The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FOOLISH PEOPLE TALE

ONCE SOME FOOLISH PEOPLE NOTICED THAT A TREE GROWING NEAR
A RIVER SEEMED TO BE BENDING OVER TOWARD THE RIVER.
THEY DECIDED THAT THE TREE MUST BE THIRSTY AND THAT
THEY WOULD HELP IT BEND OVER FAR ENOUGH TO TOUCH THE
WATER. SO, ONE MAN CLIMBED OUT ON A BRANCH TO TRY AND
WEIGH IT DOWN, BUT HIS WEIGHT WASN'T ENOUGH. SO
ANOTHER MAN CLIMBED OUT AND HUNG FROM THE FIRST ONE'S
ANKLES. IT STILL WASN'T ENOUGH. SOON THERE WERE TEN
MEN HANGING BY EACH OTHER'S ANKLES FROM THE BRANCH.
THE FIRST MAN THOUGHT THAT HE COULD GET A BETTER
GRIP ON THE BRANCH IF HE SPIT ON HIS HANDS, SO HE LET
GO OF IT AND ALL THE MEN FELL IN THE RIVER.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS STORY WHEN 'STUPID PEOPLE' STORIES
WERE POPULAR ABOUT 6 YEARS AGO. HE COULD NOT REMEMBER
THE EXACT SOURCE OR DATE OF HEARING IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 11-15-1963