Joan Kidd interview with Ricky Parham, Jane Bromiel, Emma Simmons, Addie Kidd, Mabel Dollar, Kate Robertson, Murilla Stover, Chloe Stover Naves, A.A. Graves, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Brown, Carl Payne, and Sara Frances Payne

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.
Note: This recording contains racist language, racial slurs, and discussion of violence. This recording starts with Emma Simmons sharing a story about a preacher eating a possum and one about sighting a panther while picking cotton, both incidents from her childhood. Next Addie Kidd tells a story at minute 6:51 about cooking with a ball of thread. Third Mabel Dollar, the interviewers aunt, tells a scary story at minute 9:30 about a cemetery. She learned many stories, including this one, from the interviewers grandfather. At 10:26, Kate Robertson tells a story about encountering a snake which she learned while on a tour of the Okefenokee Swamp in South Georgia. Next, at minute 11:19, Murilla Stover and her daughter, Chloe Naves, tell stories. Stovers story is about farm life and stealing potatoes; Naves, which she learned from Florida ship captain, Captain Langston, is about dogs abandoned on a Florida island. A. A. Graves of Norcross, Georgia, then tells three church stories, one which happened to him and two that he learned from other preachers. One story is about tricking a pastor to drink alcohol by mixing it with milk. At minute 19:45, Ricky Parham and Jane Bromiel tell urban folk and horror tales about college students that they learned in college, claiming they are all true. Next at minute 26:37, J. E. Brown and Mrs. J. E. Brown share ghost stories they learned from neighbors in New Orleans, Louisiana; one is about the statue of Andrew Jackson in Jackson Square in New Orleans. Starting at 30:06, Carl Payne, a friend of the interviewers father, tells humorous stories, including Pat and Mike tales, from his childhood in Rome, Georgia. Themes include practical jokes, encounters with wild animals, and speech impediments. Payne also sings Old Grey Mare at minute 42:00. His wife, Sara Frances Payne, interrupts at minute 31:45 to tell a joke about a BP gas station.
Emma Simmons (1891-?) was born and raised in Madison County, Georgia, and resided there most of her life. Her mother was Mary E. Simmons (1861-?) and she had eight siblings. Joanne Joan Kidd (1934-1999) was born in Newnan, Georgia, to Thomas Olin Kidd (1909-1957) and Connie Bessie Kidd (1913-1960) and had one sister, Patsy Kidd (1935- ). Kidd graduated from Newnan County Highschool and later from Georgia State University. In 1952 she married Carl F. Cooper (1922-?), then in 1959 William B. Robinson (1932-2006), with whom she had one daughter, Donna M. Burnham (1960-2015). Addie Ann Kidd (1886-1977) was born in Jackson County, Georgia, to William J. Wall (1861-1891) and Gabriella Jane Wall (1862-1951), but raised in Comer, Georgia, where she lived most of her life. She married James Ulis Kidd (1879-1949) and had eight children. She died in Madison County, Georgia. Mabel Dollar (1904-1992) was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Jesse Dollar (1881-?) and Ida Dollar (1891-?). She never married or had children and lived in Decatur, Georgia, when she passed away. A.A. Graves (1909-?) was born in Norcross, Georgia, where he lived most of his life and served as a preacher. Richard Ricky F. Parham (1948- ) was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Joseph R. Parham (1919-1980) and Hazel Rogers Parham (1924-2005). He graduated from Nacoochee High School and later Middle Georgia College. Parham married Lina Walker (1947-1991) and had two daughters. He later lived in Hendersonville, North Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; Aliso Viejo, California; and Peachtree City, Georgia. Carl Payne (1919-1975) was born in Albertville, Alabama, to Claud Payne (1891-?) and Jessie E. Payne (1896-1978) and had six siblings. The family moved to Rome, Georgia, when he was a child, where he lived most of his life. In 1940, Payne registered for the World War II draft. He married Sara Frances Leverette (1927-1997) and had two children. When he died, he was living in DeKalb County, Georgia. Sara Frances Payne (1927-1997) was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Alton Leverette (1905-1995) and Inell Polk (1904-1932). She married Carl Payne (1919-1975) and had two children. She died in Snellville, Georgia. Melanie Jane Bromiel (1951- ) was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Harry Bromiel (?-1993). She graduated from East Atlanta High School and later from West Georgia College. In 1970 Bromiel married James Elliot Price (1949-2006) and they lived in Conyers, Georgia. Bertha Murilla Rilla Stover (1892-1979) was born on a farm near Roswell, Georgia. She married Samuel Stover (1886-1970) and had one daughter, Chloe Stover Naves (1912-2000). The Stover family lived in Roswell until Berthas death. Chloe Stover Naves (1912-2000) was born in Georgia to Bertha Murilla Stover (1892-1979) and Samuel Stover (1886-1970). She married John Naves (1916-1998) and died in Blairsville, Georgia. Kate Robertson (1894-1980) was born in Cartersville, Georgia, to Lucinda McCreary (1862-1937). The family moved to Atlanta, where she lived most of her life. She married John Robertson (1894-1965) and had two children. Robertson died in Decatur, Georgia. In approximately 1970 Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Brown moved from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Brown was originally from New Jersey and Mrs. Brown from Louisiana. Additional biographical information has not been determined.
FOLKLORE COLl.ECTING PROJECT Joan Kidd Spring, 1970 Folklore 301 John Blrl'ison Preaoher Eats Possum The Panther Ball of Thread Dividing Souls The Walking Stiok Stealing Potatoes Dog Island You Can't Preach I Good Milk Preaching on Heaven Horror Stories I Ricky Parham's Jane BraIniel' s Legends about New O1'leans Rat Killer Pullin Pranks The BP Station Pat and Mike Pat and lfdke Preaoher and the Corn Preacher and the Beal' The Liar Two Fishermen Niggers and the Boboat Pat and Mike Bed-Bug Killel' The Old Grey Mare TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 2 4 5 6 6 7 9 10 10 12 13 16 18 18 19 19 19 20 20 21 22 23 23 24 24 Greetin to the Door 25 Minister's Drink 26 It's Latel 27 Fat Lady 27 City Slioker 28 T-T-T-TWOI 28 Fertilizerl 29 My oolleoting projeot was done mainly in the Atlanta area. Two of my informants were from Comer, Georgia. I oolleoted stories from a variety of souroeSI I had twelve different informants. Some of the stories I am sure are folktales, some I am in doubt about. All of them, however, are interesting and I enjoyed oolleoting them. !-tv last informant was the best story teller. He oould remember many stories whioh he had heard over the years, and said that he knows many, many more. He was really wonderfUl to listen to. I enjoyed, however, listening to every one of them. 1 The following two stories were told to me b,r Emma Simmons on April 25, 1970, at her home in Comer, Georgia, in Madison County. She was born in Madison County, raised in Madison County. and at the age of eighty, still lives in Madison County. She told her stories as true experienoes, and she says that she did see a white panther after the dead one time. The stories were told to a group of people while visiting Addie Kidd. PREACHER EATS POSSUM You know, ah, this man, he used to live down here. I know his nlU'lle but I oan't 011,11 it right now (points down the road) but, John Moon's boy, Ceoil Moon. He oome down to the house one day and we had oOlilpany. We's piokin cotton and so ll\Y aunt was, eh, helpin us piok ootton, an un, Aunt Julann Russel, her and Jim. So the preaoher oome up to her house jest as ~ rmg the bell for dinner. An we had a possum for dinner. An eh, them boys was jest oarried away 'bout dat possum, ya know, well, here this preaoher come, an ~ told him, said, "Jest cOllie on an eat dinner with us. I've got dinner ready." An, she did have a good dinner, had the possum cooked with potatoes all around it, ya know, so goodl Well, the boys said, l'Well good-bye possum." Says, "We won't get no possum." And they didn't tell no lie neither, they didn't. So anyway, we went on to the house and eat dinner. Went in to the table and the four boys waited out on the porch. Well, there's a blind on the kitohen there, a blind, ya know, to the window. An they peeped through that blind Ilnd eve:ry onoe in Il while, they'd say to one mother, "Good-b,re possum, said he's a gettin him another pieoe." Well, they's jest doin that, jest, they didn't oare so muoh but did oaX'e llome. So