The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

MY DADDY AND HIS DADDY BEFORE HIM ALL LEARNED HOW
TO SWIM THE SAME WAY. WHEN I TURNED EIGHT MY DAD
TOOK ME DOWN TO THE CREEK AND TOLD ME "EITHER YOU
SWIM OR YOU DROWN" AND HE THREW ME IN THE CREEK.
WELL I DIDN'T WANT TO DROWN SO I LEARNED HOW TO
SWIM AND THAT'S ALSO HOW MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
LEARNED AND HOW I TAUGHT MY KIDS.

Submitter comment: I KNOW THAT THIS IS A TRADITION WHEN A CHILD IS
EIGHT BECAUSE MR. PHILLIPS IS MY FATHER AND THIS
IS HOW I LEARNED HOW TO SWIM WHEN I WAS EIGHT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): AGE

Date learned: 04-00-1983