEOPLE
WOULD DRIVE BY AND TALK TO HIM OR WALK UP AND SPEND AN HOUR
OR SO IN THE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING. HE HAD BEEN
UP THE TREE FOR ABOUT FORTY DAYS AND A STORM CAME UP ONE
NIGHT. EVIDENTLY THE STORM FRIGHTENED HIM DURING THE NIGHT
AND HE FELL FROM THE PLATFORM. HIS FAMILY FOUND HIS
CRUMPLED BODY ON THE GROUND THE NEXT MORNING.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; ASHLAND
Keyword(s): POLE SITTING
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man |
Date learned: 00001930 CA.
HAINTS
SOME PEOPLE MET TWO PEOPLE IN A BUGGY ONE NIGHT. ONE OF THE
PEOPLE LOOKED LIKE A STIFF, YE MIGHT SAY, AND THEY KNEW IT
WAS A DEAD PERSON. ANYWAY, THEY GOT RIGHT EVEN WITH 'EM AND
THEY JUST VANISHED AWAY.
THIS WAS SAID TO HAVE HAPPENED, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER "HAINTS,"
AT A CERTAIN POINT OUTSIDE OF PLEASANT SHADE, AND ONE OF MY
GREAT UNCLE'S SONS LIVES THERE NOW.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): SPIRIT SPECTER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 07-06-1973
HAINTS
A NEIGHBOR IN PLEASANT SHADE, RIDING HOME FROM COURTIN' ONE
NIGHT, WAS SURPRISED TO HAVE HIS HORSE STOP. HE COULDN'T GET
THE HORSE TO GO FORWARD AT ALL, AND THE HORSE NEVER WOULD GO
PAST THAT SPOT AGAIN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): SPIRIT SPECTER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 07-06-1973
THOMAS S. SPENCER
NOW, BACK TO THOMAS SHARPE SPENCER, HE WAS A HUGE PERSON, THEY
SAY, AN', UH, IT SEEMS THAT THE INDIANS SAW HIS FOOTPRINTS,
UH, AN' IT SCARED THEM AND THEY STAYED AWAY FROM HIM.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 07-06-1973
THOMAS S. SPENCER
HE HAD SUCH A LARGE PRINT THEY . . . JUST FELT IT WAS LIKE
A MONSTER OR SOMETHIN' OUT THERE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 07-06-1973
DURIN' A BATTLE FOR NASHVILLE, SOMEONE, I DON'T KNOW WHO--
WAS IT JAMES ROBERTSON'S WIFE?-- TURNED SOME DOGS LOOSE ON
INDIANS AND WON THE BATTLE.
Submitter comment:
THIS PROVES TO BE HISTORICALLY CORRECT. INFORMANT GOT THE STORY FROM HER FATHER, BUT APPARENTLY PICKED UP THE NAME
FROM READING.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal |
Date learned: 07-06-1973
A MAN AND HIS WIFE HAD A LITTLE GIRL AND A LITTLE BOY. THE OLD
WOMAN LOVED THE LITTLE BOY THE BEST, & THE OLD MAN LOVED THE
LITTLE GIRL THE BEST. THIS OLD WOMAN JUST HATED HER, SO SHE
WAS GONNA KILL HER. SHE WAITED 'TIL THE OLD MAN AN' THE BOY
WERE WORKIN', AND' THE LITTLE GIRL STAYED THERE. SO, SHE
COME OUTSIDE, SHE KILLED THE LITTLE GIRL, AN' DRESSED THE
MEAT OUT, Y' KNOW, AN' SAVED IT FOR FOOD. THE LITTLE BOY,
WHEN HE CAME IN, SHE TOLD HIM SHE HAD SOME CHICKEN BONES, Y'
KNOW, SHE WANTED HIM TO GO OUT UNDER THE PALM TREE & BURY
THE BONES. GOT READY TO GO TO THE TABLE, THE FATHER SAID,
