The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

RIDDLE

Q: WHO WALKS ON FOUR FEET IN THE MORNING, ON TWO FEET AT NOON,
AND ON THREE IN THE EVENING?
A: MAN. AS A CHILD HE CRAWLS ON ALL FOURS; AS AN ADULT HE WALKS ON
TWO; AND IN HIS OLD AGE HE WALKS LEANING ON A STICK.

Submitter comment: ORIGIN: FROM HIS NEIGHBOR MR. SOL FRIEDMAN

Data entry tech comment: 7 OTHER EXAMPLES IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: FITZGERALD PLAYGROUND

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS (Q) ; PARTS OF THE

James Callow Keyword(s): SOPHOCLES

Date learned: 07-29-1964

View just this record

QUESTION: THREE MERCHANTS AND THREE ROBBERS HAD TO CROSS A
LAKE. HOWEVER, ONLY ONE ROWBOAT WAS AVAILABLE AND IT COULD
SAFELY CARRY ONLY TWO PEOPLE AT A TIME. HOW COULD THEY ALL
MANAGE TO GET ACROSS SINCE ONE MERCHANT WAS AFRAID TO BE LEFT
ALONE WITH TWO ROBBERS? ANSWER: FIRST OF ALL TWO ROBBERS
CROSSED. ONE ROBBER THEN BROUGHT THE BOAT BACK AND ROWED ACROSS
THE THIRD ROBBER. AFTERWARDS HE RETURNED ONCE MORE AND
REMAINED ON SHORE. THEN TWO MERCHANTS GOT INTO THE BOAT AND
ROWWED ACROSS. ONE MERCHANT IN COMPANY WITH ONE ROBBER RETURNED
WITH THE BOAT. THE ROBBER GOT OUT OF THE BOAT AND THEN TWO
MERCHANTS ROWED ACROSS. AFTER THAT A ROBBER RETURNED TO GET THE
LAST ROBBER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FITZGERALD PLAYGROUND ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CRIME

View just this record

TOO MUCH CHEESE

THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN NAMED NED,/WHO, JUST BEFORE GOING TO BED,
ATE VERY MUCH/ OF A CHEESE THAT WAS DUTCH__/ AND WHEN HE WOKE UP HE
WAS DEAD }

Submitter comment: ORIGIN: AUNT MARY WHO LIVES IN ST. LOUIS, MO. USED TO SAY THIS RIME
TO HIM BEFORE GOING TO BED.

Where learned: FITZGERALD PLAYGROUND ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): FOOD ; RHYME: AABBA

Date learned: 07-29-1964

View just this record

Devilish Mary (English Origin)

I once dressed up and went to twon
To court a fair young lady.
I inquired about her name,
Her name was Devilish Mary.

Chorus
Come-a fa-la-ling, come-a ling, come-a ling
Come-a fa-la-ling come-a dairy.
Repeat

Me and Mary began to spark,
And she got in a hurry,
We fixed it up that very night,
We'd marry the very next Thursday.

We hadn't been married but about two weeks,
When she got mean as the devil,
And every time I said a word,
She hit me with a shovel.

She washed my clothes in old soap suds,
She filled my bath with switches,
She let me know right from the start,
She was going to wear my britches.

One day I said to Devilish Mary,
"I think we'd best be parted."
Just as soon as I said the words,
Out the door she started.

Now if I ever marry again,
It'll be for love not riches,
Marry a gal about two feet tall,
So she can't wear my britches.

Submitter comment:

Origin mother and father (she thinks).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FITZGERALD PLAYGROUND ; DETROIT

View just this record