The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

"HOBSON'S CHOICE"

"MY GRANDFATHER ALWAYS USED TO SAY "HOBSON'S CHOICE ". HE SAID THAT
ONE TIME THERE WAS THIS STABLE OWNER NAMED HOBSON, AND HIS STABLE HAD
GOOD HORSES AND ALSO SOME THAT WERE NOT SO GOOD. AND PEOPLE WOULD
ALWAYS COME IN AND ASK FOR THE GOOD HORSES. BUT THE GOOD HORSES WERE
GETTING WORN OUT. SO HE GAVE THEM THE NEXT HORSE THAT WAS IN LINE,
AND IT WAS "HOBSON'S CHOICE" WHAT HORSE THEY GOT."