The John Burrison Georgia Folklore Archive recordings contains unedited versions of all interviews. Some material may contain descriptions of violence, offensive language, or negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. There are instances of racist language and description, particularly in regards to African Americans. These items are presented as part of the historical record. This project is a repository for the stories, accounts, and memories of those who chose to share their experiences for educational purposes. The viewpoints expressed in this project do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the Atlanta History Center or any of its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The Atlanta History Center makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interviews and expressly disclaims any liability therefore. If you believe you are the copyright holder of any of the content published in this collection and do not want it publicly available, please contact the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center at 404-814-4040 or reference@atlantahistorycenter.com.
This audio begins with Jack Baker describing superstitions he heard in his neighborhood as a child. He claims that if a hoot owl lands in the yard, a family member will die. He then tells a legend about an old pillar in Augusta, Georgia, that if anyone moves they will die. Next, he tells a story about a missionary in Africa who tricked cannibals by giving them a chunk of his wooden leg. 5:13: Aline Kinsey tells two tales about grave-robberies that went awry. At 6:42, she tells two racially insensitive stories about how African Americans became Black, and why their hands and the soles of their feet are white. At 9:21 Kinsey describes two houses in Eatonton, Georgia, haunted by ghosts. She then tells a joke about a casket rolling out of a church and into a drug store. 12:52: Kay Denmark sings a lullaby that she learned from her grandmother, then lists some lessons that she learned from her. 15:36: Julius Mathis, a Black man, tells a story about a brick mason in an insane asylum in Milledgeville, Georgia. Next, he then tells two humorous stories: one about two men from New York who get lost in the South, and one about a new bus driver who cannot find his schoolhouse. At 22:27, the audio ends with Clyde Downing, the interviewer, retelling a legend about how the new husband of an old maid tricked her, causing her to freeze to death.
Jack Baker (1939-2009) was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Martin Baker (1912-1994) and Karene Baker (1917-1989). Katherine Kay Denmark (1932-1991) was born in Savannah, Georgia. She married Elliot Denmark (1930-?) and had three children, Cathy Stone (1952- ), Michael Denmark (1954- ), and Tony Denmark (1956- ). No additional biographical information has been determined.
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Ae,{(~~, (\1 Ie f e.-.J FOLK TALES COLLECTED BY CLYDE E. DOWNING, JR. FOLK 301 GEORGIA STATE OOLLEGE PROF. JOHN BURRISON MAY 26, 1969 ! ~, I I I I I I I I I I A/ I I I I I I I I I A COLLECTION OF FOLK TALES BY CLYDE E. DOlvNING, JR. TABLE of CON'rENTS Field Trip and Source of Stories Mr. Jac Baker - Brief History The Curse of the Hoot Owl Recording 0 - 16 The Cursed Pillar of Augusta Recording 17 - 32 The Missionary story Recording 32 - 50 Miss. Aline Kinsey - Brief History 'l'11e Grandmother Who Arose from the Dead Recording 53 - 58 The Assaulted Corpse Recording 61 - 65 Why Colored People are Black Recording 68 - 74 Hands and Feet of Negroes Recording 76 - 84 'rhe Ghost Who Returned for Her Money Recording 87 - 97 The Ghost Named Sylvia Recording 99 - 109 The Haunted Laundry Recording III - 121 Gainesville Funeral Recording 123 - 132 Mrs. Kay Denmark - Brief History The Ole Grey Goose is Dead (lullaby) Recording 135 - 151 A Whistling Woman Recording 153 - 162 Mr. Julius Mathis - Brief History The Social Workah Recording 164 - 191 I ain't Lost Recording 193 - 219 The New School Bus Drivah Recording 221 - 240 Extra Credit: Personal Recording 243 - 262 Cold Ole Lady? Bi bli ography Page 1 3 4 6 8 10 11 11 12 12 13 14 15 17 18 18 20 21 23 25 27 28 I A COLLECTION OF FOLK TALES BY CLYDE E. DOWNING, JR. I was able to make only two field trips in an attempt to collect folk tales and these trips were complete failures. I first went to Gainesville, Georgia to interview an elderly colored woman who had previously been employed as a maid by a friend of mine. She had told me stories when I visited