"WHERE'S JULIE?" SHE SAID, "OH, I DON'T KNOW, SHE WENT OUT
TO A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE TO PLAY. HERE, EAT THIS MEAT." SHE
WASN'T HUNGRY, THOUGH, SO HE ATE IT. THAT NIGHT THE LITTLE
GIRL STILL WASN'T THERE, AN' HE ASKED WHERE SHE WAS, AN'
SHE SAID, "SHE DECIDED TO STAY WITH SOME O' THE FOLKS, SO
A WOMAN TOLE ME." THAT NIGHT, LATE IN THE NIGHT, THEY HEARD
SOMETHIN' SAY, "MAMA KILLED ME, / PAPA EAT ME, / BROTHER
BURIED MY LITTLE BONES / UNDER THE PALM TREE." SHE SAID,
"WHAT IS THAT?" HE SAID HE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING. SO, AFTER
A WHILE EVERYTHING GOT QUIET, AN' AGAIN THEY HEARD IT:
(REPEAT THE SONG). THEN FINALLY THE MAN HEARD IT. HE GOT
SO HE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS IT ALL ABOUT. HE WENT UNDER
THE PALM TREE, AN' THERE WAS THE BONES, AN' HE SAW WHAT
HAD HAPPENED. SO THEY HUNG THE OLD WOMAN--HANGED HER--'TILL
SHE DIED.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 07-06-1973
CHILDREN'S STORY
SOME TROLL LIVED UNDER A BRIDGE--SORT OF A CULVERT, BUT HE
CALLED IT A BRIDGE--AN', UH, I BELIEVE THERE WAS THREE GOATS
LIVED ON ONE SIDE OF A HILL, AN' THERE WAS A GREEN PASTURE
ON THE OTHER SIDE (OF THE BRIDGE). THEY'D JUST EATEN UP
EVERYTHING THEY HAD ON THEIR SIDE AN' THEY WANTED TO GO OVER TO
THIS GREEN PASTURE. BUT THEY WERE AFRAID OF THE TROLL 'COS
EVERYBODY THAT WENT ACROSS THIS BRIDGE, HE CAME OUT, Y'KNOW
AN' HE GOBBLED 'EM UP, ONE WAY OR 'NOTHER, AN' THESE THREE
GOATS DECIDED THEY WOULD GO ACROSS TO THE PASTURE. SO THEY
DECIDED THEY WOULD TRY THIS RUSE, AT LEAST THEY'D GET THEIR
LITTLE ONE ACROSS AN', UH, GET OVER WHERE THE PASTURE WAS
GREEN, 'COS IT WAS PROB'LY STARVATION IF THEY DIDN'T. SO
THE LITTLE FELLA, THEY THOUGHT HE'S SO LIGHT MAYBE HE WOULDN'T
HEAR HIM ANYWAY, AN' HE'D GET ACROSS, HE TRIPPED ACROSS THIS
BRIDGE. THE OLD TROLL SAID, "WHO'S THAT TRIPPIN' ACROSS MY
BRIDGE?" HE SAID, "I'M THE LITTLE GOAL BILLY." HE SAID, "I'M
COMIN' OUT AN' EAT YOU UP." AN' HE SAID, "OH, DON'T EAT ME
UP," SAID, UH, "MY FATHER'S COMIN' AFTER A WHILE AN' HE'S
MUCH BIGGER THAN I." AN' HE SAID, "VERY WELL THEN, GO ON."
SO THEN THE MIDDLE-SIZED GOAT, WHICH WAS THE MOMMA GOAT,
WENT ACROSS. AN' HE WANTED TO KNOW, THE OLD TROLL SAYS,
"WHO'S THAT TRAPPIN' ACROSS MY BRIDGE?" THE LITTLE ONE TRIPPED,
& THIS ONE TRAPPED. "WHO'S THAT CROSSIN' MY BRIDGE?" TRAP,
TRAP, TRAP. SHE SAID SHE'S THE MIDDLE-SIZE GOAT BILLY . . .
MAYBE THE NANNY GOAT . . . HE SAYS HE'S COMIN' OUT AN' EAT HER UP.
AN' SHE SAID, "OH, NO, DON'T COME OUT AN' EAT ME UP NOW,"
SHE SAID, "WE'RE GOIN' ACROSS IN A GREEN PASTURE WHERE WE CAN
EAT GRASS AN' GROW FAT, AN' THEN WHEN WE COME BACK WE'LL BE
GOOD FOR YE TO EAT." AND HE TOLD HER, VERY WELL, THEN, BUT
BE SURE THEY CAME BACK THAT WAY. SO AFTER A WHILE THE PAPA
GOAT, THE BIG BILLY GOAT, WENT ACROSS, TROMP, TROMP, TROMP.
