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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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13 STITCHES
IF A CHILD CUTS HIMSELF AND RECEIVES 13 SURGICAL STITCHES:
IF HE IS 5 YEARS OLD, HE WILL BE MARRIED BY AGE 18.
IF HE IS 7 YEARS OLD, HE WILL HAVE A CHILD BY AGE 22.
IF HE IS 6 YEARS OLD, HE WILL DIE A DIRTY OLD MAN.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
BELIEF (COLLECTOR'S TITLE)
IF ONE SEES AND COUNTS 100 RED CONVERTIBLES,
THEN SEES A MAN IN A GREEN TIE,
THEN A LADY IN A PURPLE DRESS AND THEN SPOTS THREE SAILORS,
THE NEXT PERSON HE TALKS TO HE WILL MARRY
IN ORDER TO GET A "DIVORCE" HE MUST SEE AND COUNT FIFTY YELLOW
CONVERTIBLES.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
COUNTING BELIEFS (CLASSIFIER'S TITLE)
I CAN REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A CHILD SAYING THE FOLLOWING
UPON SEEING THE STREET LIGHTS GO ON. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
FIRST TO SEE THE STREET LIGHTS GO ON."
Submitter comment: I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY EVERYONE DID THIS. I JUST PICKED IT UP.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Number P686.3.10 |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
NUMBERS (COLLECTOR'S TITLE)
TWO'S A COUPLE
THREE'S A CROWD
FOUR ON A SIDEEWALK IS NEVER ALLOWED.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
BELIEF (COLLECTOR'S TITLE)
THE CHRISTIAN HIERARCHY OF ANGELS
COMES FROM THE PHANTASY OF THE PAGAN PHILOSOPHER, PLOTINUS
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number Numbers used for ordering, organizing, or explaining a hierarchy: the oldest son should receive the inheritance. |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
CHILDREN'S SONGS
CHRISTMAS IS A COMIN, AND THE PIG IS GETTING FAT
PLEASE PUT A NICKEL IN THE OLD MAN'S HAT
IF YOU HAVEN@T GOT A NICKLE A PENNY WILL DO.
IF YOU HAVEN@T GOT A PENNY THEN GOD BLESS YOU.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
CHILDREN'S SONG
JOHNNY IS A FRIEND OF MINE
HE RESEMBLES FRANKENSTEIN
WHEN HE DOES THE IRISH JIG
HE RESEMBLES PORKY PIG
WHEN HE WALKS ACROSS THE STREET
I CAN SMELL HIS DIRTY FEET.
Submitter comment: HEARD IT FROM HER SISTER.
Data entry tech comment: WHAT A MEAN SONG FROM CHILDREN.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 11-15-1967
SONG
I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL
AS PRETTY AS PRETTY CAN BE,
AND ALL THE BOYS AROUND MY HOUSE
ARE CRAZY OVER ME.
MY BOYFRIEND'S NAME IS JELL-O.
HE CAME FROM ALABAMO
WITH PICKLES ON HIS TOES
AND A CHERRY ON HIS NOSE
EE-I EE-I-O.
MY BOYFRIEND GAVE ME PEACHES;
MY BOYFRIEND GAVE ME PEARS;
MY BOYFRIEND GAVE ME FIFTY-CENTS,
AND KICKED ME DOWN THE STAIRS.
I GAVE HIM BACK HIS PEACHES;
I GAVE HIM BACK HIS PEARS;
I GAVE HIM BACK HIS FIFTY-CENTS,
AND KICKED HIM DOWN THE STAIRS.
Submitter comment:
I HAVE SUNG THIS WHILE CLAPPING HANDS WITH A PARTNER AT ST.
CUNEGUNDA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN DETROIT ( 1960-62 ) .
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 02-14-1971
SONG
MY MOTHER TOLD ME
IF I WERE GOODY;
THAT SHE WOULD BUY ME
A RUBBER DOLLY.
BUT SOMEONE TOLD HER
I KISSED A SOLDIER;
NOW SHE WON'T BUY ME
MY RUBBER DOLLY.
Submitter comment:
I HAVE SUNG THIS WHILE CLAPPING HANDS WITH A PARTNER AT
ST. CUNEGUNDA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN DETROIT ( 1963-62 ) .