anyway, they eat dinner an I went out there llnd I said, "Ya'll oOlile on round here." And they oolile round the house, oome up the baok steps into the kitohen, ya know, to eat their dinner, and I said, "They a1nt no POSSUlll fer ya'll." And they said, "you don't have to tell that, we know it." 2 So they eat dinner and Ceoil oome down after dinner and we'd all gone baok to the field. The preaoher and all had done gone. him and his wife. Well, we went baok to the field an we's piokin ootton and we's jest giving that preaoher down the road for eatin so muoh possum. We jest devilment, that's all, we didn't mean it. An so, Ceoil walked right up, jest right behind Charlie an he said, ''Well, he said, there's one thing about it," he says, "I know you ain't eat no possum for dinner." So Charlie told him, he said, ''Well you ain't tellin no lie," said, "that preaoher eat II. whole possum." So that's all I know, now. (Interruption, Well, we want another un. That ain't what ) THE PANTHER Piokin ootton, we worked on a farm and so this lady died. (I won't oall no names "oause Fanny Sue might get a holt of it.) So anyway, she died that evenin. It was the hottest evenin, sure nough, I ever felt in ~ life. It was terriblel And so we, uh, went on to the house about an hour of sun, and Manuua, she fixed supper. So we was, no, I fixed supper. We was goin over there that night. She's a oousin of ours, you see. So anyway, we wont over there that night and it was so hot till it was terrible. And so Dorothy, she was the soardest ohild that ever lived though in her life. Well, we went over there that night. Stayed a while and we got ready to go hOllle. Mr. and Mrs. MoMurray told us to ride, ya know, and Cliff said, "No, it's too IIIII.ny," he said, "Elmna oan ride fer as ya'll's house and me an Dorothy'll walk." Well, they started and they got out there to this house, ya know, where it is. I don't know who lived there. &It Dorothy heard sOlllethin and she looked. She said, "Oh, daddy," she said, "look a therel" (pointing motion) And he said, "What is it, Dorothy?" He's scared anyhow. So anyway, she said, "Daddy lookl" Said, ''What is that?" Says, "It jumped over that fenoe." Says, "It's white as ootton." An, um, he said, "Oh, Dorothy." She said, "Come on, daddy, let's run." He said, "I can't run, I'm not able." So anyway, they went on up the road and that thing followed them a long ways up the road. BJ.t they said it wu a panther. That's what they said it Wll.!l. a panthert Ya'U know it's after the dead. So anYWay, they oome on and got up far as Mr. Murray's and I said, "Well. II\Y Lord, ya'll just as well to have rode. Ya'll outrun the automobile from here to there." And so anyway, Cliff said. "Well," he said. 'OWell. I eeuldn't keep Dorothy from runnin." he says. "I had to keep up with her." So anyway. that's the way it was. And then I had done a big washin that day and took in II\Y starohed clothes and put em on a ohair at the window. Well. Dorothy slept in the room there, right next to us, ya' know. BJ.t that window was up and it's blowin them ourtains aoross them olothes and it'd oome baok - thrump (swooping motion with hands)-like that. ya' know. And so whenever that. it jest kept goin and she. she oalled me, said. "MronIna." says. "Come in here." I went in there and she's oovered up head and ears in a bed qUilt. I took the oover off, I said, ''What in the world I " She said. "They'll somethin a' oomin in that window." Said, "It's a' serapin." I says, "It's not a thing in the world but thelle olothes here. And the ourtain is over the olothes and a pullin it back aoross it, is what you hear." And I says. "That's all it is." She said, lOWell. MronIna. please let the window down." She said. "It could be that thing." says. "still a' oomin." And they said it was a panther. now. Sure nough, that ain't no lie. That's the truthI 4 This story was told at the same time as the preceeding two stories. It was told by Addie Kidd who lives in Comer, Georgia in Madison County. She was born in Jackson County on January 15, 1886. but she grew up in Comer. BALL OF THREAD Used to they'd oook on old fireplace, ya know. Have pots and things oook over a fireplace. There's a woman had a pot o' salad on a oooking and she was sewing and she got up to ohug up the fil'e, ya know, and stir up her salad. Well, she happened to drop a ball of thread in the pot of salad. ya know. Well when we went to eat dinner, they all heped their plates with the turnip salad and eatin 'till one man swallowed the ball of thread. And he happened (Interruption: Ball of thread? Well, go ahead and tell it.) And he got holt, fft\9t scmathin in his mouth and he got holt of it and he commanced on pullin an he just pulled and pulled and pulled till he wound off the ball of thread. (pulling motion with hands) He said, "Well, I fe<il much better nowI " (Motif: Xl723 - Lies about swallowing. (Baughman) 5 The next story was told to IIIEl by ~ aunt, Mabel Dollar, at her hOllla in Atlanta em May 2, 1970. She was born in At:j.anta and hu dways lived in Atlanta. She heard the story frolll ~ grandfather who was frolll Atlanta, also. This story is the only one she could relllelllber hilll telling. DIVIDING SOULS Two men were walking dong a dark country rOll.d one night when they C!UlIe to a oemetery where they stopped to rest for a few minutes. They soon heard voioes ooming from inside the oemetery and, and the voice said, "You take this one and I'll take that one, you take this one and I'll take that one," until! they, this voioe oounted out a dozen. One of the lIIen said, '!We'd better get away frolll here in a hurry. The devil' s in there oountin out his people." But it was really only two thieves in the oemetery oounting out a dozen ears of oorn they had stolen. (Tale TYpe: 1791 - Saxton Carries Parson. This version of the story is very similar to the "Old Marster and John" story of "Dividing Souls" whioh is found in Dorson's Amerioan Negro Folktales.) 6 The next three stories were told b.Y three different people while sitting around talking. The first tale is told by Mrs. John Robertson of Atlanta. She heard the story from Lam Griffis many years ago on a tour through the Okefenokie Swamp in south Georgia. The seoond story was told by Mrs. Sam Stover of Atlanta who used to live on a farm near Roswell, Georgia. The last story is told b.Y her daughter, Mrs. John Naves of Altanta. Mrs. Naves tells a story about Dog Island off the gulf ooast of Florida. It is a legend oommon to the area around Carabell, Florida. These stories were oolleoted on May 2, 1970. THE WALKING STICK When I went to the Okefenokie Swamp, I had a guide (Lam Griffis) that oarried us up the river to the dam and he was telling my grandsons a story of the swamps. Retold of a grandfather visiting him and he had to walk with a oane and he oautioned him about the large snakes in the swamp, and he went anyway" and a large snake struok at him but he pushed him baok with his walking cane. The stick, uh, snake bit the stake-walking stick and it started swelling and it was so large they had to call in a sawmill to saw up the walkin stick. And they made crossties and built a railroad line. Soon it started raining, the orossties shrank so much they had to pick them up and sell em for toothpioksl (Tale Type: 1889m _ Snakebite Causes Ob ect to Swell; motif: Xl205.1(g): Small wocden objeot struc by snake swells so that man cuts grea~quantity of lumber from it. (Baughman) STEALING POTATOES Once I had a neighbor that was a fanner, lived in the lot, uh, the back of me and he was a farmer. And raised vegetables and he raised a big sweet potato patoh and he had his potatoes backed out in the field like the farmers did then. Had em baoked out there an his potatoes got to going and they kept going and they kept going and he oouldn't imagine what was going with em. Couldn't see 7 any foot prints of anybody taking em, but he kept going and watohing his potatoes and they kept going till they were all gone. Well, they, uh, he was out in the hog pasture there and he had some hogs and that hog would know when there's a possum up that tree. He'd go to the root 0' that-tree and grunt and grunt and grunt. Well, he, we looked up in the top 0' that tree, and there was a big squirrel bed. And he looked in the top of the other trees around there, and there was great big squirrel beds up there. And he took his gun and he begin to shoot those squirrel beds down and his potatoes all come down and he got all his potatoes baokl (Motif: Xl223.l(a) - Squirrels steal oorn and store it in tree. The farmer outs dOWll tree, reoovers oorn. (Baughman) DOG ISLAND I'm tellin you a story that Captain Langston of Carabelle, Florida told me of the, uh, island just out of Carabello -- Dog Island. The way it got it's name was long yoars ago people from England oame over on their boats and they always had a dog for a masoot. -Andthey had to, uh, anohor over there at the island beoausethe water was too shallow to got to Carabello. So they'd loavo their dogs and their boats over on the island and they would stay for several days at Carabelle. And when they would go baok, they'd be so broke without money, they didn't have food to buy for the dogs to feed them. And they'd leave these dogs over on the island. So the, uh, the dogs began to aooumulate so muoh till they just all went wild. They was turkeys and deers and squirrels and rabbits of all kinds over thGl1e. the people went there to hunt for. So one day this man left, going over turkey shooting over on Dog Island. And when he got there they oouldn't find the man. All they found was /l, skeleton of hill! and the dogs had eaten him up. So they went baok to Carabelle and they got everyone there and their guns and went baok and killed all the wild dogs there. And the only transportation they have to Dog Island is by a ferry boat now. 8 (Interl'Uption I or plana) There I s no wild life there now other than snakes. 