The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

"THE RIDDLE OF THE CHICKEN, THE FOX, AND THE CORN."

AN OLD FARMER HAD A CHICKEN, A FOX AND A BAG OF CORN.
THE OLD FARMER NEEDED TO GET ACROSS THIS CREEK AND ALL HE
HAD TO DO THIS WITH WAS A SMALL CANOE. THE CANOE WAS SO SMALL
HE COULD ONLY TAKE ONE THING ACROSS CREEK AT A TIME.
HOW DID HE DO SO WITHOUT THE CHICKEN EATING THE CORN
OR THE FOX EATING THE CHICKEN?
THE ANSWER IS: FIRST THE FARMER TOOK THE CHICKEN ACROSS,
LEAVING THE FOX AND THE CORN. THEN HE WENT BACK AND GOT
THE FOX AND TOOK IT ACROSS AND PICKED UP THE CHICKEN
AND TOOK IT BACK. THE FARMER THEN DROPPED OFF THE CHICKEN
AND PICKED UP THE CORN AND TOOK IT ACROSS. THEN HE WENT BACK
AND GOT THE CHICKEN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN