The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FOR LOVE OF GOD

THERE WAS A MAN WHO WENT TO CONFESSION AND TOLD THE PRIEST
HE HAD TAKEN A CROSS. THE PRIEST SAID IT WAS SINFUL AND
THE MAN SHOULD RETURN IT, IMMEDIATELY. THE MAN WENT
HOME AND RETURNED GRUNTING AND GROANING. THE PRIEST
WAS CURIOUS AND LEFT THE CONFESSIONAL TO SEE WHAT THE
NOISE WAS. WHEN HE LOOKED OUT OF THE CONFESSIONAL, HE
SAW A MAN CARRYING HIS WIFE OVER HIS BACK. HE ASKED
THE MAN WHAT HE WAS DOING, AND THE MAN REPLIED, "I'M
RETURNING THE CROSS I TOOK."

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS IN POLISH, AS TOLD BY HER MOTHER.
IN POLISH THIS IS TOLD IN RHYME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 07-31-1964