this friend. When I arrived at Marie's house, she said she was feeling "porely". It seems that her head e.ched because she needed new "eye" glasses and she suid she just couldn't tell any stories until she got those glasses and they cost #30.00. Needless to say, I did not provide the ~30.00 and, therefore, did not get the stories. My second trip took me to a farm near Milledgeville. I had no contact and was just trying pot luck. The first person I approached was a farmer sitUng on his porch. I introduced myself and explained why I was there and asked him if he kne\1 any old stories. He gave me a short "NO" and indicated I should leave. As I was going out the gate, he stooki on his steps and shouted, "YOU can tell your "goddam" boss that his little trick didn't work." I don't know whnt that was all about, but I didn't stick around to find out. -1- Time was running out and I was getting desperate. Someone suggested that I call The Uncle Remus Library and see if they could give me some leads. The librarian told me that a Mrs. Edith Wyatt, another librarian in Atlanta, knew lots of Uncle Remus stories. In hopes that Mrs. Wyatt could give me a lead, I called her. Mrs. Wyatt said she didn't know anyone who told such stories and that she couldn't record any because Walt Disney had purchased the recording rights to all Uncle Remus stories. I had just about given up hope of recording any stories when up popped Mr. Jac Baker, who offered to record a few stories. 1hen, it seems, word had spread around that I was looking for stories and Miss. Aline Kinsey, Mrs. Kay Denmark, and Mr. Julius Mathis CMne through with the recordings on the enclosed tape and as transcribed in this report. -2- Mr. Jac Baker - Recording 0 - 50 My first contact was Mr. Jac Baker. He and I had met previously through business acquaintances. He came over to my house one rainy Sunday and recorded three stories. Mr. Baker was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in November of 1939. He travels extensively over the South due to job requirements. He now lives in Decatur, Georgia. Mr. Baker's favorite passtime is browsing through antique shops and old book stores. He collects old artifacts and, in the process, has heard a number of stories. Unfortunately, he could remember only three stories at the time of the recording. The story about the burse of the Hoot Owl' was remembered from childhood. Mr. Baker says he doubts very seriously if the people in his neighborhood still believe in it. However, I told this story to some people at work and they assured me that it was true. Most of them called the bird a Screech Owl. One lady told me that you could break the curse by tying a knot in the corner of a sheet. This would choke the owl to death. The story about the cursed pillar was told to Mr. Baker by one of his clients in a Motel in Augusta. The sUbject came up during a conversation about the supernatural. The Missionary story W8.S told by a leidy Methodist Missionary who was very old Imd had worked many years in Africa. -3- Mr'. Jac Baker Recording 0 - 16 Recorded May 4, 1969 at 306 Hascall Rd., N.W., Atlanta, Ga. THE CURSE OF THE HOOT OWL Well, I suppose one of the most intristing folk tale I know goes back to my childhood. We lived in a neighborhood where there were a great many trees and, of course, filled with birds an so forth n so on, an rabbits an squirrels all around. Wasn't exactly in woods but it had enough greenery around to attract some of the wild life. An there was somewhat of 8. suspicion, superstition, I should say, in our neighborhood about hoot owls. That if a hoot owl cmne an sat in a tree in your yard that someone in that family would die. An I remeber one fall there WaS a lady, uh, who lived in the house upon the corner from us who suddenly took sick and it was the night following, uh, the night that there was a hoot owl in, uh, their tree. An no one really thought very much about it except that the hoot owl sat in the tree right over her, uh, house every night an of course sometimes we'd hear it and sometimes we wouldn't. But, uh, we'd go to sleep and we'd hear that hoot oWl, you know, Whooo, Whooo, an then this would go on all night long. An two three days later, she just kept gettin' worse and worse an worse an no one ever did anythins about the hoot owl except just to tallt about it. And, uh, two, three days later, they took her to the hospital and she died. An from that time on, I can Hlways remember every time there I s a hoot owl or somethin l in the neighborhood, my father