The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PONY

AN INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER
"PONY," WHO LIVED IN THE GOODSPRING COMMUNITY IN THE
LATTER PART OF THE 1880S:
SOME MEN HITCHED A TEAM OF OXEN TO A WAGON. WHEN THE
OXEN WERE COMMANDED TO MOVE, ONE BALKED AND WOULDN'T
MOVE. PONY TOLD THE MEN TO TAKE OUT THE BALKY OX
AND HITCH HIM IN HIS PLACE, WHICH THEY DID. THE OTHER
OX BECAME FRIGHTENED AT PONY AND RAN AWAY, DRAGGING PONY
ALONG WITH IT. WHEN THE MEN WERE FINALLY ABLE TO STOP
THE TEAM, THEY BEGAN TO TAKE THE HARNESS OFF PONY BUT HE
STOPPED THEM SAYING, "TAKE THE OX LOOSE. I'LL STAND."

James Callow comment: COMPARE "SUT LOVINGOOD'S DADDY ACTING HOSS" BY G. W. HARRIS

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PULASKI

James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR

Date learned: 08-11-1968