The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A GUY WALKED INTO A BAR, SAT DOWN AND ORDERED A DRINK.
AFTER A WHILE HE MOTIONED TO THE BARTENDER. "SAY, FELLA,
I GOT SOMETHIN REALLY GREAT TO SHOW YA." THE
BARTENDER SAYS, "LOOK, DON'T BOTHER ME NOW, I'M BUSY."
"NO, YOU GOTTA WATCH THIS, IT'S REALLY GREAT." SO HE
REACHES IN HIS POCKET, PULLS OUT A LITTLE PIANO, AND
VERY CAREFULLY ADJUSTS IT ON THE BAR. THEN HE PULLS
OUT A LITTLE MOUSE, SETS HIM NEXT TO THE PIANO, AND HE
STARTS TO PLAY. WELL, THE BARTENDER IS AMAZED AND HE
SAYS, "SAY, THAT'S GREAT." THE GUY SAYS, "WAIT'LL
YOU SEE THIS." SO HE PULLS OUT A CANARY, PERCHES HIM ON
TOP OF THE PIANO AND WHILE THE MOUSE IS PLAYING, THE
CANARY STARTS TO SING IN A BEAUTIFUL VOICE.
WELL, THE BARTENDER CAN'T BELIEVE HIS EYES AND HE SAYS
TO THE GUY, "I'LL GIVE YOU 500 BUCKS FOR 'EM." THE GUY
JUST SHAKES HIS HEAD AND SAYS, "NAW, I COULDN'T DO
IT." "$1,000?" "NAW." "$5,000?" "NAW." "LOOK,
BUDDY, HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT FOR 'EM? I'LL GIVE YOU ANY
AMOUNT YOU WANT."
THE GUY JUST SHOOK HIS HEAD AND SAYS, "NAW, I COULDN'T
SELL 'EM TO YA. YOU'D BE WASTING YOUR MONEY. YOU SEE,
IT'S JUST A TRICK. THAT CANARY CAN'T REALLY SING. THE
MOUSE IS JUST A CHEAP VENTRILOQUIST."

Submitter comment: CIRCUMSTANCES UNKNOWN, BUT I DID HEAR IT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL AROUND 1958.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1963