would -4- THE CURSE OF THE HOOT OWL (Continued) always keep the rifle and he would go out an, uh, look for the hoot owl and shoot it right out of the tree. Day or night. Anytime that they found one. Motif B147.1.1.4: Owl as bird of ill omen Motif Index of Folk Literature, Thompson, V.l, P.303 Tale Type: None given -5- Mr. JaC Baker Recording 17 - 32 Recorded May 4, 1969 at 306 Hascall Rd., N.W., Atlanta, Ga. ~1E CURSED PILI~R OF AUGUSTA Down in Augusta, Georgia, there's a large, round concrete pillah, a l~man Corinth type pillah that's about 12 or 15 feet high and about, uh, two feet around. But this pillah is right on the main street in town, on Broad Street, an the road has sort of been built beside it an buildings have been built around it, but, uh, n, n, they were never able to get anyone, uh, any of the workers in the city or state, eitherone, to move this pillah to, uh, uh, even tho it's very old, because of a legend that goes back regarding it. many, many, many years ago there was It seems like that, uh, rh(l, a Pro:p:t who came through f / the town of Augusta and, uh, while he was there, he said that anyone who tried to harm this pillar would die. An since that time, it seems like that two or three people did try to move the pillah or to, uh, uh, bull-doze it down or something an everyone,who has tried to, uh, damage the pillah, or maybe, I think, even one person who had ran into it, or something, have all mysteriously died. One of them was struck down by lightening, another one was burned in a fire, an I don't know how the others were, but, uh, everybody who's tried to harm this pillah has actually, has actually died and so., W1, they can't get anyone to do any work on in around this pillah or try to bull-doze it down so they can build anything because -6- THl!; CURSED PILLAR OF AUGUSTA (continued) uh, everybody's afraid of the legend that goes on. An it still stands there today. Motif and Tale Type: None located -7- Mr. Jac Baker Recording 32 - 50 Recorded May 4, 1969 at 306 Hascall Rd., N.W., Atlanta, Ga. THE MISSIONARY STORY I heard this story not long ago, about this, uh, man who was a missionary had just returned from Africa. But he was rather 01 and had been in Africa for many, many years. But he went over to Africa at a time when, uh, uh, the missionaries were just beginning there and it was very, very difficult for anyone to survive the cannibals an to even be accepted, but he, he apparently went over on one of the very most primitive parts where they cook the people an eat them an so on an so forth, an when he got back to this country, everyone asked him how he was able to go over an go right into the village and, uh, stay there and do missionary work with, without being immediately taken and killed an eaten by the cannibals. An, he said, well, when he first got there that he had been there just a short period of time an all of a sudden the, uh, chief called all of his, uh, uh, I guess, subordinates around and they started doing these dances and they went an got the pot an filled with water an hung it up an then they came an got the missionary and, uh, in the best way they could communicate, he knew what was fixin' to happen. They were fixin' to take him an cook him an eat 'im. So, uh, the man told the chief in the way that he could, he said, "wai t: Hold everything just a minute. n An he pulled out a little pocket knife that he had in his, in his pocket an he reached down an took a great big chunk out of his leg, just cut it right out, an gave it to the chief. An -8- -"~I "v' THE MISSIONARY STORY (continued) the chief took it in hand an put it in his mouth an chomped down and chewed n chewed n chewed an all of a sudden he just, phew, he just spit it out, you know, spewed it right out of his mouth. An he, he turned to the people that were fixin' the fire and motioned to 'em to put out the fire, pour out the water, forget the whole thing, you know. And the guy said he stayed there almost forty years and, uh, they never knew that he had a wooden leg. Motif: G82.1.1, Sticks out bone instead of finger T327 BP I 115H 'rale Type: 327 II, P.l16, The Children and the Ogre Finnish 137, Irish 86, French 82, African 2, English-j~erican: Baughman 1 -9- Miss. Aline Kinsey - Recording 53 - 132 My second contact WIJ.S Miss. Aline Kinsey, a woman I had met some years ago and who had heard through mutual friends that I was looking for folk tales. She, therefore, invited. me over to her home to make the enclosed recordings. Miss. Kinsey WIJ.S born in Atlanta, Georgia