9 The informant who told the followif.g stories is II. preaoher. He told these stories on May 10, 1970, at his home in Noroross, Georgia. His name is A. A. Graves and he was born on August 9. 1909 in Noroross. He said that he has told these stories previously to groups of people. One of the stories is a true story and his own storyl the others he has heard from other preaohers. (I did not transoribe the true story.) YOU CAN"T PREACHI This partioular ohuroh was having a problem with it's ohoir. It seemed that one man in the ohoir had a lisp and he would hold longer than anyone else. So the ohoir direotor oame to the pastor and said, "You must get rid of this man. He's just ruining my ohoir." So the pastor said. "0 K. 1'11 take Ollre of that." Sunday morning, the pastor was looking for. we call him John. So when John came up, he called him baok to his study and said. "John, I have a special request for you. I want you to do some special work. I want you to be my representative. stand in the front of the churoh and lock for all strangers ooming in Sunday morning and stay dUring the service. You'll still be there to greet them and welcome for me." John Said. "Pastor. I can't do it." He said, ''Why you. can't you do that?" He said, ''Well. because I must sing in the choir." He said, "No, I'm not gonna let you, have you do that." He said, "loan't do it. I've gotta sing in the choir." Well the pastor said, "I'll just come level with you. The choir direotor andseveral members of the ohurch tell me that you Can't sing, that you're ruining the onoir." And he said, uh, ''Wait a minute pastor," Mid, "Now how many have you heard say that.?" He said, "0h, four or five." He said, "If isn't anymore than that, don't let it worry you, pastor. I've had more than that tell me that you can't prellChl" (The next is fA true story whioh is left out on the transoript.) (from 139 - 149 on the reel) 10 GOOD MILK A faw years ago in the"one 0' the rural areas during the summer revival, the minister who had oome quite a ways to preaoh the revival was spending eaoh night with one of the wealthy farmers in the community. On the first night after a servioe as he came back to the home, the farmer being, wanting to be s good host, ah, asked the minister if he would like to have a little toddy before he went to bed and he said he a1w~s did that. It had been the custom of the family to take a little, uh, whiskey to make him sleep better. The, uh, pastor, bu-r the, uh, said, "No, uh, I do not drink/I would take a glass of milk." So he said, "Fine." He went into the refrigerator to get milk but while he was there he deoided he would dootor it up a little bit. So he spiked it with his, uh. alohohol drink. He came back and gave it to the minister. He smaoked his lips and drank it all and oommented on how well the milk tasted. So eaoh night through_ out the week this happened over and over again. When the revival was over the minister was paoking up. getting ready togo home. He, urn, in leaving, gave fifty dollars to this lIIan, .sdd, "I want to give you this." Ibt the farmer stopped him right quiok and said, "Listen here, you're I'm not to accept any, accepting any of your money because I always take oare of the preaoher during 11 revival. And the preaoher said, "I'm sorry, but you misunderstand this. I'm not paying for board, but I'm paying fifty dollars for the first heifer calf this oow brings that gives suoh good milkl PREACHING ON IlEAVEN It seems in this modern ohuroh as we have many today, running busses to bring everyone into ohurch, the busses were all lined up out in front of the ohuroh. On this partioular Sund~ morning s psrtioular man oame in late as a visitor, sat on the baok seat, and then, uh, dozed off to sleep, as the preaoher At the end of the servioe, the preaoher said, "Now all of you who would like to II '!l ~o to heaven please stand." He didn't hear that, but the noise of everyone getting up woke him up and he sat silently and when, after everyone sat down, the preaoher looked baok and said, "Brother, I notioed that you did not stand. Did you get the question right? Uh, do you not want to go to heaven?" He said, "Oh yes, I want to go to heaven, but I thought you wEIre trying to get up a bus load right at this moment I " 12 The next four stories are urban folktales. They may be olassified under "Horror Stories", motif X .500.~_These are stories whioh are not ghost or witoh stories--they usually do not deal with the supernatural~-whiohare told, beoause of the effeot of horror they produoe in the listener. Usually the emphasis is on the grisly or strange rather than on the supernatural. (Thompson) The first of these stories was told by Ricky Parham of Atlanta, on May 1.5, 1970. Ricky was born on August 16, 1948 in Charlotte, North Carolina. He heard the story from a boy while he was in sohool at Middle Georgia College in Coohran. The person who told the story to him swore that it was a true story and Ricky thinks it is true,also. Uh, this, uh, story, uh, I heard from a friend of mine, uh, who had talked with a sheriff or, uh, one of the, uh, depty sheriffs of a little town oalled Coohran, Georgia. And this sheriff or depty, whiohever one, he told this boy this story and it's a story about, uh, takes plaoe at this, uh, little farm outside of, uh, little town o~ Coohran, Georgia. And the farm, name of the farm was the Weatherly farm. And eh, this farm had been abandoned and was now more or less a plaoe for kids to go, lovers' lane type thing. And, eh, so this boy, you know, thought he'd take his date out there, and so they went out there lind when they pulled down the, eh, this little two, two lane rOlld, down there and they'd pulled down it, and eh, stopped, and uh, so they loved up a little bit, I guess, you know. And then they heard a, uh, noise and thought they'd better, ya' know, get out. So he oranked up his car ya' know, and started baokin out. Then he turned and looked baok and there was a big ole tree laying aoross the road and there wasn't 'no way for him to get out, ya t know. And he didn't, uh. know whioh way the road went on down and he's soared to go down it oause it was suoh a little bitty road, messed up and everything. And so. ya' know, says, you know, he'd better go out and get some help. And so, uh, he told the girl, ya' know, he brought a blanket with him in oase he got cold and he told her to get in the baok seat and oover up with the blanket and look all the doors,and then he, 1) and not to open the door till he, ya' know, till he hollered for her to op'n it. And uh, so he left, ya' know, and she got back in the baok seat and got oovered up, ya' know, and she got real soared, ya' know, and they she started hearing banging on the windows, ya' know, And ya' know, she didn't, she was so soared that she didn't even stiok her head out or nothing and, uh, so finally, ya' know, she, noise quit and she fell off to sleep, She's exhausted and, uh, when she woke up the next morning, she looked around and ub, her boyfriend was hanging from a tree right in front of the, ub, oar, ya' know. And ub, the reason I believe this is a true story is that, uh, we, ub, II. bunoh of guys went out to the, the Weatherly farm just to mess around, ah, one night and, ub, there, there's that same little road, there's a big ole tree laying there right at the edge of the road and it's been, all the limbs, been ohopped off right at the edge of the road just so cars oan get by, past it. And also, we walked