Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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GHOST STORY
"MY DAD HAD BEEN DEAD FOR 15 YEARS AND THEN CAME AND
VISITED ME. WHEN I WAS A LITLE GIRL HE USED TO WAKE ME UP
BY PULLING MY TOES. SO, WHEN HE VISITED ME FROM THE GRAVE,
HE PULLED MY TOE TO WAKE ME UP. HE SAID THAT HE CAME TO
MAKE SURE THAT I WAS HAPPY AND THAT IF I WASN'T, I COULD
GO BACK WITH HIM."
Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THAT THIS IS TRUE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SHAMOKIN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00001965CA
GHOST STORY
"A LITTLE BOY GOT KILLED BY A TRAIN WHEN HE WAS PLAYING
ON SOME RAILROAD TRACKS. HE HAD BEEN TOLD NOT TO PLAY
ON THE TRACKS. THE TRAIN HIT HIM REAL HARD AND PULLED HIM
FOR A REAL LONG WAY. THE TRAIN CUT HIS BODY UP INTO
HUNDREDS OF PIECES. HIS MOM AND DAD WENT UP AND DOWN THE
TRACKS PICKING UP HIS BODY PARTS. IF YOU LISTEN AT NIGHT
AT THE TIME THE BOY WAS KILLED, YOU CAN HEAR HIM CALLING
TO HIS MOM AND DAD. HE SAYS,'MOMMY, HERE'S A PIECE OF ME.
AND HERE'S ANOTHER PIECE OF ME.'"
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SHAMOKIN
Keyword(s): DISOBEYED PARENTS
James Callow Keyword(s): DISMEMBERMENT BY MISFORTUNATE ACCIDENT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 00001934CA
GETTING A HAIRCUT ON GOOD FRIDAY WILL MAKE YOUR HAIR
GROW LONGER AND HEALTHIER.
Submitter comment:
A. RAY THOMAS, OF BURROUGHS CORP, WROTE ME ON APRIL 21
1980:
"ITEMS FROM MRS. ANTHONY J. THOMAS OF KULPMONT,
PENNSYLVANIA. SHE IS OF ITALIAN DESCENT (ELIZABETH
M. POLIDORE) AND GREW UP IN A SMALL MINING TOWN IN
PENNSYLVANIA. MANY OF HER FOLKLORE BELIEFS ARE A
COMBINATION OF HER ITALIAN HERITAGE AND THOSE OF
HER PREDOMINANTLY IRISH CUSTOMERS."
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; A SMALL MINING TOWN IN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Good Friday BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
LADY IN CEMETERY
"THIS HAPPENED IN THE SHAMOKIN CEMETERY. MY BROTHERS GAVE
A FEAR TEST TO A FRIEND OF THEIRS NAMED ADAM. THEY
TOLD HIM TO WALK ALONG THE CEMETERY TO SEE HOW BRAVE HE IS.
MY BROTHERS WENT WITH HIM FOR PROOF. WHEN THEY WERE NEXT
TO THE CEMETERY, THEY SAW A WHITE GHOST SHAPED LIKE A LADY
FLOATING NEAR THEM. ADAM SAW IT FIRST AND JUST FROZE. MY
BROTHERS SAID THAT SHE FLOATED THROUGH THE FENCE. THEN SHE
FLOATED TO A GRAVE AND SUNK DOWN INTO IT. THE THREE OF THEM
RAN RIGHT HOME."
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT YEARS LATER WHEN SHE WENT BACK HOME
FOR A VISIT, SHE VISITED ADAM. HE SAID THAT THE LADY GHOST
HAUNTED HIM FOR MANY YEARS AFTER THE NIGHT OF HIS FEAR TEST.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SHAMOKIN
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001937CA
TODAY WELL-LIVED MAKES EVERY YESTERDAY A DREAM OF
HAPPINESS, AND EVERY TOMORROW A VISION OF HOPE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; COLLECTED AT UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 09-00-1968
PROVERB
THE HURRIDER I GO, THE BEHINDER I GET.
Submitter comment: TOLD IN PENNYLVANIA APPROXIMATELY MAY 1971
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): NEOLOGISMS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
THE HEN-PECKED DEVIL
SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS AGO THE MAYOR OF HAMBURG, GERMANY,
CONTRACTED TO HAVE A BRIDGE BUILT OVER THE ELBE. THE CONTRACTOR
PROMISED TO HAVE THE JOB COMPLETED BY A CERTAIN DATE, BUT,
BECAUSE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, HE WAS HOPELESSLY BEHIND SCHEDULE.
