The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE GREEN THUMB

ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A MAN WHO HAD A GREEN
THUMB. HE WENT TO THE DOCTOR TO SEE WHAT WAS THE
MATTER WITH HIM. THE DOCTOR TOLD HIM THAT IF HE
DIDN'T CUT OFF HIS GREEN THUMB THAT HIS NEXT
FINGER WOULD BECOME GREEN. THE MAN DIDN'T LISTEN
TO THE DOCTOR. THE NEXT MORNING THE MAN GOT UP
AND SAW THAT HIS NEXT FINGER WAS GREEN. WHEN HE
WENT BACK TO THE DOCTOR THE DOCTOR TOLD HIM THAT
IF HE DIDN'T LET HIM CUT OFF THOSE TWO FINGERS
HIS NEXT FINGER WOULD TURN GREEN. THE MAN STILL
DIDN'T BELIEVE THE DOCTOR. THE NEXT MORNING THE
MAN GOT OUT OF BED AND FOUND OUT THAT THE DOCTOR
WAS RIGHT, HIS NEXT FINGER DID TURN GREEN. THIS
MAN KEPT ON DISBELIEVING THE DOCTOR UNTIL HIS
WHOLE HAND WAS GREEN. THE DOCTOR TOLD HIM THAT
IF HE DIDN'T LET HIM CUT OFF HIS HAND HIS WHOLE ARM
WOULD TURN GREEN. FINALLY THE MAN LISTENED TO
THE DOCTOR AND LET HIM CUT OFF HIS HAND. THAT
NIGHT THE DOCTOR AND THE NURSES HAD A PARTY.
THEY MADE FUN OF THE GREEN HAND. THE GREEN HAND
CAME TO LIFE AND KILLED THE DOCTORS AND THE
NURSES BECAUSE THEY MADE FUN OF IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00001970S