The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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

Date learned: 07-06-1973

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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

Date learned: 07-06-1973

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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

Date learned: 07-06-1973

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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

Date learned: 07-06-1973

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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

Date learned: 07-06-1973

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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

Date learned: 07-06-1973

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EXPLANATION OF A NAME

THERE'S A FAIR SIZED HILL IN HALIFAX COUNTY IN VIRGINIA.
I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE I CAN DESCRIBE HOW IT'S LOCATED.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE EXACTLY WHERE IT IS BY REMEMBERING
THE SUN, WHERE IT IS FROM MY GRANDFATHER'S HOUSE.
ANYWAY, IT'S IN HALIFAX COUNTY. YOU CAN STILL FIND
INDIAN RELICS THERE--I MEAN WAR ARROWHEADS--YOU CAN
TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REGULAR HUNTING ARROWHEADS
AND WAR ARROWHEADS. IN THE VERY EARLY DAYS IN THE
SETTLEMENT OF VIRGINIA THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE
BEEN A BATTLE BETWEEN THE INDIANS AND SETTLERS. THE
NAME OF IT IS BAD LUCK HILL. I THINK THE SETTLERS
WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE WON BUT FOR SOME REASON THAT
SEEMS STRANGE 'CAUSE THEN THEY WOULD HAVE CALLED IT
GOOD LUCK HILL. OH! IT'S (BAD LUCK HILL) ABOUT
1500 YARDS FROM SANDY CREEK WHICH IS A TRIBUTARY
OF THE BANNISTER RIVER.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 07-20-1968

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EXPLANATION OF A NAME

BACK BEFORE OKLAHOMA BECAME A STATE THEY OPENED UP
THE RESERVATIONS FOR THE SETTLERS. I GUESS THAT WAS
IN 1889 WASN'T IT? ANYHOW, THEY SHOT THE GUN OFF AT
12:00 NOON AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE WOULD RUN IN AND
STAKE A CLAIM. MY GREAT-GREAT-GRANDFATHER HAD
WORKED ON THE RAILROAD SO HE ALREADY HAD SOME LAND
THERE. THE OTHERS THOUGH, THAT WENT IN EARLY,
AGAINST THE RULES, WERE CALLED "SOONERS."

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 07-30-1968

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LOCAL LEGEND

THERE'S A STORY MY MOTHER USED TO TELL--SHE CHANGES
IT TO SUIT THE OCCASION. THIS ONE ORIGINALLY CAME
FROM MISSOURI.
THERE'S A HILL OFF HERE IN THE COUNTRY AND THERE'S
THIS OLD INDIAN BURIED ON TOP OF IT UNDER A STONE.
IF YOU GO UP THERE ON A MOONLESS NIGHT ALL ALONE,
AND SAY TO THAT INDIAN "INDIAN, INDIAN, ON THE HILL.
WHAT DID YOU DO THERE TO LIE SO STILL?" HE'LL
ANSWER--"NOTHING, NOTHING AT ALL."
SHE TELLS THIS AS A JOKE.

Where learned: MISSOURI ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 07-00-1968

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LEGEND

THIS GUY, CREEPY JESUS, WAS REPUTED TO BE A HOLY
ROLLER. HE WAS ABOUT FIVE FEET TALL AND WOULD GO
TO THE PEOPLE'S HOMES. HE'S FLASH SOMETHING IN A
PAPER BAG AND ASK IF YOU WANTED TO BUY IT. IF YOU
TOLD HIM YOUR FATHER WASN'T HOME, HE'D LEAVE RIGHT
AWAY EVEN IF YOUR FATHER WAS RIGHT THERE IN THE
FRONT YARD.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 08-01-1968

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LEGEND

ONE DAY NEWT BUILT HIMSELF A BEAUTIFUL LOG CABIN--
IT WAS TWO STORIES AND EVERYTHING. ONE SIDE HAD
A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE OCEAN AND THE OTHER THE
WOODS. ONLY HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY WINDOWS ON THE
OCEAN SIDE SO HE COULDN'T SEE OUT, BUT ON THE
WOODS SIDE, HE HAD A SUN PORCH--BUT FOR WINDOWS
HE PUT IN DOUBLE PANES AND EVERY TIME THE SUN
HIT THE WINDOWS, THEY WOULD STEAM UP SO HE
COULDN'T SEE OUT THERE EITHER.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 07-00-1968

