The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FOOLISH PEOPLE TALE

ONCE SOME FOOLISH PEOPLE DECIDED TO BUILD A CITY HALL
FOR THEIR TOWN. THEY ALL WORKED ON IT TOGETHER UNTIL IT
WAS DONE. WHEN IT WAS ALL FINISHED, THEY WALKED INSIDE
AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS NO LIGHT INSIDE BECAUSE
THEY HAD FORGOTTEN TO BUILD WINDOWS. THIS DIDN'T PHASE
THEM, THOUGH, BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT ALL THAT THEY HAD
TO DO TO GET LIGHT WAS TO GO OUT ON A SUNNY DAY AND
GATHER IT UP IN SACKS! HOWEVER, NONE OF THEM COULD
EVER CAPTURE ANY SUNSHINE NOR COULD THEY UNDERSTAND
WHY THEY WERE UNABLE TO. SO THEIR CITY HALL ALWAYS
REMAINED IN THE DARK!

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS TALE 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