SINCE THE BUILDER KNEW THAT THE MAYOR WOULD NOT FULFILL HIS END
OF THE CONTRACT UNLESS THE BRIDGE WAS COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE
SPRING FESTIVALS, HE MADE A PACT WITH THE DEVIL FOR ITS COMPLE-
TION. THE DEVIL WOULD COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION IN RETURN FOR THE
SOUL OF THE FIRST PERSON TO CROSS THE BRIDGE.
WHEN THE BRIDGE WAS COMPLETED AND TO BE DEDICATED, THE MAYOR AND
BUILDER ARGUED WITH ONE ANOTHER ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO
WALK ACROSS THE SPAN. THE MAYOR, SUSPECTING SOMETHING WAS AMISS
BECAUSE OF THE JOB'S RAPID COMPLETION, INSISTED THAT THE BUILDER
PROCEED FIRST. IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS, THE BUILDER HAD TUCKED
A HEN UNDER HIS COAT. WHEN HE APPROACHED THE MIDWAY MARK OF THE
BRIDGE WHERE THE DEVIL WAS LURKING BEHIND A COLUMN, HE THREW THE
HEN OUT TO HIM. THE DEVIL SEIZED THE BIRD, BUT WHEN HE SAW THAT
HIS CATCH WAS ONLY A HEN, HE THREW IT DOWN IN DISGUST. THE
DEVIL'S ANGER WAS SUCH THAT THE HEN WENT CLEAN THROUGH THE BRIDGE,
AND TO THIS DAY THERE IS A HOLD IN THE BRIDGE WHICH WILL NOT BE
FILLED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD TALE FROM A GERMAN PHILOSOPHY PROFESSOR AT
GANNON COLLEGE, ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE ; GANNON COLLEGE
Date learned: 10-23-1965
THE HEN-PECKED DEVIL
SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS AGO THE MAYOR OF HAMBURG, GERMANY,
CONTRACTED TO HAVE A BRIDGE BUILT OVER THE ELBE. THE CONTRACTOR
PROMISED TO HAVE THE JOB COMPLETED BY A CERTAIN DATE, BUT,
BECAUSE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, HE WAS HOPELESSLY BEHIND SCHEDULE.
SINCE THE BUILDER KNEW THAT THE MAYOR WOULD NOT FULFILL HIS END
OF THE CONTRACT UNLESS THE BRIDGE WAS COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE
SPRING FESTIVALS, HE MADE A PACT WITH THE DEVIL FOR ITS COMPLE-
TION. THE DEVIL WOULD COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION IN RETURN FOR THE
SOUL OF THE FIRST PERSON TO CROSS THE BRIDGE.
WHEN THE BRIDGE WAS COMPLETED AND TO BE DEDICATED, THE MAYOR AND
BUILDER ARGUED WITH ONE ANOTHER ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO
WALK ACROSS THE SPAN. THE MAYOR, SUSPECTING SOMETHING WAS AMISS
BECAUSE OF THE JOB'S RAPID COMPLETION, INSISTED THAT THE BUILDER
PROCEED FIRST. IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS, THE BUILDER HAD TUCKED
A HEN UNDER HIS COAT. WHEN HE APPROACHED THE MIDWAY MARK OF THE
BRIDGE WHERE THE DEVIL WAS LURKING BEHIND A COLUMN, HE THREW THE
HEN OUT TO HIM. THE DEVIL SEIZED THE BIRD, BUT WHEN HE SAW THAT
HIS CATCH WAS ONLY A HEN, HE THREW IT DOWN IN DISGUST. THE
DEVIL'S ANGER WAS SUCH THAT THE HEN WENT CLEAN THROUGH THE BRIDGE,
AND TO THIS DAY THERE IS A HOLD IN THE BRIDGE WHICH WILL NOT BE
FILLED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD TALE FROM A GERMAN PHILOSOPHY PROFESSOR AT
GANNON COLLEGE, ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; ERIE ; GANNON COLLEGE
Date learned: 10-23-1965
THE BEAR
FUZZY WUZZY WAS A BEAR,
FUZZY WUZZY HAD NO HAIR,
FUZZY WUZZY WASN'T FUZZY
WAS HE?