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 02-14-1971
SONG OF THE POP-BOTTLERS
POP BOTTLES POP BOTTLES IN POP SHOP;
THE POP BOTTLES POP BOTTLES POOR POP DROPS
WHEN POP DROPS POP BOTTLES, POP BOTTLES POP AND PLOP
POP BOTTLE TOPPS TOPPLE POP MOPS SLOP
STOP POP'LL DROP BOTTLE STOP, POP, STOP
WHEN POP BOTTLES POP BOTTLES, POP BOTTLES POP.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Song |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
ABOUT A MOUSE, THAT WAS A CAT, DOG AND TIGER
IT IS SAID: THAT IF A TIGER HAS THE HEART OF A MOUSE, THEN IT
WOULD BE BETTER IF HE DIDN'T SEE OR MEET A CAT. ONE TIME, A CROW
WAS CARRYING A MOUSE IN HIS BEAK, AND FLYING OVER A FOREST WHEN HE
DROPPED IT. IN THAT FOREST LIVED A MAN THAT KNEW MAGIC. AND
THE MOUSE DROPPED DOWN BY THE MAN'S FEET. SEEING THE MOUSE,
THE MAN PICKED HIM UP AND CARRIED HIM INTO HIS HUT. MANY DAYS
THE MOUSE LIVED WITH THE MAN. THE MAN FED HIM, WATERED HIM
AND THE MOUSE WAS HAPPY. BUT ONE TIME, GOING OUT OF THE HUT,
HE SAW A BIG CAT NOT TOO FAR AWAY. HE RAN BACK INTO THE HUT,
CRAWLED INTO THE FARTHEST AND DARKEST CORNER AND SHOOK FROM FRIGHT.
SEEING THIS, THE MAN ASKED: "WHT'S WRONG? WHY ARE YOU SHAKING?"
"O MY GOOD MAN," SQUEEKED THE MOUSE, "NOT FAR AWAY FROM
OUR HUT I MET A CAT AND NOW I'M DYING FROM FRIGHT}" AFTER
THINKING FOR AWHILE, THE MAN SAID: "ALRIGHT, I'LL DO IT SO THAT
YOU'LL NEVER BE AFRAID OF CATS AGAIN} GO TO BED. IN THE
MORNING WHEN YOU WAKE UP, YOU'LL BE A CAT--NOT A MOUSE." THE MAN
DID AS HE PROMISED: THE MOUSE WOKE UP AS A CAT. "--NOW YOU DON'T
HAVE TO BE AFRAID OF CATS ANYMORE. YOU ARE A CAT YOURSELF,"
SAID THE MAN. HAPPILY, THE CAT-MOUSE RAN OUT OF THE HUT.
AND WHEN SHE WANTED TO TWIST AROUND IN THE SUN, SHE AGAIN SAW
THE CAT. THE POOR THING IMMEDIATELY FORGOT THAT SHE HERSELF WAS
A CAT, AND RAN BACK INTO THE HUT. "WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?" ASKED
THE MAN. "HOW COME YOU'RE FRIGHTENED AGAIN?" THE CAT WAS
LIED. "I MET A DOG IN THE FOREST: HE STARTED CHASING ME AND I
BARELY MANAGED TO ESCAPE FROM HIM. THE MAN SAID AGAIN: "GO TO SLEEP.
IN THE MORNING YOU'LL WAKE UP AS A DOG, AND YOU WON'T HAVE TO
BE AFRAID OF DOGS ANYMORE." AND THAT'S HOW IT WAS: IN THE MORNING
THE CAT WOKE UP AS A DOG AND BARKING LOUDLY, RAN OUT OF THE
HUT. BUT NEARING A TREE SHE AGAIN SAW THE CAT. THE CAT ALSO
SAW THE DOG. SHE THOUGHT THAT THE DOG WAS GOING TO ATTACK,
SO SHE PREPARED TO DEFEND HERSELF, HISSED, LIFTED HER RIGHT PAW
AND LOUDLY MEOWD. HEARING THE CAT MEOWING, THE DOG RAN INTO THE
HUT FRIGHTENED. "WHAT FRIGHTENED YOU THIS TIME?" ASKED THE
MAN. THE DOG WAS ASHAMED TO ADMIT, THAT HE HAD BEEN FRIGHTENED
BY A CAT, SO AGAIN HE LIED: "O MY GOOD MAN, NOT FAR FROM
OUR HUT I MET A TIGER} UP TO NOW I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND
HOW I MANAGED TO GET AWAY ALIVE} "WELL, I'LL MAKE IT SO THAT
FROM NOW ON, YOU WON'T BE AFRAID OF ANYTHING. TOMORROW YOU
SHALL WAKE UP AS A TIGER." AND THAT'S HOW IT WAS: IN THE MORNING
THE DOG WOKE UP A TIGER AND DECIDED: "IT DOESN'T BEFIT ME,
RULER OF THE ANIMALS TO LIVE IN A MERE MAN'S HUT} I WILL GO INTO
THE FOREST AND LET THE OTHER ANIMALS TREMBLE AT MY POWER AND
BRAVERY}" THINKING THIS, THE TIGER STEPPED OUT OF THE HUT AND
HEADED FOR THE DARK JUNGLE. AND SUDDENLY HE SAW THE CAT. AND
THE CAT SAW THE TIGER. OUT OF FRIGHT, THE CAT'S FUR STOOD
ON END, BACK ARCHED AND EYES CRACKED FIRE. "NOW I'M DEAD}"
THOUGHT THE CAT. "FROM THE TIGER I WILL NOT ESCAPE}" THE TIGER,
IN WHOSE BREAST BEAT THE HEART OF A MOUSE, SAW THE CRACKLING
EYES AND IMMEDIATELY RAN OFF TO THE MAN'S HUT. HE SHOT INTO THE
HOUSE, CRAMPED HIMSELF INTO THE FARTHEST CORNER AND LAYED
THERE WITH TEETH CHATTERING OUT OF FRIGHT. THE MAN WAS
SUPRISED: "HOW COME YOU ARE TREMBLING AGAIN? IS THERE IN OUR
LAND AN ANIMAL STRONGER THAN THE TIGER?" "THERE IS..." WHISPERED
THE TIGER. "WHAT IS HE?" ASKED THE SUPRISED MAN. "A..A..
