This anthology of regional folklore displays the abundance, humor, and continuing vigor of the American oral tradition. The collection explores rich and distinctive lore of Maine Down-Easters, Pennsylvania Dutchmen, Southern mountaineers, Louisiana Cajuns, Illinois Egyptians, Southwest Mexicans, and Utah Mormons. Their tales, songs, riddles, proverbs, games, superstitions, and customs provide a wealth of living folklore presented here as it was recorded in the field. And this unvarnished folklore fact-retains the spicy flavor of authentic narrative, told in the vernacular of the skillful folk storyteller.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Collecting Oral Folklore in the United States I. Maine Down -Easters 1. Sea Traditions Bad Luck at Sea Buying the Wind The Haunted Ship "Resolution" The Sailor Who Went Inland 2. Hero Legends of Barney Beal Barney Kills a Horse with his Fist Barney Beal Kills Prize Fighter Barney Beal Lifts Rock out of Dory Feats of Barney How Barney Beal Awed the Bully of Peak's Island How Barney Beal Got the Bump on his Nose The Cause of Barney's Death 3. Witches and Spirits Mother Hicks the Witch Calling Up the Spirits Curses of Emma Alley Treasure Guardians Forerunners 4. Anecdotes of Local Characters Anecdotes of Captain Horace Smith Anecdotes of Art Church Personal Anecdotes of Curt Morse 5. Jocular Tales Stories about Couples Stories about a Man Stories about a Woman Stories about Irishmen 6. Local Ballads The Serenade The Injun Devil Eben Stanwood the Peddler The Champion of Moose Hill The Jam on Gurry's Rock II. Pennsylvania Dutchmen 1. Brauche and Hexe The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses Detecting the Witch Stilling the Blood The Golden Ring The Bewitched Automobile 2. Farm Folk Beliefs Stockraising and the Barnyard Planting, Sowing, and Reaping 3. Belief Tales Christmas Eve in the Stable Sewing on Ascension Day Taking Off of the Moon 4. Noodle Tales Eileschpijjel The Great Need Counting Noses The Swabian Wedge 5. Proverbs Farm Sayings Personal and Local Proverbs Wellerisms 6. Proverbial Tales Think Thrice Before You Speak The Best of Three (I) The Best of Three (II) 7. Riddles The Riddle of Ilo Riddles of the Farm 8. Songs "We Journey to America" "When I Came to This Country" "The Merztown Cornet Band" III. Southern Mountaineers 1. Jack Tales Jack the Giant Killer Quare Jack 2. Jocular Tales The King and Old George Buchanan Kentucky Highland Jets NorthCarolina Mountain Jests 3. Murder Legends and Ballads The Crying Stair Well Old Foster "Lula Voyers" "The Murder of Lottie Yates" "Zeb
