The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE HELPFUL DOLPHIN

DURING THE EARLY 1800S THERE WAS A STRAIT NEAR ICELAND
THAT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A SHIP TO TRAVEL THROUGH
WITHOUT CRACKING UP. ONE SHIP MAKING THE JOURNEY
SPOTTED A DOLPHIN SWIMMING AROUND THE SHIP. IT
FOLLOWED THE DOLPHIN AND MADE IT THROUGH SAFELY.
OTHER SHIPS ALSO STARTED TO FOLLOW THE DOLPHINS
AND THEY MADE IT THROUGH. THIS CONTINUED FOR ABOUT
TWENTY YEARS UNTIL THE DOLPHIN DISAPPEARED AND
WAS NEVER SEEN AGAIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Date learned: 11-20-1968