in April of 1922. She was one of nine children. One brother and three sisters are all tha.t are now living. Miss. Kinsey sa.id she hea.rd unese stories when she was a child. Some of them were told to her by her Grandmother and some by an Aunt who lived in South Georgia. Her favorite pass time is traveling, which she does every chance she gets. She collects salt and pepper shakers as a hobby. When I arrived at Miss. Kinsey's home, she had m8de notes of the stories she was going to tell. She became extremely nervous when we started recording and had a problem keeping her mind on the story she was telling. It was nec0ss8.ry, therefore, to re-record some of her stories. She relied on her notes too much and, as a result, the recording sounds like a reading. However, I believe the stories about the Negroes and the Gainesville funeral are very good. -10- Miss. Aline Kinsey Recorded May II, 1969 at 1164 Ewing Place, S.W., Atlanta, Ga. Reco rding 53-58 THE GRANDMOTHER WHO AROSE FROM THE DEAD I've heard the story of the Gran, uh, Grandmother who died an Was not embalmed. The, The same night she was buried, someone dug her body up to get 'er beautiful diamond ring from 'er finger. Uh, they couldn't get it off an, uh, they started to cut her finger off. As they did, she suddenly came back to life and lived for many years thereafter. Motif: K426 Apparently dead woman revives when they try to steal from her grave. T990 Tale Type: 990, P.346, The Seemingly dead revive Irish 77, English-American: Baughman 2 Recording 61 - 65 THE ASSAULTED CORPSE A beautiful girl who lived near Chatcanooga died. 'rwo moronic men dug up her body an assaulted her an reguried her. Uh, they, of course, went to Jail for this an both of them died of the poison from her body. Motif: u140ff One man's Tale Type: None given food is another man's poison Jli\(!V I (- -11- Miss. Aline Kinsey (continued) Recording 68 - 74 WHY COLORED PEOPLE ARE BLACK I heard a funny story about colored people and why they're black. Seems that, uh, they have always liked sarghum syrup an, uh, a bridge was built from Africa to America an they poured, uh, syrup allover the bridge. Of course, the colored people came to America on their hWlds an knees lickin' up this stuff. I asked, "And that's what made 'em turn black?" Miss. Kinsey said, "That's what made 'ern turn black." Motif: B846 Monkeys construct bridge across ocean Tale Type: None given Recording 76 - 84 HANDS AND FEET OF NEGROES Do you know why negroes have, uh, white soles on their feet and ~Ihite palms? Well, let me tell ya t a cute story. Seems that, uh, in the beginnin' all people were black and someone invented (she meant discovered) a magic lake that if you jumped, if, if they jumped in that, uh, they would turn white. An, of course, all the colored people started jumpin' in. Well, eh, most of the water splashed out and as, uh, the last ones jumped in, there was so little water left that all they could touch, uh, uh, all the water would touch was the bottom -12- HilliDS AND FEET OF NEGROES (continued) of their feet and the palms of their hands. So, that's why they have white palms and white soles. Motif: J511.1 Negro tries in vain to be washed white Haln Aesop No. 113 A Treasury of American Folklore, Botkin~ All Folks was Born Black, P. 428 Tale Type: None given Recording 87 - 97 THE GHOST WHO RETUru~ED FOR HER MONEY I've heard the story of th, the lady who lived near, uh, Eatonton, Georgi;. and she buried money under her house. Well, after her death, uh they tried to rent her house but no one could stay there longer than six months 'cause when they moved in at night a light would appear outside. 'Course they would search for the light. They could not find it. You could only see it when you were inside, see the light on the outside. 'Course, uh, people couldn't sleep at night an they heard noises under the house. So they would not stay there. They were all afraid to stay. I asked, "Did they ever find, they never did find out what the light was or anythin ' ?" Miss. Kinsey replied, "No, not to my knol~ledge." Motif: E415.1 Ghost returns to hunt lost article Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 3 No. 24 Tale Type: None given -13- Miss. Aline Kinsey (continued) Recording 99 - 109 THE GHOST NM~~D SYLVIA Didja ever hear of a ghost named Sylvia? Well, I have. And she 11ves in a house in Eatonton, Georgia,. Uh, she's a, a, real good friend of the fbmily. Uh, people moved there from the north and, of course, they didn't know anything about the house being