The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

YOUTHFUL EXPERIENCE IN ITALY

ONE DARK, STORMY EVENING A YOUNG MAN NAMED LUIGI DELUCA
WAS RETURNING FROM THE MARKET TO HIS HOME IN SICILY.
HE WAS RIDING ON A DONKEY, AND WHEN THEY APPROACHED A
BRIDGE THE DONKEY REFUSED TO STEP ONTO IT. LUIGI THEN
DISMOUNTED THE DONKEY AND BEGAN TO SMACK IT TO TRY TO
GET THE DONKEY TO CONTINUE THE JOURNEY. BUT, NO MATTER
HOW PERSISTENT LUIGI WAS, THE DONKEY STILL REFUSED TO
BUDGE. FINALLY, LUIGI LOOKED UP AND SAW A DARK, EVIL
FORM STANDING IN THE CENTER OF THE BRIDGE. HE WAS
THANKFUL FOR THE DONKEY'S WISDOM AND RETURNED HOME
VIA ANOTHER ROUTE.

Submitter comment: THIS STORY WAS TOLD TO CARMELLA SPINEK BY HER FATHER
LUIGI. HE CLAIMED THIS EVENT TOOK PLACE WHEN HE WAS
A BOY IN ITALY. THE INFORMANT SAID HER FATHER SPOKE
OF IT OFTEN AND COMMENTED ON THE DONKEY'S WISDOM.

Where learned: SICILY

Date learned: 00-00-1945