The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE KERCHIEF

ONCE WHEN A BOY AND GIRL WERE YOUNG, THE BOY NOTICED THAT THE GIRL
ALWAYS WORE A KERCHIEF TIED AROUND HER NECK. THE BOY ASKED THE
GIRL WHY SHE ALWAYS WORE THE KERCHIEF TIED AROUND HER NECK. THE
GIRL ANSWERED, "YOU ARE TOO YOUNG; WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE OLDER. THEN
I WILL TELL YOU."
THEN THEY WERE IN GRADE SCHOOL, AND THE GIRL STILL WORE THE
KERCHIEF. SO, THE BOY ASKED THE GIRL AGAIN WHY SHE ALWAYS WORE
THE KERCHIEF. THE GIRL ANSWERED, "YOU ARE TOO YOUNG; WAIT UNTIL
YOU ARE OLDER. THEN I WILL TELL YOU."
THEN THEY WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND THE GIRL STILL WORE THE
KERCHIEF. SO, THE BOY ASKED THE GIRL AGAIN WHY SHE ALWAYS WORE
THE KERCHIEF. THE GIRL ANSWERED, "YOU ARE TOO YOUNG; WAIT UNTIL
YOU ARE OLDER. THEN I WILL TELL YOU."
THEN THEY WERE IN COLLEGE, AND THE GIRL STILL WORE THE KERCHIEF.
SO, THE BOY ASKED THE GIRL AGAIN WHY SHE ALWAYS WORE THE
KERCHIEF. THE GIRL ANSWERED, "YOU ARE TOO YOUNG; WAIT UNTIL YOU
ARE OLDER. THEN I WILL TELL YOU."
EVEN WHEN THEY WERE MARRIED, SHE STILL WORE THE KERCHIEF, SO HE
ASKED HER AGAIN WHY SHE ALWAYS WORE THE KERCHIEF. SHE ANSWERED,
"YOU ARE TOO YOUNG; WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE OLDER. THEN I WILL TELL
YOU.
THEN THEY WERE MIDDLE-AGED, AND SHE WAS STILL WEARING THE
KERCHIEF. HE SAID, "NOW WILL YOU TELL ME WHY YOU ALWAYS WEAR
THAT KERCHIEF?" SHE ANSWERED, "YOU ARE TOO YOUNG; WAIT UNTIL
YOU ARE OLDER. THEN I WILL TELL YOU."
WHEN THEY WERE VERY OLD, HE ASKED HER ONCE AGAIN WHY SHE ALWAYS
WORE THE KERCHIEF. SHE TOOK THE KERCHIEF OFF AND HER HEAD FELL
ON THE GROUND.

Where learned: WISCONSIN ; SUN PRAIRIE

Date learned: NOT GIVEN