The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A FARMER WAS PLOWING A FIELD TO BE PLANTED WHEN HE CAME
ACROSS TWO SNAKES. ONE ATTEMPTED TO BITE HIM, BUT ONLY
GOT HIS BOOT. SCARED AND ANGRY, THE MAN RAN FOR HIS
SHOVEL AND CHOPPED THE HEAD OFF THE SNAKE. HE TURNED AND
WALKED AWAY LEAVING THE DEAD SNAKE BESIDE ITS MATE.
AFTER THAT HE FELT HE DESERVED A BREAK FOR THE DAY AND
WENT TO TOWN. THAT AFTERNOON, AFTER BEING SCOLDED BY HIS
WIFE FOR NOT FINISHING THE FIELD, THE FARMER DECIDED TO
GO TO BED EARLY. WHEN THE FARMER TURNED BACK HIS COVERS
HE FOUND THE SNAKE'S MATE HE HAD FAILED TO KILL WHEN HE
WAS OUT IN THE FIELD. THE SNAKE STRUCK AT HIM BUT ONLY
BIT INTO HIS BELT. HE INSTANTLY WENT FOR HIS RIFLE AND
KILLED THE SNAKE BEFORE IT RECOVERED. FROM THAT MOMENT
ON HE SWORE TO NEVER LEAVE A JOB UNDONE. THE FIELD WAS
COMPLETELY PLOWED THAT EVENING.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; RIPLEY