Jacobs. News!

From More English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs.

This story is classified as ATU 2014. Chains Involving Contraditions or Extremes.

NEWS!

MR G. Ha! Steward, how are you, my old boy? How do things go on at home?

STEWARD. Bad enough, your honour; the magpie's dead!

MR G. Poor mag! so he's gone. How came he to die?

STEWARD. Overate himself, sir.

MR G. Did he indeed? A greedy dog. Why, what did he get that he liked so well?

STEWARD. Horseflesh; he died of eating horseflesh.

MR G. How came he to get so much horseflesh?

STEWARD. All your father's horses, sir.

MR G. What! are they dead, too?

STEWARD. Aye, sir; they died of overwork.

MR G. And why were they overworked?

STEWARD. To carry water, sir.

MR G. To carry water, and what were they carrying water for?

STEWARD. Sure, sir, to put out the fire.

MR G. Fire! what fire?

STEWARD. Your father's house is burned down to the ground.

MR G. My father's house burnt down! and how came it to be on fire?

STEWARD. I think sir, it must have been the torches.

MR G. Torches! what torches?

STEWARD. At your mother's funeral.

MR G. My mother dead?

STEWARD. Aye, poor lady, she never looked up after it.

MR G. After what?

STEWARD. The loss of your father.

MR G. My father gone, too?

STEWARD. Yes, poor gentleman, he took to his bed as soon as he heard of it.

MR G. Heard of what?

STEWARD. The bad news, an' it please your honour.

MR G. What? more miseries, more bad news!

STEWARD. Yes, sir, your bank has failed, your credit is lost and you're not worth a shilling in the world. I make bold, sir, to come and wait on you about it; for I thought you would like to hear the news.


NOTES

SOURCE Bell's Speaker.
PARALLELS Jacques de Vitry, Exempla, ed. Crane, No. ccv, a servant being asked the news by his master returned from a pilgrimage to Compostella, says the dog is lame, and goes on to explain: 'While the dog was running near the mule, the mule kicked him and broke his own halter and ran through the house scattering the fire with his hoofs, and burning down your house with your wife.' It occurs even earlier in Alfonsi's Disciplina Clericalis, No. xxx, at beginning of the twelfth century, among the Fabliaux, and in Bebel, Werke, iii 71, whence probably it was reintroduced into England. See Prof. Crane's note ad loc.
REMARKS Almost all Alfonsi's exempla are from the East. It is characteristic that the German version finishes up with a loss of honour, the English climax being loss of fortune.

Pawaskar. The Sparrows' Nest

This is another story from Prof. Smita Pawaskar about a chain of animal helpers; for another story about animals who cooperate, see The Naughty Monkey. This time the helpers are a more eclectic collection: mouse, horse, mynah bird, and bees.

Prof. Pawaskar remembered this as a traditional story, but she could not remember all the details, so she got some help from others at the gym in Pune to fill in the gaps; here is what Suniti Namjoshi told me about that:

Smita couldn’t remember the poem her story is based on properly, but she wanted to tell it anyway. So I called Sandhya, the young woman who is in charge of that bit of the gym in that bit of time, because she likes Smita’s stories and wouldn’t have wanted to miss out. The thing was Smita couldn’t remember anything beyond the horse and there we were having a mini-conference, oh well, a confabulation, well, a chat. So I suggested a crow as a helper after the horse. But Smita was quite sure it couldn’t be a crow. So I suggested a mynah (grackle). This was acceptable and Smita thought we could stop at that. I said, “No. There had to be at least 4 helpers if there was any hope of calling it a chain.” Sandhya laughed. I lost count of how many sidekicks I had done. And Smita thought. I then suggested a honey bee (Smita frowned). A whole swarm of honey bees? And that was that.

It's the collective storytelling tradition in action!

THE SPARROWS' NEST

(translated by Suniti Namjoshi)

(sparrow nest)

It so happened that a pair of sparrows built their nest in the fork of a mango tree from the choicest bits of grass and fluff and odds and ends. They were all set to raise their young, when a great gust of wind blew away their nest. They were distraught.

‘’How can I lay eggs without a nest?” wailed the mother sparrow.

“Don’t worry,” said a mouse, scurrying up to help. “I’ve just been gnawing at an old mattress, and I’ve stashed away some cotton wool and bits of thread. I’ll bring you some.”

Then a horse, who lived nearby, came up to them. “I’ll bring you some grass and some straw from the stable. In no time at all you’ll be able to build a brand new nest.”

