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YASHPEH
International Folktales Collection

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Story No. 893


The Story of the Barber

Book Name:

Italian Popular Tales

Tradition: Italy

Translated from the dialect. (Sicilian, Pitrè, No. 141, Lu Cuntu di lu Varveri)

Once upon a time there was a barber.... Be good and I will tell it to you again.[2]

Comments:

[2] Pitrè, No. 141. In the notes to this story are given some more of this class.

"Once upon a time there was a page who drew three carts: one of wine, one of bread, and one of relishes.... And once upon a time there was a page."

Some poetical versions are given in the same place from various parts of Italy.

"Once upon a time,

An old man and an old woman

Were on top of a mountain...

Be quiet, for I am going to tell you it."

—Naples.

"Once upon a time there was a man

Behind the church

With a basket on his back...

But be still if I am to tell you it!"

—Milan, Nov. fior. p. 570.

[Pg 372] Some more rhymes of this class may be found in Papanti, Nov. pop. livor, p. 17: "Once upon a time there was a man, whose name was Boccabella, who skinned his wife to make a skirt; and skinned his children to make some towels."

"Once upon a time there was a man,

A woman, and a little bottle...

Listen to this!"

"Once upon a time there was a king

Who ate more than you;

He ate bread and cheese,

Pull, pull this nose."

Here the speaker pulls the child's nose.

"Once upon a time there was a rich poor man

Who had seven daughters to marry:

On one hand there came a felon,

And on the other seven blisters."

The next is from the same source.

Once upon a time there was a king, a pope, and a dwarf.... This king, this pope, and this dwarf....

(Then the story-teller begins again).

it is time to give some of the stories that are told to the good children. The first is from Pitrè (No. 130) and is called:

76. Don Firriulieddu.

Abstract:

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