CAT}" THEN THE MAN UNDERSTOOD AND SAID: "A TIGER, IN WHOSE
BREAST BEATS THE HEART OF A MOUSE, IS WEAKER THAN A CAT. LET HIM,
THAT HAS A HEART OF A MOUSE, ALWAYS BE A MOUSE. HAVING SAID
THIS, THE MAN TURNED THE TIGER BACK INTO A POOR LITTLE MOUSE.
Submitter comment:
(THIS IS THE TALE RETOLD AND ILLUSTRATED BY MARCIA BROWN
AS "ONCE A MOUSE"9)
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): TRANSFORMATION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
CHILDREN,S VERSE
COWARDY, COWARDY CUSTARD,
FELL IN HIS MOTHER,S MUSTARD;
THE MUSTARD WAS HOT,
HE SWALLOWED THE LOT,
COWARDY, COWARDY CUSTARD.
Data entry tech comment: SIC: COWARDY
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): ENVELOPE STRUCTURE ; FEMININE RHYME ; REFRAIN ; RHYME: AABBA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
VERSE
I'LL TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT JACK ONORY,
AND NOW MY STORY'S BEGUN.
I'LL TELL YOU ANOTHER, ABOUT HIS BROTHER,
AND NOW MY STORY'S DONE.
Submitter comment:
TOLD TO ME WITHOUT THE AID OF A BOOK QUITE OFTEN AT BEDTIME,
AFTER MY ATTEMPTS TO STAY UP LONGER STARTED TO ANNOY MY FATHER.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; INTERNAL RHYME ; NUTSHELL NARRATIVE ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
LIMERICK
THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN OF AUSTRALIA,
WHO PAINTED HIS BUM LIKE A DAHLIA.
THE DRAWING WAS FINE,
THE COLOR DIVINE,
THE SCENT - AH}THAT WAS A FAILURE.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): BUTTOCKS ; IMPERFECT RHYME: DAHLIA/FAILURE ; RHYME: AABBA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
POEM
MY TEACHER LOVES ME, SHE THINKS I AM DEAR,
SHE'S KEPT ME FOR THE 4TH STRAIGHT YEAR}
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM FOR FLUNKING ; IRONY ; RHYME: AA ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 11-16-1965
DEVIL-ON-A-WHITE HORSE (COLLECTOR,S TITLE) ; CONVERSION: DRAWING AND SPEAKING (CLASSIFIER,S TITLE)
ONE CAN CHANGE HIS LUCK IN A GAME INVOLVING DICE, BY DRAWING AN
IMAGINARY "X" ON THE PLAYING SURFACE AND SIMULANTEOUSLY SAYING
"DEVIL-ON A WHITE HORSE", IF HE WISHES THE LUCK TO BE CHANGED TO
GOOD. CONVERSELY, IF HE WISHES IT TO BE CHANGED TO BAD LUCK, SAY FOR
AN OPPONET, HE MAKES THE SAME "X" AND SAYS "DEVUL-ON-A-BLACK HORSE"
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P833 P833.6 |
"METTLEN ALP LEGEND"
ONE NIGHT, ON THE METTLEN ALP, THE CATTLE WERE IN THE BARN FOR THE
NIGHT AND THE PEOPLE WERE ASLEEP IN THE LOFT, WHEN ONE OF THE MEN
HEARD A TERRIBLE NOISE DOWNSTAIRS. HE LOOKED DOWN THE STAIRS AND SAW
THREE MEN MAKING CHEESE. THERE WERE THREE COPPER KETTLES, ONE FOR
EACH MAN, WITH GREEN, RED, AND NORMAL COLORED CHEESE. THE THREE MEN
SAW THE ONLOOKER AND TOLD HIM TO COME DOWN AND MAKE A CHOICE.