AN' HE SAID, "WHO'S THAT TROMPIN' ACROSS MY BRIDGE?" AND HE
SAID, "THE BIG GOAT BILLY." HE SAID, "I'M COMIN' OUT AN'
EAT YOU UP." AN' HE SAID, UH, "WELL, COME AHEAD, THEN."
SO, THE TROLL CAME OUT, AND HE (THE GOAT) WAS SO STRONG HE
TOOK HIS OL' HORNS, Y'KNOW, AN' GORED HIM WITH 'EM; HE TOOK
AHOLD OF HIS NOSE AN' BROKE IT. THE TROLL'S NOSE WAS AS
LONG AS A BROOMSTICK AN' HIS EYES WAS AS BIG AS SAUCERS, AN'
HIS HAIR LOOKED LIKE, WELL . . . IT LOOKED ABOUT LIKE YOURS
(THE COLLECTOR'S LONG HAIR). ANYWAY, HE GORED HIM AN' HE
PICKED HIM UP AN' PITCHED HIM OVER IN THE RIVER, AN'
HE WAS GONE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT WAS DOUBTFUL AS TO WHETHER SHE WAS CORRECTLY
REPEATING THE STORY, BUT SHE FELT SHE HAD IT MOSTLY CORRECT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal |
Date learned: 07-06-1973
IT SEEMS THAT, UH, THIS LITTLE BOY NAMED BOOKER -- THIS LITTLE
COLORED BOY, A SLAVE BOY, IF NOT A SLAVE IT WAS JUST AFTER
SLAVE TIME. HIS STEPFATHER AN' HIS MOTHER WERE RIGHT PROUD
PEOPLE, AN' HARD-WORKIN', TOO, AN' THEY TAUGHT HIM TO THINK
WELL ENOUGH OF HIMSELF. HE ALWAYS WORKED WELL AN' HIS STEP-
FATHER WAS VERY, VERY FOND OF HIM. AN' HE ALWAYS WANTED TO
TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF--HE HELPED TAKE CARE OF HIS PARENTS,
TOO. THERE WAS A COLONEL, WHO WAS A SOUTHERN COLONEL, HAD
MARRIED A YANKEE, AN' THEY HAD COME TO THIS SOUTHERN
PLANTATION TO LIVE. SOMEBODY TOLD THE LITTLE BOY ABOUT THEM
WANTIN' A HOUSEBOY, WANTIN' A BOY TO WORK IN THE HOUSE.
AN' IT PAID BETTER THAN ANYTHING HE COULD MAKE--NOT TOO
MUCH, BUT A LITTLE. HE WAS JUST ANXIOUS TO TRY IT. AN' EVERY-
BODY THOUGHT THE YANKEE LADY WAS THE MEANEST THING EVER WAS,
SHE WAS JUST CRUEL. AN' THEY TALKED AGAINST IT, BUT HE WAS
WILLIN' TO TRY IT ANYWAY, FOR WHAT HE COULD GET OUT OF IT.
AN' SHE WAS SO STRICT WITH HIM THAT IT WAS PATHETIC, UH, WHEN
SHE ASKED FOR A FLOOR TO BE CLEANED, IT HAD TO BE CLEAN ENOUGH
TO EAT OFF OF IT. AND SHE TAUGHT HIM TO DO JUST A LITTLE MORE
THAN SHE JUST SAID IN THE FIRST PLACE. BUT SHE ALSO SAW HIM
LOOKIN' AT BOOKS AN' SHE TAUGHT HIM TO READ--SHE LET HIM
LEARN TO READ. AND, UH, HE SAVED HIS MONEY TO GO AWAY TO
SCHOOL. HE HAD HEARD WHERE THEY COULD GO TO SCHOOL. HE
WANTED TO GO, AN' SHE SAW HE WAS QUITE CAPABLE. AN' SHE
DIDN'T DISCOURAGE HIS LEARNIN'--SHE MADE A POINT TO SEE THAT
ALL THE BOOKS HE MIGHT LIKE TO READ AND GET SOMETHIN' OUT OF
WERE PUT WHERE HE MIGHT GET AHOLD OF 'EM. WHEN HE HAD JUST
NEARLY ENOUGH MONEY SAVED, HE WAS FIXIN' TO GO AWAY TO WHERE-
EVER THIS SCHOOL WAS--SOMEWHERE--POSSIBLY IN BOSTON, POSSIBLY
IN NEW YORK, POSSIBLY IN MASSACHUSETTS--IT WAS SOMEWHERE FURTHER
NORTH THAN WHERE HE WAS. AN' HE SAW HIS STEPFATHER LEAVE THAT
