The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WOMAN WITH THREE MEN

ONCE THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO HAD A BROTHER,
A HUSBAND AND A SON WHO WERE REBELS,
WORKING AGINST THEIR GOVERNMENT.
IT SO HAPPENED THAT THE THREE MEN WERE ARRESTED
BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND THROWN INTO JAIL.
THE OLD WOMAN WHO WAS VERY DISTRESSED WENT TO THE OFFICIALS
TO PLEAD FOR THEIR RELEASE. THE OFFICIALS TOLD HER THAT THEY
WOULD RELEASE ONE OF THE THREE MEN. THE WOMAN WENT HOME TO
THINK THE MATTER OVER AND DECIDED THAT SHE COULD GET ANOTHER
HUSBAND AND HAVE ANOTHER SON, BUT COULD NEVER HAVE ANOTHER BROTHER.
SHE RETURNED TO THE OFFICIALS AND ASKED THEM TO RELEASE HER BROTHER,
TELLING THEM HER REASONS FOR HER DECISION. THE OFFICIALS WERE SO
IMPRESSED WITH HER LOGIC THAT THEY RELEASED ALL THREE.

Submitter comment: FOLLOWING STORY WAS TOLD TO INFORMANT BY HER GREAT-
AUNT, WHEN SHE WAS QUARRELING WITH HER BROTHER:
THE INFORMANT COMMENTED THAT MANY OF THE LEBANESE
TALES HAVE A WISE OLD WOMAN MAKE AN IMPORTANT DECISION.
THE INFORMANT COMMENTED THAT MANY OF THE LEBANESE TALES HAVE A WISE
OLD WOMAN MAKE AN IMPORTANT DECISION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK

Date learned: 03-02-1970