He was a tall horse and as he looked across he saw a chink in a wall. He pointed it out. “That might be a good spot to be build a nest,” he told the sparrows. “It looks sheltered from the wind and rain.”

The sparrows set to work. As soon as the nest was ready, the mother sparrow laid two speckled eggs.

Everyone was pleased that the sparrows had a nest again. They all waited for the eggs to hatch.

The mouse and the horse visited every day, and in a couple of weeks the eggs did hatch. 

A mynah brought some rice for the sparrows, the mouse some wheat, and the bees honey. 

And then they had a party and felt lucky because they lived among friends.

Pawaskar. Naughty Monkey

This is another original story by Prof. Smita Pawaskar. For more from Prof. Pawaskar, see this story: The Absentminded Mum. This story is likewise translated from the Marathi, and I will share the Marathi text here later.

The way the animals cooperate in this story might remind you of the folktale type labeled ATU 210 Rooster, Hen, Duck, Pin, and Needle or of the animals allied in ATU 130 Bremen Town Musicians. This time, though, they are all barnyard animals: dog, cat, sheep, cow, and horse... plus the monkey!

NAUGHTY MONKEY

by Smita Pawaskar

(translated from the Marathi by Suniti Namjoshi)

In a small farmyard the cat, the dog, the sheep, the horse and the cow were all good friends and lived happily together. But one day a young monkey joined them. He couldn’t resist playing monkey tricks on them and teasing them.

(macaque in Andhra Pradesh, India)

For instance the dog always kept his bone in a particular place, but the monkey would hide it in different places. Or sometimes he’d overturn the cat’s milk, or jump on the sheep’s back and pull out her wool. As for the horse and the cow, he was always getting between their feet and tickling them and pulling their tails. 

He kept thinking of new ways to annoy them every day until their lives were made completely miserable.

The farmyard animals tried asking him once, “Now then, little monkey, why do you keep playing these tricks on us?” 

But the monkey just replied, “Because I think it’s great fun.” 

The animals were at their wits’ end. When the monkey had gone away somewhere to eat fruit, they got together and decided to teach him a lesson.

As soon as he got back, the dog snarled at the little monkey and chased him up a tree. 

The cat was waiting for him. She showed her claws. 

This frightened the monkey so much that he leaped off the tree and fell next to the sheep. 

The sheep butted him so hard that he flew into the air and landed between the cow’s feet, and there the cow's legs held him fast.

The monkey pleaded with them, “Please, please, please let me go. I promise I’ll never play tricks on you again.”

And so the cow let him go. 

As for the horse he rose on his hind legs and trumpeted so loudly that the naughty monkey almost fainted. 

He asked each of the animals to forgive him, and it was only then that things began to calm down. The farmyard animals made it clear to the monkey that he would have to live peacefully with them or else they would drive him out. And after that the naughty monkey became a good little monkey and lived happily with the other animals.

Shelton. Covetousness

From Tibetan Folk Tales by A.L. Shelton with illustrations by Mildred Bryant.

COVETOUSNESS

(photo by Mendhak)

Long ago, hidden in a deep valley in the mountains, was a pool where all the animals went to drink. Near the pool was a road, and across the road a hunter had set a big bow that would shoot a long spear into whatever animal loosed the taut string.

A bear coming along tripped over the string, the spear was loosed and it killed him instantly.

A fox came along and said, "Ah, here is enough meat to last me a year, but I guess I had better cut the string that holds the bow, for fear the hunter will return and set it again for me." So he chewed it and the bow sprang, striking him on the head and killing him instantly.

Near the place where the two lay dead was a gully, and in it lay an elephant asleep. A rabbit came along and saw the elephant lying still, played and hopped around, until finally the elephant opened his eyes and watched him.

"That's very queer that a little fellow like you can jump so far. I believe I'll try it," he thought. So he gave a big jump and his front feet caught and loosed a big rock that fell on his back and killed him. All three were dead now, the bear, the fox and the elephant.

Then seven robbers came along and exclaimed, "Just look at the meat, we will stay here a few days and eat." But they must have water too, and nobody wanted to carry it. Each wanted the other to go.

They finally got three to go and the four who were left said, "We will fix up three nice pieces of meat and put some poison in it for them when they get back, and we four will have all this meat, bones and ivory." So they fixed up the poison meat for the three men who were gone, for they had to go a long way over the mountain after the water.

