Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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BALL OF FIRE
A MAN WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS BEDROOM WITH HIS THROAT CUT AND HIS
WRISTS CUT. NO ONE WOULD EVER SLEEP IN THE ROOM WHERE THE MAN
DIED BECAUSE A BALL OF FIRE APPEARED UNDER THE BED. IT WOULD
COME OUT FROM UNDER THE BED AND HIT THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE ROOM
AND THEN RETURN TO ITS RESTING PLACE.
THEY THOUGHT THAT THE MAN HAD BEEN MURDERED, BUT THEY WERE NEVER
ABLE TO FIND THE MURDERER.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS STORY FROM HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS A
CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate PROSE NARRATIVE -- Air Weather Fire PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 08-11-1964
BLOODY BONES
A MAN HAS JUST DIED. A YOUNG BOY GOES TO THE
CELLAR TO GET HIS MOTHER A CAN OF SARDINES. ON
THE WAY BACK UP THE STAIRS, HE HEARS CHAINS RATTLING
BEHIND HIM. IT IS BLOODY BONES ON THE FIRST STEP.
. . . ON THE SECOND STEP . . . ON THE THIRD STEP . . .
BLOODY BONES IS ON THE TOP STEP, BUT YOU RUN AND
GET YOUR MOTHER AND YOU ARE SAFE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS STORY FROM HER BABY-SITTER
WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: 08-00-1964
TURNED TO STONE
A WOMAN WAS IN LOVE WITH A MAN BUT HE FELL IN LOVE WITH
AND MARRIED ANOTHER WOMAN. SHE WAS SAID TO HAVE
SUPERNATURAL POWERS AND SHE STARTED TO TURN THE
MAN'S WIFE INTO STONE. SHE FIRST TURNED THE WOMAN'S
FOOT INTO STONE, BUT DON'T ASK ME WHAT HAPPENED WHEN
IT GOT TO HER HEART.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS STORY FROM HER MOTHER WHEN
SHE WAS A CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: 08-11-1964
Entry filtered.
PROVERB
WORDS FITLY SPOKEN ARE LIKE APPLES OF GOLD IN PICTURES OF SILVER.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS TAKEN FROM W.W. BREESE, M.D., "WELL SPRINGS OF TRUTH,"
PAGE 679, LINE 16. INFORMANT SAYS, "THIS OLD BOOK WAS GIVEN TO
ME SOME YEARS AGO. IT IS FULL OF VARIOUS SAYINGS OR PROVERBS, BUT
THE QUESTION ARISES: ARE THEY FOLKLORE?"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 10-08-1968
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
YOU ARE AS NERVOUS AS A BUBBLE DANCER IN A
PIN FACTORY
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 11-30-1967
WHEN YOU EXTEND YOUR HAND WITH OPEN PALM OVER SOMEBODY'S
FACE, THE PERSON WILL BECOME BLIND. OPEN PALM MEANS THE
SUN, AND IF YOU STARE AT THE SUN YOU WILL BECOME BLIND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness SPEECH -- Magical |
Date learned: 01-19-1968
RIDDLE
WHAT'S BLACK AND WHITE AND RED ALL OVER?
A NEWSPAPER OR A SUNBURNED ZEBRA.
ONE OF THE FIRST JOKES I CAN REMEMBER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-05-1967
PROVERB
ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES
Submitter comment: THIS IS ANOTHER OF MY FATHER'S FAVORITE SAYINGS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
Entry filtered.
CHRISTMAS CUSTOM
OPLATEK IS A CUSTOM PRACTICED BY POLISH-AMERICANS.
A THIN WAFER OF UNLEAVENED BREAD (LIKE A EUCHARISTIC
HOST) IS DIVIDED AMONG THE FAMILY PRESENT ON CHRISTMAS
EVE AND THE INDIVIDUALS SHARE THEIR PIECE WITH EACH OTHER
WISHING ONE ANOTHER GOOD LUCK FOR THE COMING YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; TOLD AT COLLECTOR'S HOME
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.82 |
Date learned: 10-25-1970
Children's Songs
Fatty and Skinny went to bed
Fatty rolled over and Skinny was dead.
Fatty called the doctor--
and the doctor said
That's what you get for rolling in bed.
Submitter comment:
My brother told me.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; brother
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
LIAR, LIAR
LIAR, LIAR, YOUR PANTS ARE ON FIRE.
YOUR NOSE IS LONGER THAN A TELEPHONE WIRE.
Submitter comment:
This is a chanted jump rope rhyme.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TOLD AT COLLECTORS HOME ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): PLAIN-JUMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 10-23-1970