The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ORDINARY FOLKTALE

THERE WAS ONCE A VERY WEALTHY MAN WHO USED TO HOARD HIS
MONEY. HE DIDN'T TRUST ANYONE, SO HE USED TO BURY IT IN
THE GROUND AND ENCHANT IT SO THAT NO ONE COULD FIND IT.
PART OF THE ENCHANTMENT DEALT WITH KILLING A ROOSTER ON
THE SPOT WHERE THE MONEY WAS BURIED.
THERE WERE MANY POOR PEOPLE IN THE VILLAGE WHERE THIS MAN
LIVED YET HE NEVER LIFTED A FINGER TO HELP THEM. ONE DAY
AS HE WAS ADDING TO HIS TREASURE A POOR YOUNG BOY OVER-
HEARD AND SAW THE RITUAL. HE NOW KNEW THE SECRET TO THE
TREASURE BUT HE DECIDED TO BIDE HIS TIME UNTIL THE MISER DIED.
HOWEVER, THERE WAS ANOTHER YOUTH IN THE VILLAGE WHO WAS
VERY GREEDY AND HE KILLED THE OLD MAN FOR HIS TREASURE. YET
WHEN HE WENT TO THE SPOT WHERE IT WAS BURIED HE COULDN'T
SEE IT BECAUSE IT WAS ENCHANGED. THE YOUTH WHO KNEW THE
SECRET, THEN WENT TO THE PLACE THE MONEY WAS BURIED AND
PERFORMED THE RITUAL AND THE MONEY WAS HIS. THERE IS A
MORAL TO THIS STORY, AND IT IS THAT IT DOESN'T PAY TO BE
GREEDY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 07-00-1964