The three who carried the water said: "Those four fellows are bad men, we are doing all the work carrying this water for them, so we will put some poison in it, then we can have all the meat."

When they got back the others were very thirsty and took a big drink, and in a little while they were all dead. "Now," said the three, "we will have all this meat and stuff ourselves." So the three took meat already cut and ate that, and in a little bit they were dead too.

Now the moral is, "First, people shouldn't be greedy when there is plenty for all (the fox wanted all the meat to eat for a year and tried to ruin the bow and got killed). Second, you mustn't do what you aren't fitted for (the elephant tried to do what the rabbit was doing and got killed). Then the four men begrudged the three and the three begrudged the four, so they all died.

Barker/Sinclair. Ungrateful Man.

From West African Folktales by William H. Barker and Cecilia Sinclair, with illustrations by Cecilia Sinclair.

This story features a nice set of three animal helpers in contrast to the ungrateful human. This story belongs to the Buddhist jataka tradition, and then spread from India out into the rest of the world.

UNGRATEFUL MAN

A Hunter, who was terribly poor, was one day walking through the forest in search of food. Coming to a deep hole, he found there a leopard, a serpent, a rat, and a man. These had all fallen into the trap and were unable to get out again. Seeing the hunter, they begged him to help them out of the hole.

At first he did not wish to release any but the man. The leopard, he said, had often stolen his cattle and eaten them. The serpent very frequently bit men and caused their death. The rat did no good to any one. He saw no use in setting them free.

However, these animals pleaded so hard for life that at last he helped them out of the pit. Each, in turn, promised to reward him for his kindness—except the man. He, saying, he was very poor, was taken home by the kind-hearted hunter and allowed to stay with him.

A short time after, Serpent came to the hunter and gave him a very powerful antidote for snake-poison. "Keep it carefully," said Serpent. "You will find it very useful one day. When you are using it, be sure to ask for the blood of a traitor to mix with it." The hunter, having thanked Serpent very much, took great care of the powder and always carried it about with him.

The leopard also showed his gratitude by killing animals for the hunter and supplying him with food for many weeks.

Then, one day, the rat came to him and gave him a large bundle. "These," said he, "are some native cloths, gold dust, and ivory. They will make you rich." The hunter thanked the rat very heartily and took the bundle into his cottage.

After this the hunter was able to live in great comfort. He built himself a fine new house and supplied it with everything needful. The man whom he had taken out of the pit still lived with him.

This man, however, was of a very envious disposition. He was not at all pleased at his host's good fortune, and only waited an opportunity to do him some harm. He very soon had a chance.

A proclamation was sounded throughout the country to say that some robbers had broken into the King's palace and stolen his jewels and many other valuables. The ungrateful man instantly hurried to the King and asked what the reward would be if he pointed out the thief. The King promised to give him half of the things which had been stolen. The wicked fellow thereupon falsely accused his host of the theft, although he knew quite well that he was innocent.

The honest hunter was immediately thrown into prison. He was then brought into Court and requested to show how he had become so rich. He told them, faithfully, the source of his income, but no one believed him. He was condemned to die the following day at noon.

Next morning, while preparations were being made for his execution, word was brought to the prison that the King's eldest son had been bitten by a serpent and was dying. Any one who could cure him was begged to come and do so.

The hunter immediately thought of the powder which his serpent friend had given him, and asked to be allowed to use it. At first they were unwilling to let him try, but finally he received permission. The King asked him if there were anything he needed for it and he replied, "A traitor's blood to mix it with." His Majesty immediately pointed out the wicked fellow who had accused the hunter and said: There stands the worst traitor for he gave up the kind host who had saved his life." The man was at once beheaded and the powder was mixed as the serpent had commanded. As soon as it was applied to the prince's wound the young man was cured. In great delight, the King loaded the hunter with honours and sent him happily home.

Talley. Animal Persecutors

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

ANIMAL PERSECUTORS

(pixabay)

I went up on de mountain,
To git a bag o' co'n.
Dat coon, he sicked 'is dog on me,
Dat 'possum blowed 'is ho'n.

Dat gobbler up an' laugh at me.
Dat pattridge giggled out.
Dat peacock squall to bust 'is sides,
To see me runnin' 'bout.

Talley. Destinies of Good and Bad Children

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

DESTINIES OF GOOD AND BAD CHILDREN

(pixabay)

One, two, three, fō', five, six, seben;
All de good chilluns goes to Heaben.
All de bad chilluns goes below,
To segashuate wid ole man Joe.