haunted. When they moved there, oh, several months la,ter, uh, the neighbors would tell them stories and it finally proved to be true. That SylVia does live there. She has long blond hair an she's considered a friend of the family. r asked, liDo you know why she died?" Miss. Kinsey, "No"r don't." r said, lIyou mean she's,J'ust , she's just there." Miss. Kinsey, IIShe , s there and r suppose until today you, she can still be found there. II I said. "And she died in the house',11 Miss. Kinsey. "Yea!" Motif: E300 b'riendly return from the dead No type for this particular story Recording III - 121 THE HAUNTED LAUNDRY My Grandmother told me a story about her next door neighbor who washed her clothes and hung them out on the line to dry. (Here she rustled her notes) And she had her son's sun suit on the line and there was no wind biliowing, nothin'. And all -14- / ') THE HAUNTED LAUNDRY (oontinued) of a sudden the straps started p~alting. And she also had wash cloths on the line and they, they matted up. There was no wind blowin', was no reason for them to start movin I, but all of a sudden they did. I asked, "Had this ever ha.ppened before?" Miss. Kinsey, "No, not that I know of." I said, "\'/ell, your Grandmother didn't say that uh, there was something, maybe somebody had died or anything?" Miss. Kinsey, "No-o-o l My Grandmother diml't believe ',in things like the,t." (Here she mee,nt that her Grandmother didn't believe in ghosts.) Motif: I could find no motif or tale type listed. -15- / GAIN~SVILL~ FUNERAL (continued) enough to hear on the recorder and I flipped the switch.) Motif and Tale Type: None listed -16- Mrs. Kay Denmark - Recording 135-162 Mrs. Kay Denmark was born in Savannah, Georgia in April of 1932. She has one brother. During her early ohildhood, the family moved to Mississippi and remained there eight years. They then returned to Suvannah and she lived there until 1957 when she moved to Atlanta. She and her family now live at 4464 Lashley Drive, Tucker, Georgia. She is married and has three children. The song she sings, 1l1'he Old Grey Goose is Dead ll , was first heard when she was a child in Savannah. Her Gra.ndmother sang it to her and her brother to put them to sleep. Mrs. Denmark says both she and her brother now sing the song to their ohildren. As she mentions in the reoording, new words can be added to the song to fit the oooasion and to amuse the ohildren. The rhyme that Mrs. Denmark records was told to her by her Grandmother, who did not believe that women should whistle. This is also mentioned in the reoording. -17- Mrs. Kay Denmark Recording 135 - 151 Recorded in conference room, Chas. Pfizer & Co., Inc., Chamblee, Ga. May 20, 1969 THE OLE GREY GOOSE IS DEAD Go and tell Aunt Sal-ly Go and tell Aunt Sa-al-ly Go and tell Aunt Sa-ly The Ole Grey goose is dead. The one that she was sa-ving The one that she was sa-a-ving The one that she was sa-ving To make her feather bed. Mrs. Denmark states on the tape that she would make variations to this song and sing them to her children as a lUllaby. No Motif or Tale Type listed Recording 153 - 162 A WHISTLING WOMAN There were many things my Grandmother use to say to me as I was growing up and when I first learned to whistle, I whistled all the time. And she'd catch me whistling in the house and she'd say: A Whistling woman And a crowin' hen Will never come '0 a happy end. -18- A WHISTLING WOlvUIN (continued) And every time I start Whistling, I always think cf her telling me that. It Was one thing she didn't, approve of was a girl or a woman whistling. I asked, "Well, what do you think that meant?" Mrs. Denmark, "I don't know, unless that th, when the rooster crows sometimes he gets his head chopped off. Motif: G303.16.18 One must not whistle after sundown else the devil will go along with one. Fo I 267b Tale Type: None listed -19- Mr. Julius Mathis - Recording 164 - 241 Mr. Julius Mathis, colored, was born in Monroe, Georgia in Walton County in August of 1920. He has one brother and four sisters. Mr. Mathis lived in Monroe until 1935 when he moved to Atlanta. He is now married with children and lives a.t 314 Autumn Lane, S.W., Atlanta, Georgia. In Mr. Mathis, I found an excellent story teller. He was nervous at first and hesitant, but in his later stories he opened up and really put on a performance complete with facial expressions and motions. In fact, I became so carried away by his performance that I forgot to watch the recorder and may have gotten it too loud. Mr. Mathis says he knows many stories