up a little ways and there right in front of the big tree settin there, there's a little bitty pieoe 0' rope layin there on the ground. The next three stories were told by Jane Eramiel of Atlanta on May 16, 1970. She heard the first story from her mother who had told her that the story was true. The other two stories she heard at West Georgia College in Carrolton, Georgia. There was this family an they were goin out in Mexioo on a trip, a vaoation. And they had, they took their grandmother with them and they had a lot of ohildren, and all their kids. And, ub, and so they were down in Mexioo and they were traveling around and uh, it wasn't long, I mean they hadn't been gone long, and the grandmother died. And so urn, they didn't know what they were gonna do with her oause they were out in the desert, y'know and they, ub. and they didn't want to, and it was too far to take her in, y'know, so that night, and they didn't want to leave her in the oar with the ohildren, y'know, in the seat. So they found an old box and they wrapped 14 her up and put her in the box and put her on top of the station wagon. Andjthey thought they'd leave her there while they went in this motel and spent the night untill they oould take her into town the next day to a funeral home. And so, uh, the mother kept trying to keep the kids all oalm and all, and so she, they went into the motel and signed in, y'know, and they spent the night. And dU~ing the night somebody oame and s~e th~ urn, their oar, their station wagon, and they never did find grandmother afterwards. Well, there was this, urn, young girl and she was waiting on her date and the date oame to the door and knooked, ya' know, and so she went to the door. And her mother just asked, urn, please not leave oause she'd just heard over the news that this man had esoaped from prison and he had a hook hand. And it was just, she was just soared to death that he'd be in her, ya' know, their neigh_ borhood and so she asked em, don't, just stay, ya' know, home tonight, and they oould just stay around there and not to go out. But they insisted on going and so she said, all right. And they left. And they went down this dark road to park and they were there for not long, and so, uh, they kept hearing this noise and she just got petrified. The girl just start, she was just dying and they felt, uh, heard, some noise right by the car, ya' know, and heard this soraping noise so the boy just took off, ya' know, and he said, "It's all right, ya' know, nothing's happened, we're safe, ya ' know, we're about home." So he got home and, urn, he went, he got out of his side of the oar and went over to let her uh, out, and on the doornob, door handle of the Oar there was the hook of the man's hand. I heard this story when I first went away to sohool this fall. We had a meeting of all the girls in the dorm and our housemother sat around and was tellin us all these things and she was tellin about these, uh, these girls that were roommates. There were only two in a room and one of the girls were gonna 15 stay out real late that night studying with some of her friends. And you know, she's gonna be out real late and the other one said,'~ell, take your key, ya' know, I'll just go on in and go to bed and you oan oome in, ya' know. I'm sure you won't wake me." And so, urn, the girl,the bathroom was right down the hall from her and so she was oommin baok, and she's ready for bed, and she was real soared oause she hadn't, ya' know, roomed, she hadn't been in this dorm very long and so she was oomin back and she heard somethin behind her and it was just this gurgling sound and it, it was just terrible and she was just frightened to death, so she ran in her room and she sla~ned the door and she looked it. And she was sittin up on her bed and she was just shivering. She was just scared, she didn't know it was but finally she was so tired she fell asleep. And so, the next morning she woke up real early and she got to thinkin about it and she went to her door and she opened it and her roo~ate was laying on the floor and somebody had slit her throat and it was her trying to get her attention to let her know that it was her and for help. 16 The next two stories were told by Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Brown of Atlanta. They have reoently moved here from New Orleans. Louisiana. The stories were told on May 17, 1970. Mrs. Brown is originally from New Orleans and Mr. Brown is originally :lJrom New Jersey. They heard the stories from people in New Orleans. you want me to tell the story? OK. This is on Holloween in the Southern Bijou country of Louisiana where the oountry folk go into the graveyards and they have their annual olean up. out the grass, they pull the weeds and they whitewash the graves and rake the sand. And the last thing they do before they leave that day is to outline the graves with small oandles and just at sundown, they will light the oandles and leave them burning. And after they've left the graveyard is the time when the spirits that are in the graves come out and spend a little time in the outside world to see what's been going on for the past year. And the purpose of the candles is for the spirits coming back to the graves so that they can find their way back to their own graves. (Interruption: Tell how the graves are built.) Well, the graves are all above ground. That is. they don't bury below ground. The water level is suoh that they oan't and these have all been whitewashed and this is down in the after~ noon when they're cleaning up the graveyard. In front of st. Louis Cathedral is Jackson Square. It's a small park and on each side of the park are apartment buildings and in the center of the park is a statue of Andrew Jackson on his, Stonewall Jackson, on his horse, and he, he is riding, seated with his, his, uh, gear, his, his sword, his guns, and he has his hat tipped, uh, facing one partioular apartment. And the story has it that the reason this statue is situated the way it is, is bocause it faces the apartment of a lady friend that he would novel' acknowledge as a lady and would never give her the proper oourtesy. And when he died she had this statue ereoted, uh, built and had him tipping his hat in her direotion. 17 The following stories were told to lIIe on May 17, 1970, by Carl Payne at his home in Atlanta. He was born in Alabama on OCtober 22, 19-froze to death (as he told Ille), but moved to Rome, Georgia as a very young boy. He grew up in "God's oountry" near "Chitlin Switoh" up in moonshineoountry. He oomes from a large family and is now married and has two ohildren. ] have known him for a long time through my father with whom he used to work. My father told me that Carl used to go to work early in the morning and sit around telling stories before time to start work. He used to "read" from the "Banks Street Journal", an imaginary newspaper with &dill for such things as a pair of oross~eyed glassesl He is a very good story teller and really holds the attention of his audienoe. He enjoys telling the stories and he laughs at them, too. He had learned his stories from a variety of souroes, mainly from people down around his home in Rome. He says that one of his favorite pasttimes is going fishing and sitting in the boat telling funny stories. His hobby is oolleoting antique clooks and fixing thelll. He has about fifty clocks in his home, one of whioh is a very old and rare type of grandfather olock whose chimes sound like the chimes of Westminster Cathedral. 18 RAT KILLER This outhouse out in the country Ill'ld they had a lot of rats around there snd they had sOllie rat killer Ill'ld the old I!IllIl went to get what he thought WSll!! rat killer but he got~lIollle gasoline llIld he just poured it all a1"oll.lld the groll.lld aroUlld thll outhouSII to kill the rats. (Pouring motion) WlIll, his brother oWlle in late and being old and he wllnt out llIld~ llOW whioh iii perfeotly nomal when they go tOthll so-oalled reading rOOill, he got on thll little hole to the left Ill'ld Slit down, got hb paper mo put hili pipe in hb mouth (motion of putting pipe in mouth) llnd when hll IIltruok a =toh it wlInt KA-P H 0 0 M I It just disllntllgrated every_ thing. Well. about ton mnutlislatElr thll old I!IllIl OWllElto about twenty feet away from the little outhouse. He said, "Unh. must a been somthin' I lit 1" PULLING PRANKS These little boys out on Halloween night one night were rwmin' all'oll.lld trying to sell what all kinda devilment they oould gat into. So they deoided it would be II. lot of f1m to push over the outhouses. So they went along md pushed over quite a fw md they got to this one pIIrtioul4r boy's house. He didn't lllUoh want to do it, al\YWay. but he did. So they pushed the outhouses over md the nlllltt morning the little boy's father said. "Bl.lly, were you with the crowd that pullhed the outhouses over lut night?" He Ilaid, "Yes. father." Well, gen-tle-men, his dad jerked off his belt. jerked that yOll.llgUll up by the arm md wailed the daylights out of himl In a few mll\ltes the 11ttle ole boy was orying. he said, "Daddy, when George Washington's father Ilsked him if he out down the cherry tree and he told him the truth, said, ho didn't whip him." He said, "And George WlI.l!lhington's fathElr was not in that oherry tree." 19 [' Th8'following is l\ joke told by Sara Frances Payne as her husband wall tell1ng hill IItoriell' THE BP STATION The uh, little boy, oh, how does it g07 Do you kllOW why the bee wlllked llcrOli1l the desert with hill legs, went aOJrOli1i the dellert with his logs OJrOlilied 7 Why? 