The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE GUY WHO CATCHES THE BRIDE'S GARTER WILL BE THE
NEXT TO MARRY.

Where learned: OHIO ; DAYTON

Date learned: 00001950S

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WHOEVER GETS THE LARGEST PORTION OF A CHICKEN'S
WISHBONE WHEN TWO BREAK IT, HAS HIS WISH COME TRUE.

Where learned: OHIO ; DAYTON

Date learned: 00001950S

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IF ALL THE SEAS WERE ONE SEA,
WHAT A GREAT SEA THAT WOULD BE!
AND IF ALL THE TREES WERE ONE TREE,
WHAT A GREAT TREE THAT WOULD BE!
AND IF ALL THE AXES WERE ONE AX,
WHAT A GREAT AX THAT WOULD BE!
AND IF ALL THE MEN WERE ONE MAN,
WHAT A GREAT MAN HE WOULD BE!
AND IF THE GREAT MAN TOOK THE GREAT AX,
AND CUT DOWN THE GREAT TREE,
AND LET IT FALL INTO THE GREAT SEA,
WHAT A SPLISH SPLASH THAT WOULD BE!

Submitter comment: I WAS TOLD THIS POEM BY A FIRST GRADER ON THE PLAYGROUND.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): CHAIN GREATNESS ; SURPRISE ENDING

Date learned: 00-00-1960

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VERSE WITHOUT MUSIC

MATHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN,
BLESS THE BED THAT I LIE ON!
ALL FOUR CORNERS ROUND ABOUT,
WHEN I GET IN, WHEN I GET OUT.
FOUR CORNERS TO MY BED,
FOUR ANGELS ROUND MY HEAD;
ONE TO WATCH AND ONE TO PRAY,
AND TWO TO BEAR MY SOUL AWAY.

Submitter comment: HEARD IN SCHOOL.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): DEATH PIOUS SLEEPING BIBLICAL ; PIOUS ; PRAYER ; RHYME: AABB

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VERSE WITHOUT MUSIC

THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL, WHO HAD A LITTLE CURL
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HER FOREHEAD.
WHEN SHE WAS GOOD, SHE WAS VERY, VERY GOOD,
BUT WHEN SHE WAS BAD, SHE WAS HORRID.

Submitter comment: MY MOTHER USED TO RECITE THIS WHEN I WAS BAD.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): NURSERY RHYME

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ONE FOR THE MONEY,
TWO FOR THE SHOW,
THREE TO GET READY,
AND FOUR TO --GO!

Submitter comment: RHYME FOR A RACE

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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LITTLE SALLY WATERS, SITTING IN THE SUN,
CRYING AND WEEPING FOR A YOUNG MAN.
RISE, SALLY, RISE, WIPE OFF YOUR EYES,
FLY TO THE EAST, FLY TO THE WEST,
FLY TO THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE BEST.

Submitter comment: WE PLAYED THIS AS CHILDREN.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

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SEE-SAW

TEETER TOTTER TEETER TOTTER
WASH YOUR FACE IN DIRTY WATER.

Submitter comment: LEARNED IN NEIGHBORHOOD PLAY

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

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FINGER GAME

THESE ARE MOTHER'S KNIVES AND FORKS (INTERLOCKED FINGERS
POINTED UP)
THIS IS MOTHER'S TABLE (TURN HANDS SO LOCKED FINGERS POINT
DOWN
THIS IS TEACHER'S LOOKING GLASS (ADD TWO INDEX FINGERS TO
FORM A CIRCLE)
THIS IS BABY'S CRADLE. (ADD TWO SMALL FINGERS POINTED UPWARD
AND ROCK HANDLES--CRADLE FASHION).

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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FINGER GAME

HERE IS THE CHURCH (FINGERS INTERLOCKED, POINTING DOWN)
HERE IS THE STEEPLE (ADD 2 INDEX FINGERS, POINTING UP TO
FORM THE STEEPLE)
OPEN THE DOORS (FINGERS INTERLOCKED POINTING UPWARDS)
AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE (SAME AS ABOVE)