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LEGEND

OLD NEWT SOLD EGGS, SEE, BUT HE'D NEVER COOK
ON HIS OWN. HE'D ALWAYS SHOW UP AT SOMEONE'S
HOUSE AT ABOUT 4:30 AND HANG AROUND UNTIL THEY
INVITED HIM TO EAT. HE HAD A DIFFERENT HOUSE FOR
EVERY DAY. OURS WAS FRIDAY.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 07-00-1968

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NAMING

GERMANS WHEN THEY FIRST CAME TO THE UNITED STATES
WERE CALLED "EASTERLINGS." WITH THEM THEY BROUGHT
THEIR FINE PRECIOUS METAL WORK IN SILVER. THE
FIRST TWO LETTERS OF EASTERLING WERE DROPPED AND
THE SILVER WORK WAS CALLED "STERLING."
THEY WERE CALLED "EASTERLINGS" BECAUSE THEY CAME
FROM THE EAST.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 05-13-1969

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THIS IS A STORY THE DEAN OF STUDENTS USED TO TELL
TO KEEP US FROM GOING OFF BY OURSELVES AND PARKING.
THIS COUPLE WAS OFF ON A LONELY ROAD MAKING OUT
AND THE GIRL GOT SCARED FOR SOME REASON AND TOLD
THE BOY SHE WANTED TO GO RIGHT THEN. SO THEY
LEFT AND DROVE BACK TO CAMPUS. HE GOT OUT AND
WENT AROUND TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR HER. WHEN HE
REACHED FOR THE HANDLE, THERE WAS A PART OF AN
ARTIFICIAL ARM WITH A BIG HOOK HANGING ON THE
DOORHANDLE. LATER THAT NIGHT THEY HEARD ON
THE RADIO THAT A ONE-ARMED CONVICT HAD ESCAPED
FROM PRISON.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

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WHEN DR. MACKEY WAS A STUDENT IN COLLEGE
(DR. MACKEY IS THE PRESIDENT EMERITUS), ONE
NIGHT HE WAS OUTSIDE THE DORM AND THIS GUY ON
THE THIRD FLOOR DROPPED A WATER BALLOON ON
HIS HEAD.
THAT NIGHT, WHEN EVERYBODY WAS ASLEEP, DR.
MACKEY TOOK A HOSE PIPE AND CLIMBED UP THE
DRAINPIPE AND STUCK THE NOZZLE IN THIS
BOY'S BED THAT HAD DROPPED THE BALLOON ON HIM.
THEN DR. MACKEY CLIMBED BACK DOWN THE DRAINPIPE
AND TURNED THE HOSEPIPE ON FULL BLAST AND
SCARED THAT GUY TO DEATH AND NEARLY DROWNED
HIM AND NOBODY EVER FOUND OUT WHO DID IT.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

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HUNGARIAN LEGEND

KING STEPHEN BROUGHT HUNGARY TO CHRISTIANITY
AND ROMAN CATHOLICISM, AND WAS PRESENTED
WITH A HEAVILY JEWELLED CROWN BY THE POPE.
DURING SOME WAR, THE ROYAL JEWELS WERE
BURIED AND AT THIS TIME THE CROSS ON THE TOP
OF THE CROWN WAS BENT. NOW THE CROWN IS
ALWAYS SHOWN WITH THE BENT CROSS.