'CaUIl8 he oouldn't find a B. P. StlltiOnlj PAT AND MIKE Thill, 1Illl, these two Irishmen. one ot lM!I'lII n!illle wall Pat, and one wall Mike. And they oould always get into l!lOlllEl of the- most GOllh I awful predio!illlell'ltli you alVElr heard of in your life. And one was always tryin to play a triok on the othElr. So they had been, goin along. gathel'ing grElE\'\apples on the trees. (laugh) They O!illle to a parsimmon tree. Well. ole Pat. he reaohed up and grabbed him a green para liIill!lllon (l'eaohing motion) and if you've never eaten a green parllillllllon, it'll really make you pucker and your mouth just draw up. ya know (puokering expresll10n on faoe) , and he said, "FACE-OF-MY-CHRIST, Pat. you got anything to say about the ole world. Iilay it quiok. She's a-ol081n upl" (Motif.l J17J2 - Ingoranoe of oertllin foods. (BlIughman) PAT AND MIKE Pat and Mike were walkin through the woods tryin to play trioks on each other and they had this rope /lnd they were playin cowboy and one WClJuld tie the other one up and when he~~, deoide he oouldn't get loose he'd whistle and the other one 'lI'oulduntie him. So !lome way in the mixup the rope beooe t!ll'lgloo. around the limb of the tree and he fell out of the tree. And he kept hanging there and ole Mike waited till it Wall dark and he llOuldn' t wait any longer and he left and he Wall baok through there two or throe lIIonths later and wasn't anything hanging there but the 20 LJ ~l~-"'.\ ..:,I.:,CI', . ,{:~. old skeleton and the wind wulblowit1g through his ribs and oaulling a whistle. And he said, "I God, I thought it was about time you whistled I " (MotH x62l - Jokes about the Irish. (Baughlllll.l'l) PREACHER AND THE CORN This preaoher had, uh, heam of this ohuroh up in north Georgia up in the mountains where they needed a pastor and he wu invited to oome up and preaoh a semon one Sunday and he went up Il.l'ld he l'aally tried ham. He did hill vary best. He-he wanted to-to get him a ohuroh real ba.d. So after servioe he went out to the deaoon' s hOUSE! lind they had dinner lind he left, tellin enl how lIIl.I.oh he'd enjoyed it. And he Wllited around two or three weeks lind hadn't helll'd anything from em and he WIIS a little conoemed beolluse he thought sure he did a real good job. So he went baok up to lIee the deacon. Wlla talkin' to him, IIIlll1d, "Deaoon, uh, I felt pretty IIUrEl that I would get that, the pastorate of your ohUlt'oh here." Said, ''Ya'll didn't like my preaching?" said, "Yes, dub, ub, Reverend, we liked it fine." Sll.id,"Uh, Fact 0' business,uh, said, you were just about in, but IIllid, you remember you went out to the houeethat Sunday for chicken dinner with 11.11 and, ub. we had good fried chicken and beans Il.l'ld 110 forth?" Slil1d. "Yeah." Sdd, "Yell. know when my wife allked you if you wanted some lllore oom, if you'd a pused your plate instead 0' your glass, yoU'd had it made I " PREACHER AND THE BF.AR Thill, uh, preacher went over to have Sunday dinner with these p'eople. They were llittin around talking after he'd eat all the chicken he could wipe off his chin. And, ub, he inquired all to where some othElr people lived there and they told him and it wall quite a Waylll around the road and he said, ''Well. 1'll just cut aoross the ridge here. It's only about three I1l:ile but around the road 1t Wlllll about fifteen. Sll1d, "Ob no, preaoher, don't go through there, said, my goodness there's a lot of wild animals 1n there." Said, "Ferocious animallll." "No," he said, "I don't have any fear." Said, "The Lom'll always with ilIElo" "Naw, "but he said, ''YOU'd 21 better not go preaoher." Said, "They're. pretty bad." Said, "No, I'll go." Said. "The Lord's always with me." So he left Md they. they worried aoout him quite a bit. So that night at ohuroh they lIaw him Md the poor ole preaoher Will!! all soratched up lind his clothes tore. He looked just like he'd been thl:'ough a hurrioane or Ilomethin. Said, "Preaoher," said, ''what in the world happened?" He said, "Oh," Illlid. ''uh, III bellr and I had a little fraoas." He said, "Well, what happened preacher," said, ''did thll Lord lilt you down?" Said, "NO, no, no," said, "HIl'S, uh, the Lord's always with me." "lnt," he said, "you Irnow, He ain't muoh help in a bellr fightl" THE LIAR There's a liar, uh, uh, thllrll's /I. fllW, just II. fllW, of them left in the country. Most. people are honest and tell the truth nowadays but (Interruption 1'1'0111 wife, "One of 'em's llpeakin'.) He had oouted so lllUoh that, uh, aoout hill oottage up in the north woods and how muoh game he had trapped up there and so forth. So a bunch of the refus got together and they decided they Wall gonna pin 'im down alld, Ilnd just oatch him in a big lie. So they lUde him agree that they would go up Friday night IIlld hunt Saturday and oOllle back Sunday. Well, there WllSn' t II1'lY way he oould get out of it and he did Irnow 1101118 people that had II oottage up there but he didn't know what ill the world he'd do, but he, he oouldn't back out so they all loaded up early Friday afternoon and left. So, saturday morning the ole man got up real early and he wanted to sneak away before the people that really owned the plaoe OlRllle. He didn't want to be oaught in there, ya' know. So the ole baok door had a, II draw./Atring latoh on it. So he slipped out the door lind he was outtin' aoross the woods. And he had got about three hundred yards from the house llI'ld here oome a big blaok bear. soared him half to death. He turned and he rllll'l baok to that house just as hard as he'd go and the ole bear right after '1m. The bear just jump1n' I every time he'd take a step the bear'd take a step. (loping motion like a bear running). 22 Well, the old door on the baok of' the house had blown open. The latoh didn't hold. So the rella was runnin and he was tuokered out and he just oouldn't make it, and he just thought,"LaX'd, the baar's gonna get lIle. I know he's gonna get liIe." Well, the old baar thought he bad him, too. So the baar jUlilped and just 411 the Dear jumped, the IIlan stumbled and fell. Well, the bellI' went right over him and went right in that baok door. He just calmly reaohed up and olosed that door, hollered, "SKIN THAT 'UNI I'M GOIN BACK AFTER ANOTHER ONEI" (Motif! X 584 - Jokes about hunters; X 584.1 - Bear ohuGS IIl.Ml'l baok to oamp, he explainII to fellow hunterl!! that he 111 bringing it into oamp to kill it beoause he did not want to have to oarry it. (Bauglm!an) TWO FISHERMEN Theile two 1'ellowl!! were fbhill in a OOll.t. They wasn't havin llIuoh luck and I don't know why they think it ill that all liars has to fish. I knew that fbherlIlen don't lie. ~t they hll.M't oaught a thing, hadn't got one l'libblEl and one wall kinda wantin to bolster hillself up a little bit with the other one. He said, "You know, I's fishin down here 'bout three weeks ago and. Ilaid, I caught lI. cat fbh, and said, it weighed two hundred and fifty poundsl" SlIlid, "Gosh, he was a big one 1" ThEl other fellow IIdd, ''That dn' t nothing," sdd. ''Illy brother-in-1II.w Willi fillhin down here, "lIlnd slllid,,"he fhhed up hili lantern he dropped in there the year before," and said, "and the durn thing WIlS still burninl" He Ilaid, "Uh. Joe, I'll tell you what I'll do." He IIsd.d, "If you'll blowout that light, I'U take two hu.ndred pound off that fbhl" (Tue Typo! 1920H - Will Blow Ol1t lantern. , The f'irllt tells of oatching large fbh; the SElc(lI1d teUIl of catohing a lantern which ill stiU burningl the first relllonlltrlltes; the Ileoond agrees that if the firllt will take 20 pounds off' his fbh, he will blowout the lantern. (Baughlllan) 2) NIGGERS AND THE BOBCAT Theile boys were out puUing pranks in thE> oountry one day lind nothing to do. didn't have T V baok then like theyhl!.ve now, or radio. Didn't even haVE> III phonograph. You