Browse:Frog or Toadfrog (Volume 1, entries 1874–1906)
Frog or Toadfrog
Volume 1, entries 1874–1906. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → HANDS: MAGIC HELPERS. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 1874
Now, ah'm goin' tell you dis one from experience. Dis is mah own - heah's mah han' tuh God. God don't like - He don't like a liar, neither do yo' an' me. If yo' ketch a frog, yo' will have luck. Ah used to try tuh shoot dice. Ah was in Georgia, what chew call Macon, Georgia, about loO miles from Atlanta. Ah worked on a farm wit a man that had big skin games. Yo' evah know whut skin games are?
(What is a skin qame?)
Jis' have a deck of cards an' split [cut] 'em off an' ah turn yo' seven spot an' I got a ten, I'll bet chew a dollar dat mah ten falls, yo' win; if de seven fall, ah win. Dey call dat skin game. An' yo' wanta be lucky now.
[For skin game, see margin-title Frog - Georgia Skin, later.]
Ah was pickin' cotton fo' a man an' he wasn't payin' but 4Oc a hundred, an' swindlin' me wit de game, an' ah had to cook fo' mahself [buy his own food and cook it]. So Saturday night come an' we'd check up an' maybe whut ah done bought an' had cook, ah'd have 'bout two-three dollahs fer de skinning, an' ah jes' losin' mah money. One de boys said, "B, ah'm goin' put chew onto something - ket' chew [catch you] a toadfrog an' keep in yore pocket." Well, ah'd seen a little ole toad in de road dat hops about at night an' ah picked up one an' he wet in mah han' - ah always hear dem say dey make warts - an' ah put 'im in mah pocket. He felt cold as ice when ah got 'im, an' ah put him in mah pocket among some quarters an' nickels an' dimes what ah had an' ah went. De people had a big candle in de woods settin' down in de road - no, dey didn't have a candle, dey had a bottle wit a rope in it an' oil in de bottle makin a wick wit it, setting dere. Dey was down on dere knees gamblin'. Well, ah went dere an' held mah two hand - ah cleaned up ev'ry nickel an' dime dere was. Ah put so much money on dat frog until ah mashed 'im - killed 'im in mah pocket. Ah had all de silver, wag nuthin but silver at dat time - it wasn't no 20, 30 or 40 dollahs but ah broke ev'rybody dat night. An' ah always thought a frog was lucky. Ah had so much on him he got tuh jumpin' in mah pocket right in dere on mah money. [A frog or toad does not jump because the money is heavy; he is giving a warning we shall learn later.] An' ev'ry time ah got down dere to make a bet, ah more den apt to ketch 'em - if ah fall twice ah'd ketch it three times. That was luck.
Entry 1875
Ketch a frog an' put him in yore pocket, a live frog, an' run yore han' in yore pocket an' no one else kin win. Sometimes boys jes' fo' devilment throw him on de table an' let him hop round dere. When he hop, he goin' hop right back to yo', an' yo' put him in yore pocket an' nobody can't beat chew.
Entry 1876
Take a toadfrog an' put him in his pocket an' keep him in dere an' dat will give him plenty luck an' plenty money - dat toadfrog. If he's not lucky at all why dat toadfrog won't stay wit him; an' if he is, why dat frog will continue stayin' with him.
Entry 1877
Ah've heard of 'em usin' frogs fo' luck. Yo' know, jis' lak yo'd be shootin' craps, yo' know, an' yo'd ketch yo' a live frog yo' know an' put him in yore right pocket an' tote him roun'. Dat's luck - yo' use dat fo' luck. See, yo' keep him in yore pocket an' when he dies, yo' see, dat makes de luck. An' yo' tote him roun' den an' aftah he dries up an' ev'rything den he ain't no mo' good, see. But as long as he live in yore pocket yore lucky, see. An' aftah he dies, he ain't no mo' good - yo' have tuh git anothah one.
