The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ONE DAY FIVE CROWS WERE FLYING AROUND OVER TH COUNTRYSIDE.
SOON THEY BECAME HUNGRY, SO WHEN THEY NOTICED SOME PRUNE
TREES THEY SET DOWN AND STUFFED THEMSELVES. AFTER THE
HEARTY MEAL THEY FLEW OFF. WHILE FLYING OVER A
FARMER'S FIELD, THEY SPOTTED A PLOUGH, AN OLD-FASHIONED
ONE, WITH LONG HANDLES AND ALL, THEY DECIDED TO REST
AWHILE AND SO PERCHED ON THE HANDLES OF THE PLOUGH.
THEY SAT AROUND FOR A FEW HOURS AND TALKED AND HAD A
GREAT TIME. FINALLY ONE CROW DECIDED IT'S TIME TO GO!
HE FLIES OFF IN A NORTHERN DIRECTION, GOES ONE HUNDRED
FEET AND DROPS DOWN DEAD. THE SECOND CROW DECIDES TO GO
IN THE OPPOSITE, SOUTHERN DIRECTION. BUT ALSO GOES ONE
HUNDRED FEET AND DROPS DOWN DEAD. WELL, THE THIRD CROW
ISN'T GOING TO CHANCE NORTH OR SOUTH, SO HE TAKES OFF TO
THE EAST. HE GETS OFF ONE HUNDRED FEET AND DROPS DOWN
DEAD. THE FOURTH CROW TAKES THE ONLY OTHER DIRECTION,
WEST, FLIES ONE HUNDRED FEET AND DROPS DOWN DEAD. THE
FIFTH CROW JUST SITS THERE, TAKING ALL THIS IN. HE'S
NOT GOING TO BE FOOL ENOUGH TO GO NORTH, OR SOUTH, OR
EAST OR WEST AND DROP DOWN DEAD LIKE HIS FRIENDS DID.
HE THINKS IT OVER AND SUDDENLY TAKES OFF--STRAIGHT UP!
HE FLIES UP ONE HUNDRED FEET AND DROPS DOWN DEAD.
AND WHAT IS THE MORAL OF THE STORY? DON'T FLY OFF THE
HANDLE WHEN YOU'RE FULL OF PRUNES!

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 10-00-1970