Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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BELIEF
EATING FISH AND DRINKING MILK WITH THE MEAL WILL MAKE A
PERSON SICK.
Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BRUCE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN NANCY WAS FOUR YEARS OLD, SHE AWOKE IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGHT TO SEE A TALL, STRANGE MAN STANDING BY
HER BED. FRIGHTENED AT FIRST, SHE LOST HER FEAR WHEN
HE GENTLY ASKED, "NANCY, HAVE YOU BEEN A GOOD GIRL?"
WHEN SHE SAID SHE HAD, HE WENT AWAY. ONE WEEK LATER,
THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HER SISTER AGNES, WHO
WAS SEVERAL YEARS OLDER. THE MORNING AFTER THESE
INCIDENTS, THE DOORS WERE FOUND UNLOCKED, BUT
NOTHING ELSE IN THE HOUSE DISTURBED.
Submitter comment:
I REMEMBER THE MOTHER OF THESE GIRLS TELLING MY
FAMILY ABOUT THE INCIDENT. SHE FELT THE MAN WAS A
WOULD-BE ROBBER WHO CHANGED HEART WHEN HE SAW THE
LITTLE GIRL'S FRIGHTENED FACES, BUT SHE DIDN'T
KNOW HOW HE KNEW THEIR NAMES.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00001947-1949
SOME PARTING WORDS OF ADVICE BEFORE I LEFT FOR DETROIT:
WATCH YOUR P'S AND Q'S.
Where learned: Massachusetts
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
TO CURE A HEADACHE WEAR A HEADACHE BAND AROUND THE HEAD.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; GADSDEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 10-01-1973
(BROKEN GLASS)
ONE DAY A MAN RETURNED HOME TO FIND HIS BOY AND GIRL
CRYING, FOR THEIR MOTHER HAD DISAPPEARED. THREE
MONTHS LATER, DAD DISAPPEARED. THE CHILDREN SEARCHED
TO NO AVAIL. ONE DAY THE BOY DID NOT RETURN FROM PLAY.
ALL ALONE, THE GIRL CRIED AND SEARCHED FOR HER LOST
FAMILY. ONE NIGHT SHE HEARD NOISES FROM THE ATTIC.
FRIGHTENED, SHE CLIMBED THE LONG STAIRS. AS SHE ROSE
HIGHER SHE HEARD MOANING. CAUTIOUSLY, SHE OPENED THE
DOOR AND . . . (HERE THE NARRATOR SCREECHES) (WHEN
THE AUDIENCE RECOVERS, SOMEONE, IF THE SPEAKER IS
LUCKY, ASKS, "WHY DID SHE SCREAM? THE SPEAKER
ANSWERS "YOU'D SCREAM TOO IF YOU STEPPED ON BROKEN
GLASS!"
Submitter comment:
A GROUP OF US WERE TOLD THIS STORY AT A PICNIC IN
SYLVANIA {OHIO}.
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
TAUNT
I SEE LONDON,
I SEE FRANCE,
I SEE (NAME OF PERSON)'S UNDERPANTS.
Where learned: OLD NEIGHBORHOOD
Keyword(s): HUMOR TAUNT REPETITION ; PLACE NAMES IMPROPRIETY ; RHYME: MASCULINE, ABB ; SURPRISE ENDING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
ORDINARY FOLKTALE
THERE WAS ONCE A LITTLE SPOILED BOY WHO HAD SO MUCH
THAT WHEN HE DIDN'T GET WHAT HE WANTED, HE SLAPPED AND
KICKED AT HIS MOTHER. AS HE WAS GOING TO SCHOOL ONE DAY,
HE MET WITH A MISFORTUNE AND WAS KILLED. THE MOTHER
MOURNED AND TRIED TO MAKE HIS FUNERAL THE BEST POSSIBLE.
AT THE CEMETERY THEY HAD TO DRAG THE WEEPING MOTHER AWAY.
THREE DAYS LATER SHE VISITED THE GRAVE AND WAS HORRIFIED
AT WHAT SHE SAW. STICKING UP FROM THE GROUND WERE
FOUR CHUBBY FINGERS. OTHERS WERE ALSO HORRIFIED AND
TRIED TO COVER THEM. THREE TIMES THE MOTHER WENT TO
THE GRAVE AND FOUND THE FINGERS STICKING UP EVERY TIME.