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; CHIASMUS: FUZZY WUZZY WASN'T FUZZY ; INITIAL ITERATION ; RHYME: AABC ; SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 09-12-1965
THE FROG
THE FROG IS A FUNNY ANIMAL
WHEN HE WALK HE RUN ALMOST,
WHEN HE HOP HE JUMP ALMOST,
WHEN HE SIT HE STAND ALMOST,
HE HAS NO TAIL HARDLY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; FINAL ITERATION ; HUMOR ; INITIAL ITERATION ; RHYME: ABBBC
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.440 |
Date learned: 09-12-1965
THE FROG
WHAT A FUNNY LITTLE BIRD THE FROG ARE
HE AIN'T GOT NO HEAD HARDLY
AND HE AIN'T GOT NO TAIL EITHER.
WHEN HE HOP HE FLY ON WHAT HE AIN'T GOT ALMOST.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; HUMOR ; RHYME: ABCD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.440 |
Date learned: 09-12-1965
KITTY
MY LOVE FOR YOU SHALL NEVER FAIL,
AS LONG AS KITTY HAS A TAIL.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): FRIENDSHIP ; RHYME: AA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.322 |
Date learned: 09-12-1965
LOVE HER
I LOVE HER ON THE HILLSIDE
I LOVE HER ON THE LEVEL
IF I HAD HER IN MY ARMS
I WOULD LOVE HER LIKE THE DEVIL.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): FEMININE RHYME ; FRIENDSHIP ; RHYME: ABCB ; THREAT ; WISH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.322 |
Date learned: 09-12-1965
I WISH
I WISH YOU JOY, I WISH YOU MIGHTY
I WISH HIS PAJAMAS CLOSE TO YOUR NIGHTIE
NOW DON'T GET MAD, DON'T GET RED
I MEAN ON THE CLOTHESLINE AND NOT IN BED.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): CLOTHES ; HUMOR ; PRETENDED OBSCENE ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 09-12-1965
BACKWARDNESS
A COUPLE OF MY FRIENDS WERE IN THE NAVY. AFTER COMING HOME, WHEN
THEY SEE EACH OTHER ON THE STREET, THEY BOTH TURN AROUND AND WALK
BY EACH OTHER BACK TO BACK. THEY DO THIS TO SHOW THEIR MUTUAL
FEELING THAT EVERYTHING IS DONE BACKWARDS IN THE NAVY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA, ASSUMED ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): MILITARY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 04-00-1967
PREDICTION -DIVINATION
IF TWO PEOPLE ARE WALKING AND A POLE IS IN THEIR PATH THEY MUST
WALK ON EACH SIDE AND SAY BREAD AND BUTTER WHEN THEY COME
TOGETHER. IF THEY DO NOT THEY WILL HAVE A FIGHT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): Bread and Butter ; CUSTOM ; FRIENDSHIP ; PREDICTION ; SIGN ; SYMBOL ; Together
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
LOVE MAKING
IT WAS MIDNIGHT ON THE BACK PORCH
TWO LIPS WERE TIGHTLY PRESSED
THE OLD_MAN GAVE THE SIGNAL
THE BULL DOG DID THE REST.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM ; KISSING ; RHYME: ABCB ; SLANG FOR FATHER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 09-12-1965
CHILDHOOD DITTY
OOEY GOOEY WAS A WORM,
A MIGHTY WORM WAS HE.
HE SAT UPON A RAILROAD TRACK,
THE TRAIN HE DID NOT SEE.
OOOEY GOOOEY}
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): INDIRECTION EUPHEMISM ; INTERNAL RHYME ; MOCK EPIC ; RHYME: ABCBB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
FALLING...
YOU MAY FALL FROM THE PORCH ROOF,/ YOU MAY FALL FROM ABOVE,
BUT THE GREATEST FALL YOU'LL EVER HAVE,/ IS WHEN YOU FALL IN LOVE.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 09-12-1965
AUTOGRAPH BOOK RHYME
I LOVE YOU NOW AND WILL FOREVER.
YOUR LOVE MAY CHANGE THOUGH MINE WILL NEVER.
IF SEPARATION BE OUR LOT,
PAL OF MINE, FORGET ME NOT}
Submitter comment:
RHYME FROM INFORMANT'S JUNIOR HIGH AUTOGRAPH BOOK, 1929-1933.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; GLENSHAW
Keyword(s): FRIENDLY ; LOVE ; METER: IAMBS ; QUATRAIN ; REMEMBRANCE ; REQUEST FOR REMEMBRANCE ; RHYME: AABB ; RHYME: FEMININE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Remember me |
Date learned: 10-02-1971