Singers and Storytellers Page: 16
v, 298 p. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
SINGERS AND STORYTELLERS
you know. This seven-year locust, he stayed there seven years,
and then he flew out with a grain of corn. Another locust was
waiting to take his place, and he flew in and he stayed seven
years, and then he took out another grain.
"'It wasn't the same locust?' Boss Man asked me.
"No, 'twan't same locust. It was 'nother one. Then No. 3
locust, he flew in and stayed seven years and took out his grain
of corn. No. 4, he was ready, and he sizzled in and he stayed
seven years.
"'Looky here,' Boss Man says, 'you going to keep them
locusts flying in there one at a time and staying seven years
till they get every grain carried out this big crib?'
"That's jest what them locusts have to do, Boss Man," I says.
"'Well,' he says, 'you done told a bigger lie than any of them
people from Europe can tell.' "
Here a man who had paused a minute or so to listen to this
New York sidewalk variation of one of the Arabian Nights
tales warned the entertainer that his package was about to
slip from under his arm.
"It don't make no difference if it does break," the shining
one said. "I got plenty of money, just plenty."
And he skipped away and out of sight.
"The best adventures are not those we go to seek."
Some of the most memorable storytellers I have encountered
were, like this dancing Negro on a New York street at the end
of the day, but ships that pass in the night. Two I'm thinking
of gave me only a single sample each of their powers.
Away back in the 1930's when I used to go panther and
wildcat hunting with Bob Snow, game warden of the Texas
Game and Fish Department and exponent of the border
country, he spoke frequently of the storytelling abilities of his
friend Saturnino Cantu away down in the lower Rio Grande
Valley. One fall day my wife Bertha and I were in the vicinity
of Raymondville, where Bob Snow's brother Luther reigned
as sheriff and where Bob was lingering a little while. They16
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Related Items
Other items on this site that are directly related to the current book.
Singers and Storytellers (Book)
Collection of popular folklore of Texas, including personal anecdotes about storytellers and singers, as well as folk songs, myths, and ghost stories. The index begins on page 295.
Relationship to this item: (Has Format)
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Boatright, Mody C. Singers and Storytellers, book, 1961; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc67655/m1/22/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Press.