THE MOTHER WENT TO THE PARISH PRIEST WHO SOON DISCOVERED
THAT THE YOUNG BOY HAD NEVER BEEN PUNISHED FOR HIS BAD
BEHAVIOR. THE MOTHER WOULD HAVE TO PUNISH THE BOY NOW
BY BEATING HIS FINGERS INTO THE GROUND IF HE WERE
TO FINALLY HAVE ETERNAL REST. THE MORAL OF THE STORY
IS NOT TO STRIKE YOUR PARENTS.
Submitter comment:
TOLD BY A COMMUNITY INSTRUCTOR: 1940S.
SLAPPING CAUSES HAND OF BURIED SINNER TO RETURN UNDERGROUND IN GRAVE
TOLD BY A COMMUNITY INSTRUCTOR IN THE 1940S
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Magic |
Date learned: CA12001965
THE ELMORE GHOST
NOT TOO LONG AGO IN ELMORE, OHIO, A GROUP OF DRUNK TEENAGERS
RAN INTO AND KILLED A POLICEMAN ON A MOTORCYCLE. THIS WAS
WITNESSED BY A PERSON LIVING IN A HOUSE NOT FAR AWAY. THE
PERSON DIED OF SHOCK. IF YOU GO THERE YOU CAN SEE CAR LIGHTS
COMING AT YOU, FEEL THE BUMP-BUMP OF A MOTORCYCLE ON YOUR CAR
HOOD AND SEE A LIGHT MOVE FROM WINDOW TO WINDOW OF THE NOW-
DESERTED HOUSE.
Date learned: 00-00-1968
TIME AND TIDE WAITS FOR NO MAN.
Submitter comment:
DON'T PUT OFF SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU CAN NEVER
RECAPTURE TIME.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-06-1971
MOSQUITO FLY HI,
MOSQUITO FLY LO,
FLY ON ME,
YOU FLY NO MO!
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): CONTRAST QUATRAIN ELLIPSIS ; HUMOR SLANG CACOGRAPHY UNDERSTATEMENT ; METER: IRREGULAR, RHYME: STRAINED ; PRONUNCIATION ; RHYME: ABCB DIALECT ; THREAT ANIMAL REPETITION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
TO CALL A PERSON TOWARD YOU, YOU WIGGLE YOUR FOREFINGER
TO{WARD} YOURSELF.
Submitter comment: LEARNED IN COLOMBIA, FROM LIVING THERE.
Where learned: SOUTH AMERICA ; BOGOTA ; COLOMBIA
James Callow Keyword(s): COME HITHER GESTURE
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 06-12-1967
O ALMIGHTY DOLLAR, THY SHINING FACE
THAT SPEAKS THY MIGHTY POWER
IN MY POCKET, FIND A RESTING PLACE,
FOR I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR.
AMEN.
Where learned: SCHOOL ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): APOSTROPHE MONOLOGUE QUATRAIN ; INDIRECTION SATIRE MONEY ; METER: IAMBIC, ANAPESTIC ; MOCK-PIOUS ; RHYME: MASCULINE, IMPERFECT, ABAB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A game played by African-American children
Look who's here Punchi-nella Punchi-nella
Look who's here Punchi-nella at the zoo
What can you do Punchi-nella, Punchi-nella
What can you do Punchi-nella at the zoo?
We can do it too Punchi-nella, Punchi-nella
We can do it too Punchi-nella at the zoo.
Submitter comment:
This game is played in a circle and there are hand
claps that accompany the words to the song. One
player (Punchi-nella) is in the center of the circle.
When Punchi-nella is asked "what can you do?", the
player responds by doing his/her own unique dance
in the center of the circle. When the other players
respond, "we can do it too" they imitate the dance
that Punchi-nella performed in the center of the
circle.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; other children in the community
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00001960-61
LEGEND AMONG THE FRANCISCAN NUNS OF TOLEDO {OHIO}
HAS IT THAT THEY UNKNOWINGLY HARBORED AL CAPONE FROM
THE POLICE. THE NUNS, SYMPATHETIC TO THE HUNGRY
VAGRANT, THE PREMISE THAT CAPONE PUT ON, LET HIM
STAY INDOORS, FED HIM WHILE THE POLICE COMBED THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. AFTER THE POLICE WENT AWAY, CAPONE LEFT
PEACEFULLY, OFFERING THANKS TO THE NUNS. THE EVENT
OCCURRED AT ST. STANISLAUS CONVENT ON DETROIT AVENUE
IN TOLEDO, OHIO.