Submitter comment: THIS CROWN WAS RECENTLY RETURNED TO HUNGARY.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 08-12-1968

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LEGEND

THIS ONE GUY WAS SORT OF A HIPPIE-TYPE GOD.
HIS NAME WAS OWSLING. HE WAS THIS MAN WHO WAS
UP IN CANADA AND MADE ALL THIS LSD BY HIMSELF.
THIS WAS ABOUT EARLY 1964. AND HE TRAVELLED
ALL THE WAY FROM NEW YORK TO THE WEST COAST
TURNING ON PEOPLE. AT ONE POINT HE WAS AT THIS
PARTY, I THINK IT WAS IN BUFFALO AT A COLLEGE,
AND HE POURED ALL THIS LSD INTO THE PUNCHBOWL.
AND ALL THE STRAIGHT PEOPLE GOT TURNED ON,
AND SO DID ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE. AND HE WENT
AROUND--HE WAS SORT OF LIKE THE JOHNNY APPLESEED
OF ACID. AND HE MADE ALL THIS STUFF. IT WAS
VERY GOOD ACID. AND PEOPLE TO THIS DAY--AND
THIS IS THREE YEARS AFTER HE WAS IN PRODUCTION--
HE WAS SINCE ARRESTED IN CALIFORNIA, AND PEOPLE
STILL INSIST THAT THERE IS OWSLING ACID GOING
AROUND, THAT YOU CAN BUY IT, WHICH IS QUITE
RIDICULOUS, HE DIDN'T MAKE THAT MUCH.
PEOPLE ALSO INSIST THAT YOU CAN BUY SANDOS
ACID WHICH IS ALSO QUITE--SANDOS IS A
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY IN SWITZERLAND--ALSO
QUITE RIDICULOUS, BECAUSE SANDOS CEASED
PRODUCTION IN 1962, SO I'M SURE IT'S ALL USED UP.

James Callow comment: DID THIS GIRL TAKE SOME?

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 07-22-1968

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AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, THERE ARE
ARCHES ON THE CAMPUS. IT IS SAID THAT IF
YOU WALK THROUGH THE ARCHES, YOU WON'T
GRADUATE.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE

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CHINESE LEGEND WITH MORAL

THIS RICH MAN HAD FEAST EVERY DAY--AND SO
MUCH WASTE, JUST THROW FOOD AWAY. THIS POOR
MONK CAME IN TO BEG FOR FOOD AND THEY DIDN'T
GIVE ANY TO HIM. BUT HE HAD ENOUGH BY JUST
GATHERING WHAT THEY THREW OUT--EVEN MORE THAN
HE NEEDED. SO, HE DRIED LEFT-OVER RICE IN SUN, AND
STORED IT. SOMETIMES LATER THIS RICH MAN
BECOMES POOR AND HE TURNS INTO BEGGAR. SO MONK
TOOK RICE AND SOAKED IT IN WATER, RECOOKED IT
AND SERVED TO THIS MAN. THIS MAN THANKED THE
MONK. THE MONK TOLD HIM THERE WAS NO NEED FOR
THANKING HIM BECAUSE WHAT HE ATE BELONGED TO
HIMSELF.
MORAL: DON'T LIVE WASTEFUL LIFE. WHENEVER YOU
CAN HELP OTHERS, DO IT. YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN
IN TURN, YOU WILL NEED HELP (BUDDHISM).
IMPORTANT IN CHINA--POSITION IS INTANGIBLE. THE
WORLD TURNS. WE CAN'T BE SURE WE CAN MAINTAIN
WHAT HE HAVE--ONE DAY RICH, NEXT DAY POOR.
THE GOOD YOU DO TODAY WILL BE RESTORED FOR
FUTURE.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 08-10-1968

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CHINESE LEGEND

DURING WORLD WAR II, THREE CHINESE
FRIENDS WERE EATING DINNER BY CANDLELIGHT.
THEY WERE VERY POOR AND DID NOT HAVE MUCH
FOOD. ONE PIECE OF MEAT WAS LEFT--A
SLICE, JUST A SLITHER. ALL THREE WANTED
TO HAVE IT. SO, ONE ACCIDENTALLY KNOCKED
THE CANDLE OFF AND TRIED TO REACH THE MEAT.
BUT, WHEN HIS HAND GETS TO THE PLATTER,
HE FOUND TWO OTHER HANDS THERE.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 08-10-1968

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