Entry 1878
Use a toadyfrog for lotsa luck an' fo' gamblin' or somethin' lak dat. Yo' kin take a frog an' put him in yore left pocket an' when yo' take an' put him in yore left pocket, yo' take dat cologne an' yo' kin jes' kinda sprinkle it on him in yore pocket. But chew have him tied so dat de people would [not know you had him] - have him tied up. An' jes' whenevah dat yo' go to de gamblin' game or anythin', if dat frog start tuh jumpin' or somepin lak dat, well yo'll be suc- cessful in whut chew doin'; but if he's not, dere won't be anythin' to it.
Entry 1879
Jes' as ah first said a while ago - de most luck ah evah had in mah life wus gamblin', ah used a live frog. Whensomevah ah go into a game, if ah could locate one, see, ah jes' take it an' put it in mah pocket; an' if yo' bettin' an' yore playin' poker, why dat frog will tell yo' - yo' know whut ah mean, he jumps when it's time tuh bet. Long as he stay still, why don't chew bet anything. It's common, but it's true.
Entry 1880
They catch them a toadfrog and puts him in their pocket and the money - the first bet that they win, they put that money in that pocket with that frog, and as that frog swell in his pocket, well you going to be winning the game.
(If that frog swells in the pocket?)
In that there pocket - yes, sir.
(You mean - how do you mean swells?)
Just - you know how they get - they just puff out that way. Well, as he begin to puff out, you just win and win till you break the ante.
Entry 1881
Take a toadyfrog an' put him in yore pocket. Yo' kin tell ev'ry time yo' gon'a fall - why, by him raisin' up in yore pocket. Mah husband was a gambler.
(You mean every time you want to play the frog would raise up?)
Ev'ry time yo' goin' fall, ev'ry time yo' goin' tuh lose - so yo' know how tuh bid.
Entry 1882
Well, they say if you take a frog and make him drunk and go to the game and, you know, have him in your pocket. Well, if you are going to play wrong, well that frog will move and you'll know what to do - you'll know that you fixin' to bet some money in the wrong place.
(That frog warns you?)
Yes.
(He'll move around?)
Uh huh.
(How do you make him drunk?)
Well, just take the teaspoon and pour the whiskey down in him.
Entry 1883
Take a toadfrog an' put him in yore right pocket an' go to a skin game. If this frog will nevah kick, yo'll win; but if he'll kick, yo' can't win.
[Fayetteville, N. Car., (1407), 2530:3.]
[The kicking or puffed up frog in the preceding beliefs is a type of Diagnosis
(p.165f.) or Jack (p.190f.).]
Entry 1884
Ketch a toadfrog and put it in yo' pocket and keep yo' hand on it and as dey play, you know, and turn de cards why yo' hand will be on de toadfrog and that will bring yo' luck.
Entry 1885
De mos' ah seed done fo' it, yo' take one dese ole toadfrogs [some kind of] toadfrogs an' dry him up an' take de dust yo' see an' keep it in dere pocket, an' when dey shuffle de deck of cards once in a while, dey run dere han's in dere pocket an' git dat dust an' shuffle it through de cards. Dat gives 'em luck.
Entry 1886
I had a person tuh fix me up one of those things once. He had me tuh git a toadfrog an' kill it an' hang him on de west side of a pine tree until he dries, see. Then take him then an' sew it up in a piece of flannel, red flannel an' go to a drug store an' git yo' a bottle of Hearts Cologne - keep dat 'nointed with it. Go to a skin game. Why jest befo' yo' go to skin 'em, jest unbeknowst to anybody, jest 'noint it yo' understand an' rub yore hands - rub it in yore hands. Yo' know how yo' take dese powder puff an' jest dope yore hand wit it an sit down dere. Dat's purtty lucky, too. Ah've tried dat.
Entry 1887
Yo' takes a frog an' yo' kill him an' lets him dry, takes an' sews him up in a shammy skin, an' feed him with whiskey. Well, that's supposed to be a very, very nice toby fo' gamblin'.