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN, FALLING DOWN, FALLING DOWN,
LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN, MY FAIR LADY.
BUILD IT UP WITH STICKS AND STONES, ETC.
STICKS AND STONES WILL FALL AWAY, ETC.
BUILT IT UP WITH IRON BARS, ETC.
IRON BARS WILL BEND AND BREAK, ETC.
BUILD IT UP WITH PINS AND NEEDLES, ETC.
PINS AND NEEDLES WILL BEND AND BREAK, ETC.
TAKE A KEY AND LOCK HER UP, ETC.
TWO CHILDREN JOIN HANDS TO MAKE THE BRIDGE. THE OTHERS
FORM A SINGLE CIRCLE, PASSING UNDER THE BRIDGE, AND SKIP
AROUND THE CIRCLE. AT THE END OF EACH STANZA, THE
CHILDREN REPRESENTING THE BRIDGE DROP THEIR HANDS AND
CAPTURE WHOEVER IS BETWEEN THEM. THEY ASK "WHAT WILL YOU
PAY, SILVER OR GOLD?" BEFORE EACH STANZA THEY HAVE
SECRETLY AGREED WHICH ONE OF THEM SHALL CAPTURE SILVER,
WHICH GOLD. THE CAPTURED CHILD RESPONDS, AND HE IS TOLD
TO STAND BEHIND THE PERSON WHOSE METAL HE HAS GUESSED.
WHEN EVERYONE HAS BEEN CAPTURED, THERE WILL REMAIN TWO LINES
ONE BEHIND EACH SIDE OF THE BRIDGE, EACH CHILD HOLDING
ON TO THE WAIST OF THE ONE IN FRONT. THE GAME ENDS

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

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RING AROUND THE ROSIE,
A POCKET FULL OF POSIES,
ASHES, ASHES,
WE ALL FALL DOWN. (EVERYONE TUMBLES TO THE GROUND)

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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LUBY LOO

THIS IS A RING GME WITH SONG:
HERE WE GO LUBY LOO
HERE WE GO LUBY LOO
HERE WE GO LUBY LOO
ALL ON A SATURDAY NIGHT.
I PUT MY RIGHT FOOT IN,
I PUT MY RIGHT FOOT OUT,
I GIVE MY RIGHT FOOT A SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE,
ANDTURN MYSELF AROUND.

Submitter comment: THIS CONTINUES SUBSTITUTING DIFFERENT BODY PARTS TO SHAKE.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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YOUR NAME FOREVER

HERE IS ONE LEAF RESERVED FOR ME,
FROM ALL THY SWEET MEMORIALS FREE,
AND HERE MY SIMPLE SONG MIGHT TELL
THE FEELINGS THOU MUST GUESS SO WELL
BUT COULD I THUS WITHIN MY MIND,
ONE LITTLE CORNER FIND,
WHERE NO IMPRESSION YET IS SEEN
WHERE NO MEMORIAL YET HAS BEEN
OH, IT SHOULD BE MY SWEETEST CARE
TO WRITE YOUR NAME FOREVER THERE.

Submitter comment: FROM THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF THE LATE CLARA MATHES, ENTRIES 1880

Data entry tech comment: ADDED COMMAS WHERE NEEDED AS WELL AS TITLE FOR VERSE.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): RHYME

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FLORIDA GROWS ORANGES, CALIFORNIA DOES TOO.
BUT IT TOOK OHIO TO GROW A PEACH LIKE YOU.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: 10-27-1968

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I LOVE, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU I DO;
BUT DON'T GET EXCITED, I LOVE MONKIES TOO!

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: 10-27-1968

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I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT IN VAIN AT LAST I THOUGHT I WOULD WRITE MY NAME.

James Callow comment: RDNeedsReview

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

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A LINE OR TWO I'LL WRITE FOR YOU
AND END THEM WITH A SIGNATURE
IT'S TRUE THERE'S NEITHER RHYME NOR SENSE
NO AIM AT WIT; AND WRITE NO(N?)SENSE
(SIGNED) SARA FOLEY

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

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REMEMBER WELL AND BEAR IN MIND
A TRUE LOVE IS HARD TO FIND.
AND WHEN YOU FIND ONE JUST AS TRUE
NEVER CHANGE THE OLD FOR THE NEW.
(SIGNED) LOUISA KOEHLER (APPR. 1885)

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

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THINK NOT OF LIFE TOMORROW,
WITH HAPPINESS FOR MATE,
NOR FROM THE PRESENT BORROW
A THOUGHT DISCONSOLATE.
AND IF YOUR SHARE BE SORROW,
ACCEPT IT SO AND WAIT CC[ I THINK SOMETHING'S MISSING HERE

James Callow comment: I THINK SOMETHING'S MISSING HERE

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: 00001880S

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