beat on I!.I'l ole bucket or something to entertain YOUI'llelf Well, they were wl!.l'lderin around dow through the wooos llhd they oaught a little ole bobollt. Well. they didn't lmow what to do with it. They'd run it up every tree I!.I'ld oatoh it. oouldn't get IlW~, I!.I'ld they hIId the ole thing pretty IlIJild. So one of thalli fOlUld mn ole witoSlsa. So they put the ole oat in the lluitoue, lmd was walking dong the-the road with the lIuitOIlSEl lII'ld they thought. well, let's jUlit sit this thing down and lIee wlw'.ll'piok it lip. So they sat it doW'l'l on the side of the rOlld Ilnd hid hIIok in the wooos and they WIlS a oar load of oolored gentleMEln oame by, about five or six in thllt Cllr, lind they SIIW the suitcIIse, lII'ld they IItopped, pioked it up. and they got in I!.I'ld IIl_ed the door. And they got about II hIIlf mile down the road, they opened that au:l.tc&lIe. and I'm telling you. them niggerll oOMe out of thIIt CQr like you shot 'em out of a gun. (llhooting motion with hllnds) PAT AND MIKE to earn 1I01lleth1ng. They hIId no plJIloe to stay. no money 01:' nothing. So they stopped b,r thellll people's houlle lII'ld it Willi getting pretty olose to supper time. And they uked them if they oould sleep in the bam. And they said YElII. And they askoo em t@ hIIve supper with them. But aU they had WlI.II b1l1ou:l.til and butter and Ilyrup. Well, they didn't M@W what a bhcuit wall 01' Ilyrtlp @r anything els6, ya' MOW. and ole Mike, he liked thllt syrup pretty well. And he, uh, didn't want to appear ignorant, 110 he told. the JAdy. he sli.id. "Ma'am," s.1i.1d, "would you please pailS me lIome 0' that sweet_ole.God_like_tar.what_Doha_llop_your_golly-dooger_ in!" (Motifl Jl?32 - Ignorance of certain fooolli X 621 - Jokes li.lwut Irish. (Bauglmllm) 24 BEll-BUG KILLER gimlllick or SOllie way to get the people's ilIoney, 1I0ne bottlOOup SOll1e stuff lind he oallOO it bed-bug killer. And, uh. blAck long ago, you had these roo bugs. They oalled 'eill ohinohes. And, 'IffY God, they'd eat you up. I'll $Wear. You'd wake up in the middle of the night and the bad IJlould look like a slaughter pen. ReallyI Where they'd get on you'd just ll1IAsh 'elll and jUllt ooh,ooh. oh it's awfulI (llIIlkell faoll end shivers) And. uh, people oo\ildn't hardly get rid of 8m, You'd wash your houlle with kerosene, burn sulphur oandles and everything else. So anything that, uh, people thought would kill ell1 they were relldy to try it. Well. he WIIS juet having II. big timeo selling it twenty-five oents a bottle. So one lady, IIha's pretty sharp, a little Sootoh-Irillh, YII.'know. And she took the bottle frolll him end, uh, he had started off down the, the trail baok to the road and she sdd, "Hey, no direlltionll on this bottle." Said, "How'd, how do you ulle th:l.s stuff?" He said, "Just oatoh em llla'llIIl lind put II little of it in their eyell." (Motifl X1291 (0) - Diffioulty of killing badbll.g. (Thompson) THE OLD GREY MARE Said, Onoe I had an ole grey liUIre. Once I had all ole gr"y IllIIre, Saddle her up W'ld I rode hel:' there, Saddle her up and I I'ode her therEl. She got good and joined the ohurch, She got good Ilnd joined the ohurch, She got good and joined the churoh, She got fat on the mountain birch, She got fat on the lIIountain birch. 25 When the preaoher let 'er in, When the preaoher let 'er in, When the preaoher let 'er in, The preaoher laughed and the ole I!lIl.re grinned, The preacher laughed and the ole l!lIl.l'e grinned. When the preaoher let 'er out, When the preaoher let 'el' out. When the preacher let 'er out, You ought to a heard that ole I!lIl.re shout, You ought to a heard that ole I!lIl.re shout. She went down to be baptized, She went doW!'! to 00 baptized, She went doW!'! to 00 baptbed, She got water in her eyes, She: got water in her eyes. The ole grey l!lIl.1'lli started to loop, Tail got -stiff and shill oouldn"t stoop, Tail got 8t1ff and she oouldn't stoop GREETIN TO THE DOOR Thill ola oountry ohuroh way out in the oountry, the sel"1lioe was beginning and the preaoher was greetin em all to the door. And in every ohurch in a cOlll!llWlity like this you have thill one ole lady that wants to 00 relll popullll' with the preacher. Uhf 1l1II.;v-OO, Illhe's lind ole Mid, I don't really know, but Illhe walll kindll pllshing this ole,one man in front of her to get out 0' the way so she oould hurry up and shake 26 the preacher's hand. And she wasn't~ng too muoh attention to the things that were bein' said, but the preacher asked the man right ahead of her, said, "Good morning. Brother John. tv said, "How you feel this mornin?" &id. "011.'" said. "feel fine. I reokon." said. "I feel like a wine keg with no air hole." And the 01& woman wuright in back of h:i.lll and you didn't quite understand what he said. Sll.:i.d, "How you this morllin, Sister Luoy?" Said. "011, jUllt fine." SlI.:l.d, "JUllt like Brother John," said. "I feel like a wild cat with nine air Cl4<1 (Tale type I 16980 - Milll\lllderstooo WordII 1lIIad to Comio Resultll (Aarne-Tholllpscm) MINISTER'S DRINK This yOWlg minillter, he wall preparin h:i.lllllelf for the churoh alld they finally let him have a little churoh. Blt he didn"t !!llem to be hann too muoh :f'Im with talking to the miniliter there andaskll him how bit that he'll holds the oongngation's attention 110 well. He said. '~ell now. I'll tell ya, J:i.lIl. This ill a 1I0rt of a trick of the trd!.de and don't you let this get d!.l1'oulld." "Blt, he said, ."ThAt ill not wd!.ter in that pitcher up there on the little rOlltl'W!! any more." Sdd, "That's gin." And said, '~en you feels yourself laggin you just take you a little sip and they don't know, they don't know." Said, "It 'juvanates you up. You can go right ahead." So the next Sunday, the little ole boy he pours his gin in the pitcher. He had a couple of pops before the congregation got there, ya' know. He was preachin awllY and he 'as a wettin' his tongue there, he gett:!.ll' dry and ha'd llee ona nudgin the other'n and he thought, "MImi this b really great." "It's working," said. "lcok how IIlUch I've got 'elll goin." lIave another pop, y'know. (lllotiollOf taking a drink) So lifter semce was over, he went out to the front and wat!! greetill all the people, ylll know, aIld everybody was gone. He turned to the head deaoon there and he said, "Uh, tell me deacon," said, "How you like 'at semon today?" He IIlllid. "Well, ar, Ilh. er, Rav. say. it 'Was just fine." "But," he say, "Rev, SlAY, Cain slew Abel," said, "he didn't slap him down and stomp the daylights out of himI " (Motif: X445.1 - Parson takes drink of' liquor dUring semon. (Baughmlm). Type: 1827 (Aarne-Thompson). IT'S LATEI A famer and hill wife, they'd set up a little late on a Saturday night and Sunday mornin they were lIl.y1n there. The ole man heard the ole olook a Uokln and, all of' a IlUdden, it started striking and it struok about twentygit out 0' this bed; it's letter 'n it ever hall ooenl" (Illotion liko punohing wif'e) FAT LADY ThOSEl two little boys sold papers aroUl'ld the railrClad station. Oh. it iIlIl.lIt have been one hlllldred years ago, it seems like. It h8lln't really ooen that long and and they .wCluld hustle the bags like 11.-11. red oap or a01ll9thin. They would meet the, the people when they oOllla from the trlllins and (larry the suitoasell for them and to get the little tip, or SOlllethin. So this one little boy'd been~ at the other one all day. And, uh, 80 the little boy ooat him up to the train and he got this lady's bags and she wall a little on the heavy side. About threE! hlllldroo pounds, oame round the (lorner and the one little boy said, "Hay, Johnny, oar1'Y thll fat lady's bags." HIl said, "OIl Johnny, kiss the fat 1IIldy'll baoksnd." Looked up at her, sdd, "Ain't that gittin him told, fat 1lI.dy?" 28 CITY SLICKER This boy, he was real1,y what we referred to in the country as a 01ty slicker. He came to a little slllll.ll town. Little boy workin lu'ound the railroad, sellin the papers lI.lId this boy WlI.lIted to be real cute and he walked up to 'im. He said, "Son, uh, what time north bound train run? What time south bound train run? How deep's that lake out younder? How much ya' apples?" He said, "Half past eight, half past nine, up to ya' neck, and three fer a dime." T-T-'J',,:,TWOI A boy that had a speeoh impediment and he WIlS goin through parllllhnte training down in ColUlllbus. It's, It's rell1 cute. This, uh, boy had tried to get in the army and he oouldn't and they just wouldn't have IilI1l and he felt he oould, uh. glilt into the pSl'achute tr&lining, jumpin training sohool and he wouldn't have to talk a lot and they wouldn't know that he, he had this bad, a, he'd git excited, he'd stutterf \lh, just