Entry 1888
Take a toadfrog and stir him up [annoy or excite him] and get that oil that comes out [of his skin] and put it in a bottle, and get some whiskey and pour in on it; and when you get ready to gamble, shoot the dice you know, pour some in the palm of your hands and rub your hands all over with it [the dice]. That's good luck for gambling. And then you can get a snake. I'm scared of a snake but let somebody else kill it, and you can take and do it the same Way - use that snake oil. It's good for gambling.
Entry 1889
A frog, now he's good fo' luck too.
(To make the lucky hand. Tell me that all over again.)
Yo' git dis - yo' take dis frog an' yo' git chew some moonshine [illegally distilled whiskey] an' make yo' a - have yo' a container an' have it deep enough where that he'll go down in there, see. Then yo' fasten him down in that stuff an' let him stay in dere until he die. [You drown the frog in moonshine.] An' when he die, then yo' git some mercury an' yo' fill his mouth - yo' know, put that in his mouth. Yo' put this mercury in his mouth an' then yo' take him an' a piece of flannel - yo' know, a square piece of flannel, red flannel, an' put him in dis flannel an' then yo' drop nine drops around in de flannel.
(What kind of drops?)
Mercury. Then yo' sew dis flannel up an' ev'ry time yo' make a stitch, bring it to yo' like that [demonstrates] - ev'ry time yo' make a stitch until yo' git it sewed plumb up. Well, when yo' git it sewed plumb up, den yo' pray de 23rd Psalms fo' three days, an' all at de same time he'll drink [soak] up this othah stuff. Put him in some more an' let him drink that an' git him good an' full of it, don't chew know. Den put that in yore pocket an' that's tuh bring yo' luck.
(In gambling?)
Yes sir.
Entry 1890
Yo' kin git graveyard dirt an' a frog an' take this frog an' put this graveyard dirt an' dis frog an' de lodestone in yore pocket an' dress it ovah wit whiskey. Den yo'll be lucky.
(Lucky in what?)
In gamblin' or runnin' a house or most anything - restaurant - anything yo' doin'.
(You put all this in a little bag?)
Yes, in a little red flannel rag. Sew it up an' it'll make a hand - jis make a hand out of it.
Entry 1891
Graveyard dirt, it's good fo' gambling.
(How do they use it?)
Well, yo' take yo' some graveyard dirt an' yo' run yore hand jest as fur down as yo' can an' git some fresh dirt, chew see, an' put it in yore pocket an' git chew one dese toadyfrogs an' put him in yore pocket. Well, if yo' go to skin - gambling, somepin lak dat, yo' know, well yo'll break everybody in dat game, if yo' got some of dat fresh graveyard dirt an' toadyfrog in yore pocket.
(Do you put this in the same pocket?)
In de same pocket - in yore right pocket.
Entry 1892
Fo' gamblin', ah heard 'em say, yo' kin git chew a frog - a toadfrog. Well, a frog is got a numbah undah his neck right undah dere. Take dat frog an' git one wit de even numbah. Don't git no odd numbah lak three or five, but git chew one got a two or fo' an' take him 'live an' put him in yore pocket an' go to de skin gome or any kinda gamblin' game an' yo's lucky in winnin'. An' if yo' think dat dere's somebody else dere dat's got some roots or somepin dat's tryin' tuh win too, yo' jes' take an' git chew some table salt an' put some sulphur in yore shoes, yo' see, 'fore yo' leave home an' go on there. Yo' take dat salt an sprinkle it on their haid an' dey'll lose. Dey roots won't be no good to em.
(That kills that?)
Dat kills dat.