MORNIN' TO TRY TO FIND WORK--THEY WERE JUST ACTUALLY ON THE
VERGE OF BEIN' HUNGRY AN' HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING TO DO. HE
SAW HOW DEJECTED HE LOOKED & HEARD HIM TELL HIS MOTHER THAT
THIS WAS THE LAST STRAW--IF HE COULDN'T FIND SOMETHIN' TO DO
THERE, Y'KNOW, THEY JUST ABSOLUTELY WOULD JUST BE HUNGRY--
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING. AN', UH, HE WENT TO THE BIG HOUSE
WHERE HE'S BEEN WORKING--THAT'S WHAT THEY CALLED IT, THE BIG
HOUSE--AN' HE HAD HOARDED HIS MONEY--THE LITTLE BIT THAT HE'D
GOTTEN, HE HAD SAVED IT. AN', UH, HE WENT IN AN' HE TOLD HER
HE HAD TO HAVE, UH, THE BIG HORSE--THE GELDING--HE WANTED IT
RIGHT THEN AN' HE HAD TO HAVE IT, SOMETHIN' HAD COME UP. SHE
SAW HE WAS VERY DISTURBED, SO HE TOOK HIS MONEY & GOT ON THIS
BIG HORSE AN' RACED TO OVERTAKE HIS STEPATHER TO GIVE 'IM
THE MONEY HE HAD. AN' IT JUST BROKE HIS HEART, 'COS, HE
DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING LEFT AN' HIS TIME WAS GONE AN' HE HAD
LEARNED ENOUGH AN' HE THOUGHT HE COULD TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF
IN THIS SCHOOL. AND, UH, HE HAD HEARD THAT THIS WAS WHERE
NEGROES COULD GO--MAYBE THE YANKEE LADY HAD KIND OF
ENCOURAGED HIM A LITTLE, BUT HE TOLD HER THAT HE RESIGNED
ANYWAY BECAUSE HE WAS DETERMINED TO GO. HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY-
THING, NOW, BUT HE WAS DETERMINED TO GO. SO HE GOT ON THIS
TRAIN. IT WAS JUST PACKED, AN', UH, HE WAS THE ONLY COLORED
PERSON ON THERE, 'CEPT FOR THE ONES THAT WERE WORKIN' THERE,
AN' THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE A BERTH FOR HIM, Y'KNOW. SO THEY CAME
TO A PLACE WHERE THEY HAD TO STOP THAT NIGHT, AND, UH, IT WAS
COLD, AND RAINY--JUST REAL COLD AN' RAINY, AN', UH, HE WAS
TIRED AN' HUNGRY AN' WHEN HE WENT IN TO GET FOOD WITH THE
GROUP THEY THREW HIM OUT BODILY, WOULDN'T LET HIM BE IN THERE.
HE SLEPT ON THE OUTSIDE. BUT HE WAS DETERMINED TO GO SO HE STARTED
WALKIN' TO GET WHERE HE WAS GOIN'. IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER HE
GOT THERE. AN' WHEN HE DID HE HAD NO CREDENTIALS, YE MIGHT
SAY, AN' HE HAD NO MONEY! BUT HE TOLD THE, UH, -- SHE WAS
A WOMAN--THE HEADMISTRESS, OR DEAN, ANYWAY, THAT HE HAD COME
TO GO TO SCHOOL. SHE ASKED HIM FOR HIS CREDENTIALS. OF
COURSE, HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING. AN' HE JUST THOUGHT, 'COS
HE WAS ALONE . . . SHE ASKED HIM HIS NAME, AN' HE TOLD HER
BOOKER, THIS WAS THE ONLY NAME HE HAD --HE DIDN'T HAVE A LAST
NAME. AN' SHE TOLD HIM SHE NEVER HEARD OF ANYBODY THAT JUST
HAD ONE NAME, WHAT WAS HIS LAST NAME? SO THE ONLY THING HE
COULD THINK OF WAS GEORGE WASHINGTON, SO HE SAYS, "BOOKER T.