One, two, three, fō', five, six, seben, eight;
All de good chilluns goes in de Pearly Gate.
But all de bad chilluns goes the Broad Road below,
To segashuate wid ole man Joe.


NOTES

Segashuate means associate with.

Talley. Frog Went A-Courtin'

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

This is Roud 16: Froggy's Courting.

FROG WENT A-COURTING

De frog went a-co'tin', he did ride. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De frog went a-co'tin', he did ride
Wid a sword an' a pistol by 'is side. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

He rid up to Miss Mousie's dō'. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
He rid up to Miss Mousie's dō',
Whar he'd of'en been befō. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Says he: "Miss Mousie, is you in?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Says he: "Miss Mousie, is you in?"
"Oh yes, Sugar Lump! I kyard an' spin." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

He tuck dat Mousie on his knee. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
He tuck dat Mousie on his knee,
An' he say: "Dear Honey, marry me!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"Oh Suh!" she say, "I cain't do dat." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"Oh Suh!" she say, "I cain't do dat,
Widout de sayso o' uncle Rat." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Dat ole gray Rat, he soon come home. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Dat ole gray Rat, he soon come home,
Sayin': "Whose been here since I'se been gone?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"A fine young gemmun fer to see." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"A fine young gemmun fer to see,
An' one dat axed fer to marry me." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Dat Rat jes laugh to split his side. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Dat Rat jes laugh to split his side.
"Jes think o' Mousie's bein' a bride!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Nex' day, dat rat went down to town. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Nex' day dat rat went down to town,
To git up de Mousie's Weddin' gown. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"What's de bes' thing fer de Weddin' gown?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"What's de bes' thing fer de Weddin' gown?"—
"Dat acorn hull, all gray an' brown!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"Whar shall de Weddin' Infar' be?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"Whar shall de Weddin' Infar' be?"—
"Down in de swamp in a holler tree." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"What shall de Weddin' Infar' be?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"What shall de Weddin' Infar' be?"—
"Two brown beans an' a blackeyed pea." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Fust to come in wus de Bumblebee. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Fust to come in wus de Bumblebee.
Wid a fiddle an' bow across his knee. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

De nex' dat come wus Khyernel Wren. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De nex' dat come wus Khyernel Wren,
An' he dance a reel wid de Turkey Hen. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

De nex' dat come wus Mistah Snake. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De nex' dat come wus Mistah Snake,
He swallowed de whole weddin' cake! Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

De nex' come in wus Cap'n Flea. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De nex' come in wus Cap'n Flea,
An' he dance a jig fer de Bumblebee. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

An' now come in ole Giner'l Louse. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
An' now come in ole Giner'l Louse.
He dance a breakdown 'round de house. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

De nex' to come wus Major Tick. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
De nex' to come wus Major Tick,
An' he e't so much it make 'im sick. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Dey sent fer Mistah Doctah Fly. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Dey sent fer Mistah Doctah Fly.
Says he: "Major Tick, you's boun' to die." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Oh, den crep' in ole Mistah Cat. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Oh, den crep' in ole Mistah Cat,
An' chilluns, dey all hollered, "Scat!!" Uh-huh!!! Uh-huh!!!

It give dat frog a turble fright. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
It give dat frog a turble fright,
An' he up an' say to dem, "Good-night!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Dat frog, he swum de lake aroun'. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Dat frog, he swum de lake aroun',
An' a big black duck come gobble 'im down. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"What d'you say 'us Miss Mousie's lot?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
"What d'you say 'us Miss Mousie's lot?"—
"W'y—, she got swallered on de spot!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Now, I don't know no mō' 'an dat. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
Now, I don't know no mō' 'an dat.
If you gits mō' you can take my hat. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

An' if you thinks dat hat won't do. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!
An' if you thinks dat hat won't do,
Den you mought take my head 'long, too. Uh-huh!!! Uh-huh!!!

Talley. How to Keep or Kill the Devil

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

HOW TO KEEP OR KILL THE DEVIL

If you wants to see de Devil smile,
Simpully do lak his own chile.

If you wants to see de Devil git spunk,
Swallow whisky, an' git drunk.

If you wants to see de Devil live,
Cuss an' swar an' never give.

If you wants to see de Devil run,
Jes tu'n a loose de Gospel gun.

If you wants to see de Devil fall,
Hit him wid de Gospel ball.