that he has heard at church picnics and from his pastors. He said once he heard a story he never forgot it. Unfortunately, we were pressed for time 2nd I could get only three stories. However, this mDy be a very good source for someone to devel~p in the future. -20- Mr. Julius Mathis Reoording 164 - 191 Reoorded in oonferenoe room, Chas. Pfizer & Go., Ino., Chamblee, Ga. MB,y 20, 1969 THE SOCIAL WORKAH There was a sooial workah in the state of Georgia went to Milledgeville, Georgia to the insane asylum. So, she was doin' an inta, interview on the members that WaS stayin' at this insane asylum. So, she saw a young man about 30 or 32 yeahs ole out theah layin' briok. So, this young sooial ambitious lady walked up to him and said, all the, an notioed all the oorners was in plaoe. He was layin' this forms and evahthin' and she notioed it and aslced him, says, uh, "Did you do that by yo'self'l" He said, "Yes mam, I did." Said, "Well, that's good. You oould do that on the outside." SB,id, "Are you a bri ok mason?" Say, "Yes, I am." Say, "Well, how long you been in heah?" He looked at her an says, "I been in heah for twenty yeahs." "For twenty yeahs?" Said, "Now as young as you are?" said, "You learn dat in heah?" Said, "Yes, I did." say," Well you oould be doin' this on the outside. Have you gone to yo' supervisor and tried to get on the outside'l" He say, "Yes, I have." Sa.y, "An you're so very intelligent." Said, "NOW, next Friday I'm goin' to yo' wahden and I'm gonna reoommend that they will release you beoause a person with this type of intelligenoe should be on the outside makin' a oontribution to his state." So, well, "When do you say you were goin' 7", he asked. She says, "I'm goin' next Friday." So, well, "I sure will thanlc you, thank you very -21- THE SOCIAL WOill(AH (continued) much." So, the lady then turned around and started walkin' off. Soon as she got about six feet from '.m, started out the gate;(sigh) she heard a noise and went to look around and she met a brick. The brick hit her right side the head and knocked her down. So she got up and looked at '4lm and he was standin' overah. Ask her, says, uh, "Why did you hit me with that brick like that:{" Said, ujlliam, I just wanted to rernin' you not to forget yo' appointment for Friday.,1 No Motif or Tale Type listed -22- Mr. Julius Mathis Recording 193 - 219 Recorded in conference room, Chas. Pfizer & Co., Inc., Chamblee, Ga. May 20, 1969 I AIN'T LOST There was two very wealthy people from New Yawk decided they would come South and go sight seein'. So an somebody had told them about a very good place to catch some fish an they he,d gotten down into Morgan County an just about got lost. They didn't know exactly which way they were goin'. So., when they got down an saw fo' fawk of the road an theah was a stump theah. They saw this fellah sittin' on the stump with a great big wide hat an a fitchin', fishing pole an a little dawg layan' down by his feet. So, they said, "Let's go ovah heah an ask this man. He look like he's one of the countrymens down heah and he knows this neck 0' the woods an we'll ask him wheahs this, uh, fishin' resoht." So they drove up in theah big air condi tioned Iibmozine an rolled the gle,sses down, says, "Hello theah buddy." So he looked up at 'em says, "How do yawl do?" Says, "Could you tell us wheah this big fishin' resoht is out heah?" Says, "We, uh, just about lost." So he looked up at , ern, said, "No, I couldn't. Say, "Well could you tell us wheah dis road heah go." Said, "No, I couldn't." So, they drove on an went around, gone about fa' hours. Come back an they got to the same place and saw this same man still sittin' there on this st~lp. So they pUlled up Wi asked 'em, says, uh, "Look", says, "We did not find that fishin' resoht." Said, "Could you tell us wheah this road heah gO?" Said, "No, I -23- I AIN'T LOST (continued) don't. 1I Say, IIWell, wheah does this roe.d gO?1I Say, IIWell, I don' know suh." Say, IIWell, wheah do this one gO?" Say, III don't know sUh." So they looked at 'em an say, "Look fellah,1I say, lIyou know what,1" say, uh, "you don' know very much do ya'?" He looked at 'em, say, "Yes sUh. 1I Say, IIWell, what do you know?" Say, II lain' t los t. " A Treasury of American Folklore, Botkins 'Ain't Lost l P. 410 Motif and Tale Type not listed -24- Mr. Julius Mathis Recording 221 - 240 Recorded in conference room, Chas. Pfizer & Co., Inc., Chamblee, Ga. May 20, 1969 THE NEW SCHOOL BUS DRIVAH Down in Walton County theah was a new school bus drivah. He'd gone made