stammer. He oouldn't say a word. So he had finished all of his low jUlllpin that they do around the base and they were goin upaoo jump for real, out of the plane. Well, the po' ole boy, he 'll'1!.S so nervous, he's about to eat his teeth right out of his Mouth. Didn't, didn't know what to do and they got up lI.lId everybody wal! jWilpin and nobody left but him and the sergeant and he oouldn't, he couldn't wait any longer. He had to go. And the sergeant was instructin him to be I!ure that he had everything right and he slJlid, "Now, I will jUlllp and when li\Y shute opens, you jUlllp. You put your hand on this ring and IlOlll'lt ten lind pull it. That'll all there ill now, Joe. You dol'!' t have a thing to worry about." Well, he thought, well, that wasn't muoh, ya' know, so the sergeant flipped out. The sergeant driftin along, hill shute open, woooerin what happened to this boy. ya' know, lookin around. And about that time that boy went by him ninety miles lIl'l hom', Mid, "T_t_t_t_t_t'll'ol" 29 (Motif: X115 - The hlllllor of stuttering. (Baughman); X 581.2 - Misoellaneous stories about the armed foroes, (Baughman) FERTILIZER Uh, my unola and II oousin an my dad and a bunoh o' men, they had a show. It was a blaok faoe comedian show,they put ,on baok a long tillle before the depression. This WIUl at, un, baok in the twenty's, late twenty's. And they would always ulle bUl'nt oork on their faoe. And I was, un, un, about II1na, ten years old at the time. And I did a little dano~ they oalled it buok dance then! they oall it tap dance now, but it's the SIWl$ thing; they ain't muoh differenoE! in it. And I would always oome out and do my little skit to my little buck dance on the stage and then, this one Musin 0' mine had a dry hlllllor and he just break me up. He would tell it 110 funny, I'd die and he'd never oraok a smile, but he'd look around to see who all WllII laughin at UII. Well, they called me, "Fertilizer". And he would alwayll oome over to me and 1I11lY, "Hay there boy, lIay, say, what's yo' nee, ooy?" I !laid, "Fertilizer". He said, "F61'tilililer, they ain't no lIuch !1ll!lle all "Fertilizer", Where you git III l'lll!lle like that?" Said, ''Well, my daddy'll Illll!lle was Fert, my IlIalllllI.S Ilame 'a 11Z61'. They just oall Mill "Flllrtilizlrl" ,a I~Erl~ASE- .' ny lettj.ne us collect your traditiol1s--stories, songs, music, sayings, riddles, 01' beliefs r.!f earlier days-you he.ve made a valuable contribution to preserving and understanding Southern history, and especially the history and \'Iay of life of your community. Because you have given unselfishly of your time to do this, the Georgia l~olldore Archiven, \'Ihose representatIves nre dcdicated to preserving these traditions, \'mnts to protect your dghts to thIs luaterial by guaranteeing that it will not he used for unscrupulous commercial profits. By stgning this sheet, you are giving us permission to use this mater~ ial for educational purposes so that people Hho are interested can understand hOH life \<rus In the old-t1.mey days. Your matedal will probably not be printed or issued on a record, bu.t if it is, and you don't \1ant your name to be used, say so--we respect your right to prIvacy. Thank Y'ou for the time you have an important part of American Ufe. that you Hant to send along to us so given to help us record e. heritage that I" If you remember any more Old-tImey things that it wi1,l ahlaYs be preserved, \I'rite to: Georgia F'olklore Archives c/o Prof. John BUl'rison Georgia State University 33 Gllmer street South East Atlanta, Georgia 30303 For Ga. Flo Archives: . Wi1;ness ny letting us collect your traditions--stories, songs, music, sayings, riddles, or beliefs of earlier days--you have made a valuable contribution to preserving and understanding Southern history, and especially the history and way of life of your co~nunity. Because you have given unselfishly of your time to do this, the Georgia Folklore Archives, 11hose'representatives are dedicated to preserving these traditions, wants to protect your rights to this material by guaranteeing that it will not be used for unscrupulous commercial profits. ny signing this sheet, you are giving us permission to use this material for educational purposes so that people who are interested can understand . how life was in the old-timey days. Your material will probably not be printed or issued on a record, but if it is, and you don't 11ant your name to be used, say so--we respect your right to privacy. Thank you for the time you have given to help us record a heritage that is an important part of American life. If you remember any more old-timey thip.gs that you want to send along to us so that it will always be preserved, l1rite to: Georgia Folklore Archives c/o Prof. John Burrison Georgia State University 33 Gilmer Street South East Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Address For Ga. Fl. Archives: Hitness By letting us coll eet YOlJ1.' traditions--stori.es, SOO(!,s, lUUSj.C, sayi.ngs, riddles, or beUefs of oarUe1' <lays--you have ulsde a vHluable contribution to preserving and und(;rste.nding Southern hi.stOl'y, and especially the history and w,y of Ufe of your oonul\unity. Because you htlVe given unselfishly of' Y0lJ1.' time to do thi.s, the Geo:cgi.o. Folklore Archi.veo, 111:1ose :cepresentati.ves are dedi. ented to preservi.ng these tradi.tions, 'rant.s to pl'otect yO\)):' rights to thi.s materi.al by gual'anteei.ng that it l1i11 not be used fOY.' unscrupulous commercial profits. By sIgning thi.s sheet, you are givinG us permission to use thin material for edu~'ationHl purposes so the. t people l'lho' are interested can understand hOl'l life lias in the 01d4imey days. Your material I,Jill probably not be printed or i.ssued on a record, bUt. if it is, and you don It l1ant your name to be used, say so--\;e respect Y01U' right to privacy. 'J'hank JI'ou for the time you hnv., all !.nrport'wt PQl't of Anwriean life. that you l'mnt to send along to un so given to help us record a heritage that is If you remember any more olcl-timcy thil~gs that it ~,liJ.J. always be preserved, In''itc to: Georgia ~'olklore ArchIves cj0 Prof, ,Tohn Burl'ison Georgia state University 33 Gilmer Street south East Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Address ---- 'V6-"/ -C-(JJ'lQ-, -\c),r/1-..-\(;--)~/'/Jli/47'f-""" --------- -----_....._------- -------- For Ga. li'l~ Archives: 1'1i'~ness ny letting un collect yom' traditIons--storiefl, songs, music, FlayIngs, riddles, or beliefs <;if eO.rUer days--you hV.ve made a valuable contribution to preserving and understanding Southern history, and especiallY the history and WlY of life of your conuJlunity. Because you have given unselfishly of your time to do this, the Georgh\ Folklol'e Archives, \;hos0 representatives aX'e dedicated to preserving these traditions. \'mnts to protect your l'ights to 1;hi(; material by guaranteeing that it \,ill not be used for \H1scl'upulous conunerciCll pl'ofits. By signing this sheet, you are giving us permission to use thi s material for educational purposes so that people \'lho are interested can understund hOl'I life \;as in the old-timey days. Your materi.al \'lill p)~obably not be printed or issued on II record, but i.t it is, and you don't \;ant your lllme to be used, say so-owe respect your right to privacy. Thank you fox- the time you have an important part of American life. that you want to send along to us so given to help us record a heritage that is If you remember any more old-timey thil'gs that i't will always be preserved. ,~rite to: Georgia FolklorE' AT'chiyes c/0 Pl~of. John Burri-son Georgia state Ulliversity 33 Gnmer street south Ell. st Atlanta, Georgia 30303 ---.---_._----- ------ ,--_.__._- For Ga. Fl. Archives: Witness J3y letting us coll.ect your traditions--stories, songs, music, sayinGs, riddles, or beliefs t,j:f:' earlier days.-you have made a valuable contribution to pi'eserving and understanding Southern hi8toi'y, and especially tile history and l~ay of life of yom' community. Because you have given unselfishly of your time to do this, the Geo):gia 11'011,101'(; Archives, ,..11108(; l.'epi'esentatJ.ves are dedicated to preserving these traditIons, l'mnts to protect your rights to this material by guaranteein(; that it l'lill not be used for unscrupulous commercip,l profits. By signing this sheet, you are givin(; us permission to use this material for educational pm'poses so that people 1'Iho are interested can undcrstand h01'1 life was in the old-timey days. Your material ldll probably not be printed or issued on a record, but if it is, and you don't want your name to be used, say sO--We respect your right to privacy. Thank you for the time you have an important part of American life. that you l'lant to send along to us so given to help us record a heritage that is If you remember any more old..timey thil'gs that it will alVlays be prHserved, l1i'ite to: Georgia Folklore Archives c/o Prof. John Burrison Georgia state Unj.versity 33 Gilmer Stl~eet South East A'~lanta, Georgia 30303 Address ~'()(t.v,,;,:,;~,--_C)(.l;vn) ,,;~"~",'i.,.