The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THERE ONCE WAS A KING OVER IN AFRICA WHOSE COUNTRY WAS
INVADED BY FOREIGNERS. HIS ARMY WASN'T ABLE TO STOP
THEM, SO HE AND A FEW CLOSE FOLLOWERS FLED THE COUNTRY.
BUT HE WAS ABLE TO TAKE HIS THRONE ALONG WITH HIM.
WELL, THEY TRAVELLED FOR MANY, MANY MILES UNTIL THEY
FINALLY CAME TO A FRIENDLY VILLAGE IN A NEIGHBORING
KINGDOM. SOME OF THE NATIVES THERE AGREED TO HIDE THEM
FOR A WHILE IN THEIR GRASS HUTS. WELL, THE KING MOVED
RIGHT IN AND HE HAD TO STOW HIS THRONE UP IN THE
RAFTERS, WHERE A COUPLE LITTLE BAMBOO POLES WERE ALL
THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THE THRONE. WELL, HE
FIGURED IT WOULD BE OK UNTIL THE HEAT WORE OFF AND HE
COULD GO BACK TO HIS KINGDOM.
WELL, ONE DAY THE KING BUMPED AGAINST THE CENTER POLE OF
THE HUT AND THE THRONE BECAME UNBALANCED AND FELL RIGHT
DOWN ON HIM. THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS: "THOSE WHO
LIVE IN GRASS HOUSES SHOULDN'T STOW THRONES."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN