The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

DEATH OF A CAT

ONCE SOME PEOPLE WENT IN THE KITCHEN AND SAW TWO CATS
SETTING IN FRONT OF THE FIRE COOKING PEAS IN AN EGGSHELL.
WHILE THEY WAS WATCHIN' THEM, ANOTHER CAT RUSHED IN AND
HOLLERED, "CRUMP'S DEAD." THE CATS DROPPED THEY (THEIR)
PEAS AND THEY ALL RUN OFF AND NOBODY EVER SAW THEM AGAIN.

Submitter comment: OUT AND LOOKING HIM FULL IN THE FACE SAY:
JOHNNY REED! JOHNNY REED!
TELL MADAM MOMFORT
THAT MALLY DIXON'S DEAD!
THIS IS ONLY ONE OF MANY EXAMPLES THAT ARCHER TAYLOR,
P. 73, GIVES OF WHAT STITH THOMPSON CALLS THE "ROBERT IS
DEAD" MOTIF.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 00001950 CA