The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE ORIGIN OF MANKIND

THREE MEN WENT BEFORE THE GREAT WENDAY TO TELL HIM OF THEIR NEEDS.
THE FIRST ONE SAID, "I WOULD LIKE A HORSE." THE SECOND SAID "I WOULD
LIKE SOME DOGS TO GO HUNTING IN THE BUSH.", THE THIRD MAN SAID "I
WOULD LIKE A WOMAN TO REFRESH MYSELF."
THE GREAT WENDAY FULFILLED THEIR DESIRES; TO THE FIRST HE GAVE A
HORSE, TO THE SECOND SOME DOGS, TO THE LAST A WOMAN.
THE THREE MEN DEPARTED, BUT ON THEIR WAY HOME A GREAT RAIN CAME,
FORCING THEM TO SLEEP FOR THREE DAYS IN THE BRUSH. NEITHER THE
HORSE NOR THE DOGS WERE OF MUCH USE THEN. THE WOMAN HOWEVER
PREPARED THE MEALS FOR ALL THREE. THE MEN SAID, "LET'S GO BACK TO
WENDAY" AND THEY DID.
THEY ALL WANTED WOMEN NOW. WENDAY WAS KIND ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE
HORSE AND DOGS INTO WOMEN. THE MEN RETURNED HOME. HOWEVER THE
WOMAN WHO CAME FROM THE HORSE WAS GLUTTONOUS, THE ONE WHO CAME
FROM THE DOG WAS MEAN. BUT THE FIRST WOMAN, THE ORIGINAL ONE, WAS
GOOD, SHE IS THE MOTHER OF MANKIND.

Data entry tech comment: COLLECTOR'S SPELLING CORRECTED BY KEYPUNCHER.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; WARMINSTER

Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR