The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL IN JACKSON, TENNESSEE USED TO BE TAUGHT BY
THE DOMINICAN SISTERS OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. THIS NEGRO
SCHOOL HAS SINCE BEEN CLOSED.
THEY WERE HAVING A PLAY ONE DAY AND ONE OF THE BOYS NEEDED A
COAT SO THAT HE WOULD LOOK THE PART OF AN ADULT. IT WAS TIME
FOR THE PLAY AND THIS BOY HAD NOT SHOWN UP. THEY WAITED AND
WAITED, BUT HE DIDN'T COME. FINALLY, HE ARRIVED AND THE
SISTER ASKED HIM WHY HE HAD TAKEN SO LONG. HE SAID THAT
THE ONLY ONE WHO HAD A COAT WAS HIS BROTHER, AND HE HAD HAD
BAD LUCK AND AS SOON AS HE WOULD PUT ON THE COAT HE
WOULD HAVE BAD LUCK TOO, AND IT WOULD MAKE HIM MAKE A
MISTAKE WITH HIS LINES.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; JACKSON

Date learned: 08-00-1968