IF HE WAS TO TAKE THE GREEN CHEESE, HE COULD HAVE A WHOLE ALP ALL
TO HIMSELF WITH AS MANY CATTLE AS HE WANTED. IF HE WANTED THE RED
CHEESE, HE COULD HAVE AS MUCH MONEY AS HE WANTED WHILE HE LIVED.
IF HE WAS TO CHOOSE THE NORMAL CHEESE, GOD WOULD BLESS HIM, AND HE
WUOLD NEVER HAVE ANY TROUBLE. THEY TOLD HIM TO MAKE HIS CHOICE.
HE CHOSE THE RED. EVERYTHING BUT THE RED CHEESE DISAPPEARED.
THE NEXT DAY THE OTHERS CAME DOWN, AND SAW HIM LAYING ON THE FLOOR
WITH A SACK OF MONEY. HE WAS ILL, AND THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN HIM
EXCEPT FOR HIS CLOTHES BECAUSE HE AGED AT LEAST TWENTY YEARS IN THE
NIGHT. HE DIED THE SAME EVENING. THE OTHERS WERE AFRAID, SO THEY WENT
INTO THE VILLAGE BELOW AND ASKED A MINSTER (WHO WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE
SPECIAL POWER OF EXORCISM) TO COME UP AND BLESS THE ALP THAT IT MIGHT
BE SAVED. HE TOLD THEM THAT THEY MUST TAKE A ROPE, MAKE THREE NOTES
IN IT AND GO AROUND THE BORDER OF THE ALP HITTING IT AS HARD AS
POSSIBLE WITH THE ROPE. AS SOON AS THE CIRCLE CLOSED, THERE WAS A
GREAT CLAP OF THUNDER, A COLUMN OF SMOKE AND A TERRIBLE SMELL
COMING FROM THE BARN. AFTER THAT, EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL.
THIS IS SAID TO BE TRUE: SINCE THAT TIME THE PEOPLE USE THAT BARN
TO SHELTER THE CATTLE AT NIGHT, AND TO WORK DURING THE DAY, BUT NO
ONE WILL STAY IN THE BARN AFTER DARK.)
Submitter comment:
"FOLK NAME"
AN ALP IS A PLATEAU IN SWITZERLAND, WHERE, DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS
THE CATTLE ARE GRAZED. THESE CATTLE ARE WATCHED BY ONE FAMILY WHO
IS PAID BY THE COMMUNITY. THIS FAMILY ALSO MAKES BUTTER, CHEESE AND
ZIGER (A VERY SPECIAL CHEESE) FROM THE MILK OF THE COWS.
THESE PRODUCTS ARE DIVIDED AT THE END OF THE SUMMER AMONG THE PEOPLE
WHOSE COWS WERE GRAZED ON THE ALP.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being SPEECH -- Place |
NEW YEAR'S EVE
IF A STRANGER ENTERS YOUR HOUSE THROUGH THE
BACK DOOR ON NEW YEAR'S EVE YOU'LL HAVE BAD LUCK ALL YEAR.
Submitter comment:
NOT BELIEVED
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; FIRST FOOTING ; LOCATION ; POSITION
Date learned: 00-00-1968
OPLATEK-UNLEAVENED BREAD
EACH PERSON TAKES A PIECE, THEN GOES
AROUND TO THE OTHERS BREAKING OFF A PIECE
OF THEIRS AND WISHES THEM GOOD LUCK,
HEALTH, AND HAPPINESS.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Oplatki |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
A CUSTOM PERFORMED BY MY GRANDPARENTS WAS THIS:
ON CHRISTMAS EVE THEY WOULD COVER THE DINNER TABLE WITH HAY.
THEY WOULD HAVE 7 OR 9 DISHES OF FOOD TO EAT. THERE COULD NEVER BE
AN EVEN NUMBER OF DISHES OF FOOD. AFTER THEY ATE THEY
WOULD LEAVE EVERTHING ON THE TABLE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THEN
THEY WOULD PICK UP THE HAY AND FEED IT TO THE CATTLE IN
THE BARN. NEXT THEY WOULD LOOK FOR ANY GRAIN THAT MAY HAVE
BEEN LEFT ON THE TABLE. THESE SEEDS SOMETIMES BECOME MIXED WITH
THE HAY. IF THERE WERE SOME GRAIN SEEDS FOUND ON THE TABLE THE
GRAIN CROP FOR THE NEXT YEAR WOULD BE GOOD.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): FOOD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve F122.2 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Christmas CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Straw |
Date learned: 11-15-1969