Entry 1893
If yo' gamblin', yo' take yo' a toadfrog - ketch him alive. Yo' know a toadfrog is got numbers on him - jes' lak if yo' kin be lucky enough tuh ketch yo a toadfrog with seven on him, it's a lucky frog. If yo' put him in yore pocket alive an' he stay in dere, ain't no way nobody kin win no money from yo'; but if yo' don't - if he don't stay in yore pocket, yo' kin tell whether yo's in good luck or whether yo' in bad. De minute dat chew put him in yore pocket, he's goin' holler an' jump out. But if yo s goin' have really good luck, take dat from in dere an' put him in yore pocket an' he stay in dere, yo' win de whole time dat frog is in yore pocket. [For putting numbers on frog, see No. 575, p.186.]
Entry 1894
(What would they do with the frog?)
You kin take a frog if yo' are betting cards and - jest like ah and you is in a skin game of betting, wal ah've got a toadfrog in mah pocket. Ah don't keer how lucky yo' is, ah'm goin' beat yo' out chure money long as he don't holler. If he hollers I quit betting and turn him loose and let him go.
Entry 1895
Use toadfrogs fo' luck lak if yo' wanta go to a spinnin' wheel an' win lak in dese carnivals - in dese big shows dey have dose spinnin' wheels. Says yo' take a frog an' go to de spinnin' wheel an' jes' befo' yo' go tuh turn dat spinnin' wheel, run yo' han' in de sack an' git chew some of de money off de toadfrog an' yo'll be lucky with it.
Entry 1896
Ah seen somepin lak dat done one time. Dat wus right chere in town. Dey had a great big circus - de Robinson Show. Dat man tole me outside - he say, "Ah believe ah'll broke up de show. When we go in dere, dere certain things ah see him doin' an' ah would keep 'em from doin' it. Ah got dis heah toadfrog an' hol' de toadfrog an' look at it. A leetle bit of milk come out de back of it - look lak milk, out de back of de toadfroa." He took dat toadfrog in a piece of red flannen - ah don' know whut he had in dere wit it, wit de flannen, outside of de toadfrog an' de flannen. He might have had somethin' else. Well, he took dat frog an' we sat down in de show, a seat purtty close-ways up, an' dey couldn't git de business tuh ack. An' one of de show fellahs must be's purtty sharp. He hunt round an' he hunt round an' he hunt roun', an' after while he come right up close where ah wus settin' wit dis fellah whut had de toadfrog an' tetched him on de shoulder an' tell him, "Yo' git outa heah." Carried him tuh de do' an' make him git out.
Entry 1897
Yo' kin take a frog an' go to a show or somepin lak dat where they has these magic things, yo' understand. Well now, dat cause all dat magic - dat settle in yore eyes an' yo' kin see whut tricks dey doin' an' all lak dat.
Entry 1898
Dey tell me yo' kin take a toadfrog an' go into any kind of a show or anything like that, even in a gambling room, anywhere yo' mind to carry 'em like dat. Said jest if someone come in dis town an' yo' wants tuh break up de show or anything like dat, say if there's any kinda lodestone dey have workin' round dere an' yo' wants to find out whether it is lodestone, jest ketch yo' a toadfrog an' go in dere an' dey say de toadfrog will eat all de lodestone dey carries in dere an' dey jest can't act.
Entry 1899
Totes a toadfrog. If a fellah got roots or anything lak dat, chew go an' git chew a live rusty toadfrog an' put him in a han'chief an' put him in yore pocket, in yore side pocket or anythin' lak dat, an' go in a game, an' yo' wanta kill his luck, if yo' [he] got any lodestone or anything, that's goin' kill it.
Entry 1900
Yo' kin ketch de frog an' yo' cut off his left hind laig whilst he livin' an' turn him unloose an' wear it in yore pocket. Mah brothah got one in his pocket today.
(What will that do for you?)
Say that makes yo' git 'long - anybody yo' kin walk up dere an' ask 'em fo' money an' dey'll give it to yo'.
Entry 1901
I was told dis by a fellow. Well, he was a white boy worked at de Ford plant - working every day and I reckon he is working there now.
