The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

JOKE TOLD AS TRUE

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AT ST.
MICHAELS'S PARISH IN GREENVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, MRS. MOROVEY
ASKED EACH OF HER PUPILS TO GIVE HIS NAME. ONE BOY
ANNOUNCED THAT HIS NAME WAS D. JONES.
"AND WHAT DOES THE D STAND FOR?"
"IT STANDS FOR DAMMIT."
AFTER MRS. MOROVEY HAD RECOVERED FROM THE SHOCK OF THE
BOY'S NAME, SHE RESUMED HER CLASS. LATER THAT DAY,
FATHER KEATING, THE PASTOR, VISITED THE CLASSROOM.
ANXIOUS TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION, MRS. MOROVEY CALLED
ON SEVERAL OF HER BRIGHTEST PUPILS TO RECITE. FINALLY,
SHE CALLED ON THE JONES BOY, WHO STAMMERED FOR A FEW
SECONDS AND THEN GAVE THE WRONG ANSWER. "NOW,
DAMMIT, THAT'S SIMPLE. DON'T YOU KNOW THE ANSWER?"
"HELL, MRS. MOROVEY," GROWLED FATHER KEATING, "GIVE
HIM A CHANCE."

Submitter comment: THIS STORY EXISTS IN THE FORM OF A JOKE, HOWEVER, MY
AUNT CLAIMS THAT IT ACTUALLY OCCURRED IN HER PARISH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE

Date learned: 10-00-1963