If you wants to see de Devil beg,
Nail him wid a Gospel peg.

If you wants to see de Devil sick,
Beat him wid a Gospel stick.

If you wants to see de Devil die,
Feed him up on Gospel pie.

But de Devil w'ars dat iron shoe,
An' if you don't watch, he'll slip it on you.

(Devil's Playground, c. 1890)

Talley. Satan.

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

 Compare the Satan-free children's rhyme: God made man, man made money.

SATAN

De Lawd made man, an' de man made money.
De Lawd made de bees, an' de bees made honey.
De Lawd made ole Satan, an' ole Satan he make sin.
Den de Lawd, He make a liddle hole to put ole Satan in.

Did you ever see de Devil, wid his iron handled shovel,
A scrapin' up de san' in his ole tin pan?
He cuts up mighty funny, he steals all yō' money,
He blinds you wid his san'. He's tryin' to git you, man!

(maxpixel)

Talley. Did You Feed My Cow?

From Negro Folk Rhymes by Thomas Talley.

DID YOU FEED MY COW?

(cow)

"Did yer feed my cow?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Will yer tell me how?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Oh, w'at did yer give 'er?" "Cawn an' hay."
"Oh, w'at did yer give 'er?" "Cawn an' hay."

"Did yer milk 'er good?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Did yer do lak yer should?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Oh, how did yer milk 'er?" "Swish! Swish! Swish!"
"Oh, how did yer milk 'er?" "Swish! Swish! Swish!"

"Did dat cow git sick?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Wus she kivered wid tick?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Oh, how wus she sick?" "All bloated up."
"Oh, how wus she sick?" "All bloated up."

"Did dat cow die?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Wid a pain in 'er eye?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Oh, how did she die?" "Uh-! Uh-! Uh-!"
"Oh, how did she die?" "Uh-! Uh-! Uh-!"

"Did de Buzzards come?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Fer to pick 'er bone?" "Yes, Mam!"
"Oh, how did they come?" "Flop! Flop! Flop!"
"Oh, how did they come?" "Flop! Flop! Flop!"

Gilbert. In These Twelve Days

From Some ancient Christmas carols by Davies Gilbert.

This is ATU 2010A Twelve Days of Christmas.

IN THESE TWELVE DAYS

In these twelve days, and in these twelve days,
Let us be glad,
For God of his power
Hath all things made;
We have but one God alone
Who in Heaven above sets on his throne.

What are these that are but Two?
What are these that are but Two?
Two Testaments we are told,
The one is the New, the other the Old.

What are these that are but Three?
What are these that are but Three?
Three Persons in Trinity,
The Father, the Son, and the Ghost Holy.

What are these that are but Four?
What are these that are but Four?
Four Gospels written true:
There's John, there's Luke, Mark, and Matthew.

What are these that are but Five?
What are these that are but Five?
Five Senses we have to tell;
God give us grace to use them well.

What are these that are but Six?
What are these that are but Six?
Six Ages the Lord hath sent,
And five of them are almost spent.

What are these that are but Seven?
What are these that are but Seven?
Seven Days in week have we ;
Six to labour, the seventh holy.

What are these that are but Eight?
What are these that are but Eight?
Eight Altitudes understood,
Which are the Blessings of the Good.

What are these that are but Nine?
What are these that are but Nine?
Nine Degrees of Angels high,
Which do praise God continually.

What are these that are but Ten?
What are these that are but Ten?
Ten Commandments God hath given;
Use them well and go to Heaven.

What are these that are but Eleven?
What are these that are but Eleven?
Eleven Thousand Virgins understood
To be crucified for Christ's blood.

What are these that are but Twelve?
What are these that are but Twelve?
Twelve Apostles Christ did chuse,
To preach the Gospel to the Jews.

(Last Supper)

Fleeson. Five Lazy, Wicked Men

From Laos Folk-Lore of Farther India by Katherine Neville Fleeson.

This is ATU 210 Rooster, Hen, Duck, Pin, and Needle, but it is an odd variation on the usual story. hat you have here is not the usual alliance of animals and inanimate objects, but instead a group of men who have those as their nicknames, and instead of being heroes, they are described as lazy, wicked men. Perhaps it was just a misunderstanding by the translator given that the man named Old-Fish does go into the water, etc.