Submitter comment:
TOLD BY A FRANCISCAN NUN WHEN I WAS STUDYING HISTORY
IN GRADE SCHOOL.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate |
Date learned: IN GRADE SCHOOL
COUNTING-OUT RIME {PROBABLY AN INACCURATE TITLE}
RICH MAN, POOR MAN, BEGGAR MAN, THIEF. DOCTOR, LAWYER, MERCHANT,
CHIEF.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL. YOU SAY ONE NAME
FOR EACH BUTTON ON A SHIRT, SWEATER, ETC., AND WHERE YOU STOP, THAT
IS THE PERSON YOU WILL MARRY. SHE DOES NOT HOLD IT TO BE TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 09-20-1972
THE HEADLESS
IN TOLEDO {OHIO} THERE WAS A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
IN WHICH THE DRIVER LOST HIS HEAD.
NOW ON THE SAME ROAD, YOU CAN SEE ONE HEADLIGHT
COMING AT YOU (USUALLY AROUND MIDNIGHT), BUT
WHEN IT GETS CLOSE ENOUGH TO MAKE IT OUT, IT
DISAPPEARS. IT IS SAID TO BE THE MOTORCYCLIST
LOOKING FOR HIS HEAD.
Where learned: OHIO ; APARTMENT ; TOLEDO ; DETROIT, ASSUMED ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 11-12-1969
THE GRASS IS RIZ,
WHERE LAST YEAR'S
CARELESS DRIVER IS.
Submitter comment: WRITTEN IN PARISH BULLETIN.
James Callow comment: RDNeedsReview
Where learned: MICHIGAN
Keyword(s): ADVICE ; DEATH ; DRIVING ; METER: IAMBIC ; MONOLOGUE SLANG, DIALECT ; PUN ; RHYME: MASCULINE, ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
WHY IS A BARBER POLE RED AND WHITE STRIPED? RED STANDS
FOR BLOOD AND WHITE STANDS FOR BANDAGES BECAUSE THE BARBER
ALWAYS DID THE BLEEDING FOR ALL KINDS OF AILMENTS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; ROCKWOOD
Keyword(s): Ailments ; Bandages ; Barber ; Barber Pole ; Bleeding ; COLOR ; CURE ; DISEASE ; HAIR ; ILLNESS ; Pole ; PREVENTION ; Red ; SICKNESS ; Signal ; Symbolize ; White
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Color BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 07-28-1968
WHEN NANCY WAS FOUR YEARS OLD, SHE AWOKE IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGHT TO SEE A TALL, STRANGE MAN STANDING BY
HER BED. FRIGHTENED AT FIRST, SHE LOST HER FEAR WHEN
HE GENTLY ASKED, "NANCY, HAVE YOU BEEN A GOOD GIRL?"
WHEN SHE SAID SHE HAD, HE WENT AWAY. ONE WEEK LATER,
THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HER SISTER AGNES, WHO
WAS SEVERAL YEARS OLDER. THE MORNING AFTER THESE
INCIDENTS, THE DOORS WERE FOUND UNLOCKED, BUT
NOTHING ELSE IN THE HOUSE DISTURBED.
Submitter comment:
I REMEMBER THE MOTHER OF THESE GIRLS TELLING MY
FAMILY ABOUT THE INCIDENT. SHE FELT THE MAN WAS A
WOULD-BE ROBBER WHO CHANGED HEART WHEN HE SAW THE
LITTLE GIRL'S FRIGHTENED FACES, BUT SHE DIDN'T
KNOW HOW HE KNEW THEIR NAMES.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
FOR GOOD LUCK A BABY SHOULD BE GIVEN THE FIRST NAME SPOKEN IN
ITS PRESENCE AFTER ITS BIRTH.
Submitter comment: A NEGRO MAID WHO WORKED FOR ME CALLED HER LITTLE SON
Where learned: GEORGIA ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Baptism Naming rite |
Date learned: 07-24-1968