~:\",,\/;;,;.,~Q",,;,,\ ~/ ;;;.2~P"",.",2;;.,~J_-;:;:I,;'-'t'('F-;;;e;'/!;;'/':';;';'7~~~~ . ( ...(xi(.: ...~,' " d' /~)" (' / / ~ J..tg(vu:t~ttj -u~_ . ---,-r- _Ln'lAJ ~v, )I\.o: V",) ()9.&J""QUJ\., I~};u. ()O }:)) ) l~or Ga. FJ.. Ax'chives: ----_._-------_.-------- 1'1itness By letting us collect your traditions.storj.es, songs, music, sayings, riddles, or beliefs .;if earlier days--you have made f\ valuable contribution to preserving and understanding Southern history, and especially the history and I-lay of life of your cOlmnuni.ty. Because you have given unselfishly of your time to do this, the Georgiu Folklore Arehive8, I'Ihosl' representathres are dedicated to preserving these tractitIons, "IHuts to protect your rights to this material by guaranteeinG that it IVill not be used for unscrupulous commercial profits. By signing this sheet, you are giving us peY'mission to use this material for educational purlJOSesS0 that people l'lho' are j.ntel'ested can wlderstand ho\'} life l'las in the 01d-t1mey days. Your material 11111 probably not be pr1nted or issued on a record, but 1f it ts, and JOu don't \'1(\n'c Jour name to be used, say sow-we respect your right to privacy. Thank you for -che Ume y'Ou have an impo:,'-cant part of' American life. that you \'lant to Bend along to us so given to help us record a hel':\.t.e.ge that i8 If' you :cemembel' any more 01d~t1mey thiEgs that it ~1:lll alHays be preserved, write -Co: Georgia F'olklore Archiveil c/o Prof. John Burrison Georgia State University 33 Gilmel' Street South East At.J.anta, . Georgia 30303 -Ad-dr-es-s For Cia. Flo Archives: -~----_._-'-----_._- \'1itness By letting us collect your tl'acUtJ.ons-stories, songs, music, sayings, riddles, or beliefs Qf earlier days-~you have madc" a valuable contribution to preserving and undex'stunding Southern history, and especially the history and vlay of life of your cOlmnunity. Bece.use you hllve given unselfishly of your time to do this, the Georgia ~'olklol:e Ax'chJ.ves, 1'l\1ose representatives arc dedicated to preserving thes', traditions, vmnts to proteet your rights to this mater1<\l by guaranteeing that it \~ill not be used for unscrupulous commerci!J.l profits. ny signing this sheet, you are giving us permisnion to use this material for educational Pu.1'poses SQ that people 1'!ho are interested can understand h01'1 life "!Hl in the old-timey days. Yom' material 1'1ill probably not be printed or issued on a record, but if it is, and you don't IVant your name to be lwed, say r.o..vle relJpect your right to p:dvacy. Thank you for the time you have an important part of Ameriean life. that you "lant to send along to us so given to help us record a heritage that is If you rememher any mOl'e old~timey thil!gs that it will ahmys be prese).'ved, ",rite to: Signed 7JdJ\~Li2/ rYI.(Z/.t;QtJa:v Geol'sia F'olklore Archives c/o Prof. John Burrison Geol'sia state Univerr.ity 33 Gilmer street south East Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Address _._--,--~.....---_-...~_._----~~-----------_ ......._----~._--.-- ... ---,--- For Ga. Fl. Archives: 1'11tness ~ ... hI) j(}fll\ Dute :::L.L~_~:L.LJ.J.. , _ By lettJeng us colIpct yom' tl'acUtlons-stolic,s, songs, music, sayings, riddles, or boUefs fJi' 0e~\rHCl1' days""yoll haye made a vt\luable contribution to pr'cservlng and underetmld:lng Southern histo)~y, und e8pecinlly the histoY.'J' and lelf.ly of l:U'e of your cormnunIty. Because you hewe given un'Jelfishly of your t:tIilG to do tills, the Geol'!!,:lR }'oll,l(we An'h:ive8, "hose revresentativc8 are dedtcuted to l.wf;crving thoBC h'oditiano, wlnts to PJ,otGct your rights to this tnD.terj.al by g';;c.rant8eing that :it ',.'Ill rwt be l).sed fot' unscrupulous comqlercio.l profits. DJ' fJignine this sheet, you are giving us pel'lUirwiol1 to use this matel'isl for eduCIJeUonal pUl'poses 80 thut people "Jho !lx'e interested can uIlderstand hOleJ lJ,f'e '~alJ in the old~t5.Uley dnys, Your material "Jill probably not be printed o:~ )eSSU8d on a :,'eco,:d, but 5.f it is, and J'ou don'1; 1'Ii1l1t yo\>~ nflme to be used, say so~-we respect yOtT right to privacy. Thank you for the time you hnve an importarret pad. of Ame:d.can 15.fe. that you vlant to send ",long to us flO given to help us record 1\ heritnge tlJat 5.'3 If :fOU rememher fWJ' more o1d-time:f thip.gs that it l'liJ.1 c,lvJays be preserved, Ivl'i'te to: Georgia F'oJ.klore Ar(lhives clo Pl'of, J'ohn Burl'ison Georgia 8to.te Universit;)' 33 Gilm(,r street south East At.1unta. ,Georgia 30303 Addl'Cr-;S --'- Hitness ,./,J 1:;{tBTJFJ\f:;E- " By lettine us collect your traditions-storJ.es, songs, music, sayings, riMles, or beliefs t.if earlier days--you have luade a valuuble contributIon to preser'ving and understanding Southern histor.y, and especially the history' and \'lay of life of your community. Because you have given unselfIshly of your time to ,10 this, the Georgia Folklore Archives, "lhose representatj,ves are dedicated to preserving these traditIons, ,'mnts to protect your rights to thJ.s material by guaranteeing that it \'Iill not he used fOl' unscrupulous couullercisl profits, By signing this sheet, you are giving us permission to use this material for educational purposes so that people "lho are interested can ,mderstand hm'l life Has in the old-timey days. Your material ,dll probably not be printed or issued on a record, but if it is, and you don't Hant your name to be used, say so--,,,e respect your right to privacy. Thanlt you fOl' the t,i,me you have an j.mportant part of American life. that you \'Iant to oend along to us so given to help us record a heritage that is If you remember any more old-timey thip.gs tha't It Hill alHayr; be preserved, ,,'rite to: GeorgIa Folklore Archives cj0 PJ~of. John Burrison Georgia state University 33 Gilmer street South East Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Signed ' Address .-Iz~?$'--'lj..s2X~~a7:eLil~atf'1;:;-1i3j --~--_._-..-,. --,-------_.- For Ga. ].i'1. At'chi.ves: 1'1itness \ I!&LEASE- .' By letting us collect your traditions--stories, songs, music, sayings, riddles, or beliefs of earlier days--you have n~de a valuable contribution to preserving and understanding Southern history, and especially the history and way of life of your conunity. Because you have given unselfishly of your time to do this, the Georgia Folklore Archives, whose representatives are dedicated to preserving these traditions, ~Iants to protect your rights to this lnaterial by guaranteeing that it will not be used for unscrupulous commercial profits. ny signing this sheet, you are giving us permission to use this mater. ial for educational purposes so that people who are interested can understand how life was in the old-timey days. Your material will probably not be printed or issued on a record, but if it is, and you don't want your name to be used, say sOH-we respect your right to privacy. Thank you for the time you have given to help us record a heritage that is an important part of American life. If you remember any more old-timey things that you want to send along to us so that it will always be preserved, write to: Georgia Folklore Archives c/o Prof. John Burrison Georgia State University 33 Gilmer Street South East Atlanta, Georgia 30303 ~igned Address ------------_._- For Ga. Fl. Archives: l'iitness r:26 j9?D I MABEL DOLLAR ,". MRS. JOHN NAVES MRS. SAM STOVER A. A. GRAVES RICKY PARHAM JANE BRAMIEL - "-. MR. AND MRS. J. E. BRCMN
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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.
As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information, which places us inaposition to choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, andbias isreflected in our descriptions, whichmay not convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materialsaccurately.Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment.We often re-use language used by the former owners and creators, which provides context but also includes bias and prejudices of the time it was created.Additionally,our work to use reparative languagewhereLibrary of Congress subject termsareinaccurate and obsolete isongoing. Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or description please let us know by emailingreference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.