FIVE LAZY, WICKED MEN

(evil banana)

Once upon a time there were five men so lazy and wicked that no one would speak to them nor have anything to do with them. No one of their native province would speak to them at all, and, to show their contempt for them, the people had christened them by odious names. One was called, Eyeless-Needle; one, Rotten-Egg; one, Rotten-Banana; one, Old-Fish, and the fifth, Broken-Pestle.

As there was neither shelter nor food for them in the village, they went to live in the woods, and one day they saw a cannibal building a fire. He had both a fine house and much goods, so one of the men said, “Let us go kill him, and take his goods.”

Eyeless-Needle said, “No, we must not kill him now. When he sleeps we will kill him. I have planned just how it shall be done. You, Rotten-Egg, go to the fireplace. You, Old-Fish, jump into the water jar. Rotten-Banana, lie down at the top of the stairs, and, you, Broken-Pestle, lie at the foot.”

As the eye of day had closed and the cannibal slept, Eyeless-Needle, from under the bed, pricked him. The cannibal thought insects were biting him, and, unable to sleep, he arose to build a fire.

When he stooped to blow the flame, Rotten-Egg broke and flew up into his face; when he sought the water jar to wash his face, Old-Fish jumped and broke the jar and all the water was lost.

Taking the dipper to go to the well for water, the cannibal slipped on Rotten-Banana and fell downstairs, where Broken-Pestle struck him on the head and killed him.

Then, taking much goods, Eyeless-Needle, Rotten-Banana, Rotten-Egg, Old-Fish, and Broken-Pestle fled, and to this day, has no one either seen or heard of them.

Northall. The Devil in the Turnpike Road

From English Folk-Rhymes by G. F. Northall.

THE DEVIL IN THE TURNPIKE ROAD

(devil statue)

Have you seen the devil,
With his wood and iron shovel,
Digging up potatoes
in the turnpike road?

Have you seen his wife,
With a broad-bladed knife,
Scraping the potatoes
In the turnpile road?

Have you seen his daughter,
With a pail of dirty water
Washing the potatoes
In the turnpike road?

Have you seen his son,
With a double-barrel'd gun,
Shooting birds for dinner
In the turnpike road?


NOTES

This rhyme probably owe its origin to the familiar belief that the devil on occasions undertakes labour for mortals, and gets through an enormous amount of work.

Hutton/Shaw. Dao-Sharpening

From William Shaw's Notes on the Thadou Kukis, edited by J. H. Hutton.

This is classified as ATU 2042. Chain of Accidents.

THE DAO-SHARPENING

(crawfish)

The dao-sharpener was sharpening his dao when the crawfish came and prodded his anus. Mr. Dao-Sharpener sliced off the tip of a bamboo end. The tip of bamboo pricked the cheek of a jungle-fowl. The jungle-fowl, scuttling off, scratched out a red ant, which ran and bit Mr. Wild Boar in the testicles. The wild boar dashing about kicked down the wild plantain tree which was the bat's home. The bat flew out and fluttered into Mr. Elephant's ear. The elephant dashed off and knocked over the widow's house. 

"Mr. Elephant," said she, "why have you knocked down my house?" 

Said the elephant, "The bat flew into my ear." 

"Bat, why did you fly into Mr. Elephant's ear?" 

"Mr. Wild Boar threw down the wild plantain tree I live in." 

"Mr. Boar, why did you do that?" 

"The red ant bit my testicles." 

"Red Ant, why did you bite the boar's testicles?" 

"The jungle-fowl scratched me up." 

"Jungle-Fowl, why did you scratch up the ant?" 

"The bamboo tip pricked my cheek." 

"Bamboo Tip, why did you prick the jungle-fowl's cheek?" 

"Mr. Dao-Sharpener sliced me off." 

"Mr. Dao-Sharpener, why did you slice off the bamboo tip?" 

"The crawfish prodded my posterior." 

"Crawfish, why did you prod the dao-sharpener?" 

The crawfish did not know what to answer. He said, "You can do nothing by toasting me at a fire. If you put me in a deep pool, I shall turn very red, and the boy will be charmed to see it." He jumped into the pool. "The pool I live in is very deep," said he, and in the pool he stayed. 

NOTES

One cannot help suspecting condensation here and the loss of some such incident as that of Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit and the briar patch.

Devi. Gautama the Ungrateful

From Indian Fables and Folklore by Shovona Devi. The main plot of this story does not feature a chain or series, but look at the wonderful series of animals at the end, and that is why I have included it here.

