The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SOLDIERS IN A FOXHOLE

IT IS BAD LUCK TO LIGHT THREE CIGARETTES ON THE SAME MATCH. THIS
STORY GOES BACK TO A WAR IN WHICH THREE MEN WERE IN A FOXHOLE.
THEY ALL WANTED A CIGARETTE. IT WAS AT NIGHT AND BY THE TIME
THE SOLDIER HAD LIT THE FIRST MAN'S CIGARETTE, THE ENEMY HAD
COCKED HIS RIFLE; BY THE TIME HE HAD LIT THE SECOND ONE, THE
ENEMY HAD AIMED HIS RIFLE; AND BY THE TIME HE WAS LIGHTING
HIS OWN, THE ENEMY SHOT HIM DEAD.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HIS FATHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Date learned: 10-16-1967