WASHINGTON"--SOMEWHERE HE'S READ ABOUT THIS. AN', UH, SHE
TOLD HIM THAT . . . WELL, LET'S GO BACK TO THE YANKEE LADY--
SHE HAD TOLE HER HUSBAND THAT THIS YOUNGSTER WAS A PROMISING
YOUNGSTER, THAT HE HAD ALL IT TOOK BUT ONE THING, AN' SHE
WAS GIVIN' HIM THAT. AN' HE ASKED HER WHAT THAT WAS, AN'
SHE SAID, "GRIT. HE NEEDED YANKEE GRIT." THAT WAS WHY
SHE WAS SO HARD ON HIM. . . BUT ANYWAY NOW WE'LL GO BACK TO
THE SCHOOL. SO HE HAD NOWHERE TO GO. HE HAD NOWHERE TO
SLEEP, HE HAD NO FOOD. AND, UH, SHE SAW HOW DEJECTED HE WAS,
AN' HOW HE JUST HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL--HE HAD TO HAVE MORE
LEARNING. SHE KINDA MADE A LITTLE FUN OF HIM, BUT SHE TOLD
HIM, WHEN EVERYBODY'D LEFT BUT HIM, HE WAS STILL STANDIN'
THERE, AN' SHE TOLD HIM THAT THE LIBRARY NEEDED CLEANING'.
SWEEP THE FLOOR IS WHAT SHE TOLD HIM TO DO. HE'D DO THAT,
Y'KNOW, WHY SHE'D GIVE HIM A MEAL AN' HE COULD SLEEP THERE.
AN', UH, HE LOOKED AROUND, AND HE DIDN'T DO JUST WHAT SHE
TOLD HIM, HE WIPED THE BOARDS AN' CLEANED THE SHELVES, TOO.
HE DID MORE THAN HE WAS ASKED TO. AN' SHE CAME IN THE NEXT
MORNIN' AN' SAW WHAT HE'D DONE, AN' SHE ASKED HIM WHY HE
DID MORE THAN HE WAS SUPPOSED TO, AND HE TOLD HER THE YANKEE
LADY HAD ALWAYS TOLD HIM TO JUST DO MORE THAN HE WAS TOLD TO.
AN' THE LADY TOLD HIM HE WAS ENROLLED THAT MORNIN'.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAYS HER FATHER TOLD HER THIS STORY, BUT
IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT SHE GOT IT OUT OF A BOOK AS A
CHILD.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Daily Life CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 07-06-1973
A FRIEND'S EXPERIENCE (RELATED AS A TRUE STORY)
THERE WAS A FRIEND OF OURS, HE STUTTERED--REALLY STUTTERED.
HE SAID THAT THERE WAS A 'HAINT' SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.
ANYWAY, THERE WAS A CERTAIN PLACE THEY COULD GO, AN', UH,
THEY DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING, BUT THEY COULD JUST SENSE SOMETHIN',
AN' THE DOG WOULD EVEN GET SCARED, Y'KNOW. SO THIS PARTICULAR
TIME HE WENT OUT, AN', UH, HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS--HE
COULD HEAR IT, BUT HE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. AN', UH, THE DOG
STARTED TO THE HOUSE, AN' HIM RIGHT AFTER IT, Y'KNOW, THE
DOG WAS SO SCARED HE KNEW THERE HAD TO BE SOMETHIN', AN' HE SAID,
"THET DOG WAS GOIN' JUST AS FAST AS HE COULD, AN' ME RIGHT AFTER
HIM," HE SAID, "WHEN THET DOG HIT THE BOTTOM DOORSTEP I HIT
THE TOP ONE! EVERY TIME OL' BOUNCE'S FEET HIT THE GROUND THEY
WENT MUGWUMP!"
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): SPIRIT SPECTER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man SPEECH -- Phonology Phonetics |
Date learned: 07-06-1973
THOMAS S. SPENCER
'BOUT HALFWAY BETWEEN HERE & CARTHAGE UP BY WAY OF GALLATIN, AT
CASTALIAN SPRINGS? THIS EARLIEST SETTLER COME THROUGH, AN'
THERE WAS A BIG SYCAMORE TREE THAT WAS HOLLOW, WITH AN
OPENING JUST BIG ENOUGH FOR A MAN TO GET IN; AN' HE SPENT
THE WINTER IN THAT THREE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Plant |
Date learned: 07-06-1973