You can find a long version of this story in the Mahabharata, one of the great epics of ancient India.  The crane in the story is a "prince of cranes" by the name of Rajadharman, and Virupaksha is a king of the rakshasas, or goblins.

GAUTAMA THE UNGRATEFUL

Gautama was a Brahmin reduced to such straits that he used to beg for his meals. One day he met with a stranger and said to him, holding out his right hand with the sacred thread wound round the thumb, "O give me alms in exchange for a Brahmin’s blessing."

The stranger thus accosted was a robber, on his way to steal and murder; so for good luck he offered the Brahmin a coin, instead of robbing him as he had half a mind to do.

"Are you not ashamed to beg, O Brahmin?" said the robber to Gautama, without revealing who he was. "Come with me, and I will see to it that you lack for nothing."

Gautama followed him to his village and lived with him, and in time became a robber himself. For his meals he used to snare birds and kill animals and indulge in all manner of cruelty, hateful to the creed of the true Brahmin.

It so fell out that one day, while he was returning home with a number of bleeding birds tied together by the legs and flung over his shoulder, he met with a Brahmin acquaintance of his.

"Can it be Gautama?" cried the Brahmin, surprised and shocked at his appearance. "What a fall for a Brahmin."

The friends talked together for some time, and Gautama told him the whole story before they parted. The sight of a fellow-Brahmin filled Gautama with a yearning to revisit his own home and people, so he left the village of the robbers secretly by night.

On and on he walked until, wearied out, he lay down under a tree and fell asleep.

In the tree there lived a Crane. Seeing a stranger trusting the hospitality of its tree, it lit fires to frighten off the wild beasts, and itself stood by him, guarding him against harm.

(Crane, circa 1770)

Gautama got up early next morning and was about to resume his journey when the bird thus said to him, "O Brahmin, I must not let you go empty-handed. You must call on my friend Viru-Paksha. He will give you as much gold as you can carry."

Gladly the Brahmin visited Viru-Paksha, and received, even as the bird had told him, a bag full of gold coins. Flinging the bag over his shoulder he trudged along, almost bent down by the weight of the gold. He reached the same tree and lay down beneath it to rest for the night. The bird again came down from the tree, lit fires around, and stood guard over its guest.

Gautama was awake, but pretended to be asleep, and thus thought to himself, "I have still a long distance to go, but have no food with me to eat on the way. It would be wise to kill and roast the bird over the fire, and carry it with me."

Following this wicked resolve, the ungrateful Brahmin wrenched off the head of the Crane, plucked out its feathers, and roasted it over the fire, and then went on his way.

Next morning Viru-paksha waited long for his friend the Crane, but he did not appear, so he sent a messenger to enquire the cause of the delay. When the messenger reached the tree, what should he see but strewn feathers and stains of blood upon the ground beneath. Alas, the poor bird had been murdered!

There, plain enough on the ground, were the footmarks of its murderer.

These he followed up, step by step, until at last he came upon Gautama, whom he seized by the arm, saying, "It was you who slew the pious Crane." For further proof the body of the Crane was found on the Brahmin’s person.

Gautama was taken before Viru-Paksha with the evidence of his crime still fresh upon him. Viru-Paksha ordered the wicked murderer of his friend to be cut to pieces and cast to the dogs and vultures.

Thus died Gautama the Ungrateful, and pieces of his flesh were thrown to the vultures.

"O Vultures! O Vultures!" cried the Executioner; "here is the flesh
of an ungrateful wretch for you to eat."

"We eat not the flesh of the Ungrateful, O Executioner!" replied the vultures.

Next he threw the flesh to the dogs and jackals. "O Dogs and Jackals! O Dogs and Jackals!"’ cried the Executioner; "here is the flesh of an ungrateful wretch for you to eat."

"We eat not the flesh of the Ungrateful, O Executioner!" replied the dogs and jackals.

Thus the vultures, dogs, and jackals refused to touch the meat, and, last of all, it was offered to the worms.

"O Worms! O Worms!" cried the Executioner. "Here is the flesh of an ungrateful wretch for you to eat."

"We eat not the flesh of the Ungrateful, O Executioner!" replied the worms.

So heinous is Ingratitude that not even the vile worms would eat the flesh of the treacherous Gautama.

The vilest creatures, with abhorrence viewed,
Loathe the corruption of Ingratitude.

Fleeson. A Lazy Man’s Plot

The story comes from Laos Folk-Lore of Farther India by Katherine Neville Fleeson.

This is classified as ATU 1430 Air Castles.

