Title: Virginia folk legends /
Authors: Barden, Thomas E.
Publisher: University Press of Virginia,
Year: 1991
Subjects: Virginia Writers' Project.; Legends Virginia.; Tales Virginia.
Abstract: What do devil dogs, witches, haunted houses, Daniel Boone, Railroad Bill, "Justice John" Crutchfield, and lost silver mines have in common? All are among the subjects included in the vast collection of legends gathered between 1937 and 1942 by the field-workers of the Virginia Writers' Project of the WPA. For decades following the end of yhe project, these stories lay untouched in the libraries of the University of Virginia. Now, folklorist Thomas E. Barden brings to light these delightful tales, most of which have never been in print. Virginia Folk Legends presents the first valid published collection of Virginia folk legends and is endorsed by the American Folklore Society.
Contents: A horn snake kills a cruel mistress -- The child and the snake -- A black snake chokes an infant -- A black snake squeezes a girl's body -- The walking rattlesnake -- A race with a panther -- The bear and the panther -- THe eagle and the baby -- Cats feed on a corpse -- Daniel Boone's dog thrasher -- The faithful dog -- The good watchdog -- Solomon the wise horse -- Why negroes' hands have white palms -- Why butterflies was made -- Why colored people work for the whites -- The man in the moon -- The origin of the gypsies -- Disobedient Sammy -- How vote buying started in wise county -- Why the buzzard is bald -- The legend of the Dogwood tree -- James Bowser, Emancipation hero -- Henry ("Box") Brown : mailed to freedom -- A confederate spy -- A premonition of death -- The curse of the Carbine -- A Yankee drinks from a "poisoned" well -- A young girl shoots a Yankee -- A conjuror's revenge -- A slave with a magic hoe -- The conjuror's beck --^