The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

TRADITIONAL JEWISH STORY

WHILE VISITING MY BROTHER IN AN ANN ARBOR HOSPITAL, I
WAS INTRODUCED TO THE INFORMANT, WHOM MY BROTHER REFERRED
TO AS THE "RABBI." HE WAS UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE OF A NECK
BRACE, BUT WHEN MY BROTHER SUGGESTED HIM AS A SOURCE OF
TALES HE BRIGHTENED UP CONSIDERABLY.
DAVID HAD A WIFE AND THREE DAUGHTERS. (THE INFORMANT DID
NOT KNOW WHY, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS THREE DAUGHTERS). DAVID
HAD A DIFFICULT TIME MAKING ENDS MEET AND ACQUIRED A
REPUTATION FOR BEING HONEST BUT POOR AND UNRELIABLE. ONE
DAY, DISGUSTED WITH THE SIZE OF THE MILK BILL, HE DECIDED
TO BUY A COW. WITH THE SURPLUS MILK HE STARTED TO
ESTABLISH REGULAR CUSTOMERS. THEN HE BOUGHT A HORSE AND
WAGON TO DELIVER THE MILK. THEN HE PURCHASED ANOTHER COW
AND SO ON, UNTIL HE HAD A THRIVING BUSINESS. HE BECAME
QUITE PROSPEROUS. HIS NEIGHBORS BECAME ENVIOUS OF HIM
AND REPORTED HIM TO THE TOWN OFFICIALS. THE MAYOR HIMSELF
WANTED TO MEET HIM AND INTERROGATE HIM ABOUT HIS BUSINESS
WHICH SOME HAD SUGGESTED MUST BE EITHER IMMORAL OR ILLEGAL.
THE MAYOR DUYRING THE INTERVIEW REVIEWED THE CHANGES IN
DAVID'S FORTUNES AND ASKED HIM ABOUT IT. DAVID REPLIED,
"I SAY MY MORNING PRAYERS."
THE MAYOR DISMISSED THE CASE.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT APOLOGIZED BECAUSE THE STORY SUFFERS IN
TRANSLATION FROM THE YIDDISH OF HIS GRANDPARENTS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR

Date learned: 02-24-1967