The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE HAND OF GOD

ONCE THIS OLD COUPLE WHO LIVED ON A FARM AWOKE ONE MORNING
TO FIND A HORSE MISSING. NOW ON THE FARM THEY HAD A
HIRED MAN NAMED TOMMY LYTLE EDGAR WHITAKER JOHN KNOX
FREEMAN WYNN, AND AS HE SAID "AND COOPER COMES IN THAR
SOMEWHAR." SO THEY SENT THIS MAN OUT TO LOOK FOR THE
HORSE, WITH HIS FATHER. IN A FIELD THEY FOUND THE HORSE
UNDER A DEAD TREE THAT HAD BEEN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING AND
FALLEN ON THE ANIMAL, KILLING HIM. THE FATHER OF THE
HIRED MAN SUMMED UP THE SITUATION IN THIS WAY, "YOU TAKE
GOD UP ONE SIDE AND DOWN T'OTHER AND HE DOES JUST ABOUT
AS MUCH HARM AS HE DOES GOOD."

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

James Callow Keyword(s): GOD EVALUATED, FOUND EQUALLY HELPFUL AND HARMFUL ; HUMOROUS NAME

Date learned: 08-12-1968