his route, pialted up all the childrens an didn't zackly know wheah the school house Was. So, theah Was a fellah that always every mornin' would run in behine the bus about two n a half miles, so he stopped and asked this fellah if he could tell 'em wheah the school house was. So, he told him, say, "NO, I don't exactly know wheah it is, but ya go on ovah yondah." Say, "No, dat ain't right." Say, "NoW, ya go on ovah yondah an turn to yo left." Scratched 'is head (goes through head scratching motions) Say, "Naw that ain't right." He say, "I don't knO\1 but, uh, if I could see my brothah," said, "he could tell ya wheah it is.'' So the fellah told him O.K. The drivah did and he drove on off. So, he pulled on up the hill theuh a piece. He stopped an asked anothah fellah and he loolted back an this felllJ.h was comin' behin' the bus mnninI. So, he waj-'ved his hand. (goes through hand wa,ving motions) So, the fellah tol' 'em, say, "Wai t a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute." So, the fellah got out de bus an walked round theah an 'e walked up to 'em, blowin' (here Julius begins to breathe hard like he's been running and holds his hands up to his chest). Say, (pant, pant) "You know you asked me (pause) wheah (pant) dat school was a few minutes ago." Say, "Yeah." Say, "I told you I didn't know." Say, "Yeah." So, well, yes, "Aftah you left I saw my brothah." -25- THE NEW SCHOOL BUS DRIVAH (continued) Say. IIYeah II II And I asked him." He say. IIYeah. II "I f he say II (pant) he say (pause) he didn't know eithah. No Motif or Tale Type listed -26- ) EXTRA CREDIT Clyde E. Downing, Jr. Recording 243 - 262 Recorded May 24, 1969 at 306 Hascall Rd., N.W., Atlanta, Ga. COLD OLE LADY? When I was a little boy, I lived with my Grandmother, Mrs. Nettie Wallace, in Jackson, Mississippi. My nick-name for my Grandmother was Pretty Mama. In the winter she use to warm herself by backing up to an open fire and lifting her stPesy dress up in the rear and she'd always say, "Cold ole lady? No, chile." I asked pretty Mama Why she said that and she told me this story: 'rhere was an old maid Who wanted to get married real bad. She especially wanted a. husband in the winter because she hated to crawl in between cold sheets. Well, one winter day a handsome young man came by and said, "Ole lady, I hear you wanta get married." 'rhe ole maid said, "Well, I surely dO." He said, "Well, I'll marry you on the condition that you wrap yourself in a wet sheet and sit on top of the roof all night." The ole maid said, "I'll surely do it, I sure wilL" So, that night when it was just getting dark she wrapped a wet sheet around her, scrambled up on the roof and settled down for the night. Well, it was pretty cold that night and she was mighty uncomfortable up there, but ever once in a while the handsome young man would call up to 'er, "Cold ole Lady?" And she'd say, "No, chile. Cold wet sheet tonight, warm young man to warm my bed tomorrow night." 'rhe next morning the pore ole soul was found frozen to death. Motif: X753 A youth promises to marry an old maid if she will sit all night on the roof. Tale Type: 1479 - Finnish 1, Estonian 2, American Negro (Micfuigan): Dorson No. 156 -27- A COLLECTION OF FOLK TALGS BY CLYDE E. DOWNING, JR. BIBLIOGRAPHY Motif Index of Folk Literature, Thompson, Vol, I - 6 A Treasury of American Folklore, Botkin~ The Types of the Folktale, Antti Arrne and Steth Thompson -28- ,'iddl"!M ';~o ;~nd \.4E!kJl 'i.;hf!&''f t(] do -t,hii0: ur i3mv:rl iJ<i~V "*(["",=,;;;8 /fe/iTt Lrad 1"t1CjTiS""''''''Git{)I'ieB: j@(;;ngs U\iJ,SlC f:ear'lie:>::,' t:Ui'Jl'd::! w;,dli? ~'% "\fl'kluable St}t:rthe-rn 21.:n\1 of :yrFHt' eCmmlJJ.'%i tLV2 :r~oJJf;J.,(Yt"t~ t:rH!!S~ t.r.ad ~mnt23 t,hJ3n:, It; \d 11 (leF:f b'b UffAe'J f(/\[ to UI'~ thi8 water"," ea,n hU1; Lf it. tti s t1.ftd :yC>1,Xf.' o'f 'i:j'i?y" th!2! t~ ib1{Yt y<m, 1:'F::''-'iT't'.3 ;"tn, f}f ./\)l',{i/iJ':LC73.H l:LJ?'2 tkJ..a't yZ}U w-ant i:>:t t~j(i{rtd tc;; U5 g() Jj~ JP:Ju li ii;iH,c;YZjby:"!' D';Or'E'0 t-hah bf5
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Professor John Burrison founded the Atlanta Folklore Archive Project in 1967 at Georgia State University. He trained undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in his folklore curriculum to conduct oral history interviews. Students interviewed men, women, and children of various demographics in Georgia and across the southeast on crafts, storytelling, music, religion, rural life, and traditions.
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