A LAZY MAN'S PLOT

(pixabay)

Upon a day a beggar, who was too lazy to work, but ever lived on the bounty of the people, received a great quantity of rice.

He put it in a large jar and placed the jar at the foot of his bed, then he lay down on the bed and thus reasoned:

If there come a famine, I will sell the rice, and with the money, buy me a pair of cows, and when the cows have a calf, I’ll buy a pair of buffaloes.

Then, when they have a calf, I’ll sell them, and with that money, I’ll make a wedding and take me a wife.

And, when we have a child large enough to sit alone, I’ll take care of it, while my wife works the rice fields.

Should she say, ‘I will not work,’ I’ll kick her after this manner...

And he struck out his foot, knocking the jar over, and broke it. The rice ran through the slats of the floor, and the neighbors’ pigs ate it, leaving the lazy plotter but the broken jar.

Bird Thoughts

This poem comes from How to tell stories to children by Sara Cone Bryant; the author of the poem is not known ("anonymous" is the information provided by Bryant's source).

This is not a folktale, but the little bird's exploration of its world unfolds in a very nice series from stanza to stanza.

BIRD THOUGHTS

(starling eggs)

I lived first in a little house,
And lived there very well;
I thought the world was small and round,
And made of pale blue shell.

I lived next in a little nest,
Nor needed any other;
I thought the world was made of straw,
And brooded by my mother.

One day I fluttered from the nest
To see what I could find.
I said, "The world is made of leaves;
I have been very blind."

At length I flew beyond the tree,
Quite fit for grown-up labors.
I don't know how the world is made,
And neither do my neighbors!

Townsend. Jupiter, Neptune, Minerva, and Momus

This is from Townsend's Aesop.

JUPITER, NEPTUNE, MINERVA, AND MOMUS

(1590 Aesop)

ACCORDING to an ancient legend, the first man was made by Jupiter, the first bull by Neptune, and the first house by Minerva. On the completion of their labors, a dispute arose as to which had made the most perfect work. They agreed to appoint Momus as judge, and to abide by his decision.

Momus, however, being very envious of the handicraft of each, found fault with all.

He first blamed the work of Neptune because he had not made the horns of the bull below his eyes, so he might better see where to strike.

He then condemned the work of Jupiter, because he had not placed the heart of man on the outside, that everyone might read the thoughts of the evil disposed and take precautions against the intended mischief.

And, lastly, he inveighed against Minerva because she had not contrived iron wheels in the foundation of her house, so its inhabitants might more easily remove if a neighbor proved unpleasant.

Jupiter, indignant at such inveterate faultfinding, drove him from his office of judge, and expelled him from the mansions of Olympus.

Bewick. Belly and the Limbs

This is from Bewick's Select Fables of Aesop.

THE BELLY AND THE LIMBS

It is a folly even to wish to withhold our part from the support of civil government.

Menenius Agrippa, a Roman Consul, being deputed by the senate to appease a dangerous tumult and sedition of the people, who refused to pay the taxes necessary for carrying on the business of the state, convinced them of their folly by delivering to them the following fable. My friends and countrymen, said he, attend to my words:

(illustration by Thomas Bewick)

It once happened that the Members of the human body, taking some exception at the conduct of the Belly, resolved no longer to grant him the usual supplies.

The Tongue first, in a seditious speech, aggravated their grievances; and after highly extolling the activity and diligence of the Hands and Feet, set forth how hard and unreasonable it was that the fruits of their labour should be squandered away upon the insatiable cravings of a fat and indolent Paunch, which was entirely useless, and unable to do anything towards helping himself.

This speech was received with unanimous applause by all the Members.

Immediately the Hands declared they would work no more.

The Feet determined to carry no further the load of guts with which they had hitherto been oppressed.

Nay, the very Teeth refused to prepare a single morsel more for his use.

In this distress, the Belly bethought them to consider maturely, and not foment so senseless a rebellion. There is none of you, says he, can be ignorant that whatsoever you bestow upon me is immediately converted to your use, and dispersed by me for the good of you all into every Limb.

But he remonstrated in vain; for during the clamours of passion, the voice of reason is always disregarded. It being therefore impossible for him to quiet the tumult, he starved for want of their assistance, and the body wasted away to a skeleton.

The Limbs, grown weak and languid, were sensible at last of their error, and would fain have returned to their respective duties; but it was now too late, death had taken possession of the whole, and they all perished together.