(Here in towm?)
At de Ford plant over here at North Norfolk. See, I was told that a man - he's a North Ca'lina boy, too. He told me dat he left home - I knowed his people well - didn't know that's where his home was but I knowed his people by seeing them away. He told me dat he left home and there was a couple of men told him something to do, and when he left the plant and went home, see, they didn't like him much. Seemed like if he kind of hard on him, the man he worked for. So he went home and there was a couple of colored fellows told him what to do, and he told me what he told him. He say he told him to go ahead and get a little Spring frog and take him - one of de small ones you kin put into a small bottle and put him down in dere with his feet up and head down. Den he bring dat back and put him in dat bottle some cologne - see, de Hearts Cologne and continue to go to work with that on him, and when he come back - I don't know what he had did, but that's what he told me he did and his brother-in- law told me so too. Well, when he come back this same man that he was hard on 'em, he would take him around and take him all the way home in his automobile. I know that to happen, but I don't exactly what he did. That's what he told me. (That's what he said he did. He just had this frog in the bottle and put this Hearts Cologne in there.) Yeah, and let the frog be bottom up and his head down in dat little bottle.
Entry 1902
Ah used de nest of de red ants mahself - see, ah used to be a gambler. Yo' git a frog an' take tie him up, both his laig, to a stake ovah a nest of dose large red antses an' let dem eat de flesh off his bones, see. An' den yo take de bones an' wrap 'em up in a cloth an' dress em wit cologne an' yo'll win. But it's dangerous - yo' have tuh pay fo' it.
(What do you mean by that?)
Well, yo' li'ble lose a member of yore body, yore arm or laig, toe, yo' know, or lose somebody in de family yo' love, or either yore life. Yo'll have to pay fo it. It s de devil's trick.
(What do you do with that frog? You stake - you mean?)
Yo' stake him - yo' torture him - yo' let de red ants eat de flesh off him - stake him alive. Yo' tie him up, all fo' of him laigs where de ants kin git to his flesh.
Entry 1903
Jes' lak yo' go to de race track bettin' on de horse races, yo' ketch - yo' have two toadyfrogs - jes' have 'em wit chew, see. An' Jes' lak yo' bettin', take an' pat 'em on de horse an' de horse yo' want to win he will win every time.
(How do you carry those frogs?)
In yore pocket - either in a papah bag, both of 'em together so long as dey live. If dey's live it all right; if dey's daid dey ain't goin' be no good.
Entry 1904
Jes' say yo' speedin' wit chure automobile out dere an' de law run down an' subpoena yo' fo' co't in de mawnin'. Dis evenin' jes' go out dere in de woods an' git chew 'bout fo' or five big spring frogs. Put 'em in yore bosom. Yo' put 'em in water tonight an' in de mawnin' when yo' - befo' yo go up dere, put 'em in yore bosom an' when yo' go up dere befo' him why dere won't be nuthin tuh de case - it throwed out.
Entry 1905
[I don't] know anything about a gamblin' proposition 'cause I never gambled in my life, but I have heard of people gambling and I have talked with gamblers. They claim they go and get somethin' that you call a moojoo. What it is, I don't know. They get a green frog, I think it is and split him open and put that thing into the frog and sew de frog back up and then they wear it in they pocketbook and say Just any point they wan'a make, they make it. What else they do to it, I couldn't tell you.
(They do that for luck in gambling?)
Yes, sir.
Entry 1906
Take one dose big black frog, an' take him ovah de bed an' whup him - whup him till he cry. He will cry jis' lak a baby - ahh, ahh, jis' lak a baby. Take dat frog an' throw him right farwards in front of you an' de man will live. [Here a frog is used as a hand for curing an illness (see pp.441-445). The ailment is first transferred from patient to frog and then the disease-spirit is whipped out of the frog. This could be an elaborate rite with much talk, depend- ing upon the operator. For transferring disease to a chicken, see No. 1000, p.384.]