The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

I REMEMBER A STORY ABOUT A VERY POOR MAN AND WOMAN WHO HAD
MANY CHILDREN. THE MAN WAS GOOD AND THE WOMAN WAS BAD.
EVERYDAY, WHEN THE MAN RETURNED HOME FROM WORK, HIS WIFE FED
HIM MEAT WITHOUT BONES. AND HE ALWAYS ASKED WHY THE MEAT
HAD NO BONES. THE WIFE REPLIED THAT THE BONES WERE HEAVY
AND MEAT WITHOUT BONES IS CHEAPER. THE HUSBAND ALWAYS ATE
BUT ASKED HIS WIFE HOW COME SHE NEVER ATE THE MEAT. TO
WHICH SHE REPLIED SHE HAD NO TEETH. ONE DAY THE HUSBAND
ASKED TO SEE HIS CHILDREN. COUNTING ONLY FIFTEEN HE
INQUIRED WHERE THE OTHERS WERE. THE WIFE ANSWERED THAT
THEY WERE AT THEIR GRANDMOTHER'S. EVERYDAY AFTER THAT
SHE WOULD TELL HER HUSBAND THAT SHE SENT ONE MORE TO
THEIR GRANDMOTHER.
ONE DAY WHEN THE HUSBAND CAME HOME, HE HEARD TALKING
UNDERNEATH A LARGE STONE NEAR THE HOUSE. HE LIFTED THE
ROCK AND SAW MANY BONES WHICH WERE SINGING:
OUR MOTHER HAS KILLED US
OUR FATHER HAS EATEN US
WE ARE NOT IN A COFFIN
AND WE ARE NOT IN THE CEMETERY.
REALIZING THE BONES WERE THOSE OF HIS CHILDREN HE BECAME
ANGRY AND KILLED HIS WIFE AND BURIED HIS CHILDREN.
THE MAN LIVED ALONE AND NEVER ATE MEAT AGAIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY

Date learned: NOT GIVEN