Clergyman’s Words Repeated. A clergyman (sexton) has smudges on his glasses (he has forgotten to bring them) so he cannot read the liturgy during mass. He absent-mindedly sings out about his handicap and the congregation repeats his words as usual.…
Invitation to Dinner (previously Boy Invited to Dinner by Priest). A boy (farmer) is invited to a meal (by some students or a clergyman). A whole turkey (suckling pig) is served. The host warns the boy that whatever he does to the turkey, the host…
Good Manners. A boy brings a cheese (other item) to a clergyman (merchant, lawyer). The clergyman thinks that the boy did not act politely, so he exchanges their roles in order to teach him how to behave. The clergyman makes a polite speech as he…
“How Many Sacraments Are There?” (Including the previous Type 1810A*.) A clergyman asks a boy (servant girl) how many sacraments (gods) there are. The boy does not know, so he asks in return if the clergyman knows how many teeth a rake has (how much…
What Kind of Dung? A clergyman (man) sees a boy on the road who is looking at something. The boy says he does not know what it is, and the clergyman tells him that it is horse’s dung (a horseshoe). The boy replies that he was wondering whether it was…
The Boy Answers the Clergyman. (Including the previous Types 1832A*, 1832C*, 1832G**, 1832H*, 1832J*, 1832K*, and 1835C*.) This miscellaneous type consists of various anecdotes in which the clergyman questions a boy during the service (in the…
The Sermon about the Rich Man. A rich man lets a boy ride to church with him in his coach. The boy accidentally leaves his coat (wooden shoe) behind in the coach. The clergyman preaches about a rich man who went to hell. The boy calls out in dismay,…
Inappropriate Actions in Church. (Including the previous Type 1831A.) This miscellaneous type consists of various anecdotes in which people in church act in inappropriate ways because of ignorance. Or, the clergyman (clergyman and sexton) acts in…
The Clergyman Takes a Bribe. A man named Secula boasts to his rich neighbor Micula (Matila, Picula) that he is named in the church service when the clergyman sings, “Saecula saeculorum.” The neighbor offers nine sheep to the clergyman if he will sing…
The Clergyman’s Share and the Sexton’s. During the sermon, the clergyman asks the sexton if anyone is coming. The sexton answers that a man carrying a wheel (cudgel) on his shoulder is coming. The clergyman says that the sexton may have the wheel.…
The Clergyman and Sexton at Mass. A clergyman tells his sexton (deacon) that he should steal a sheep (hog) during the service. When the sexton returns, the service is still going on. The clergyman asks him, as if it were part of the liturgy, whether…
Producing the Weather (previously In Trial Sermon the Parson Promises the Laymen the Kind of Weather they Want). A congregation needs to appoint a new clergyman (sexton). They choose one who says he can produce whatever weather that they want.…
Living Person Acts as Image of Saint [K1842]. This tale exists chiefly in two different forms: (1) On a certain saint’s day, the saint’s statue is missing (it was broken during cleaning, sold, stolen). The sexton suggests to the clergyman that a…
Weeping and Laughing. A clergyman makes a bet that he can give a sermon that will cause half the congregation to laugh and half to weep. Or, a clergyman wants to show his bishop (the lord of the area) how badly his congregation behaves. He preaches a…
The Rooster at Church Crows. During the service, a rooster flies into a church through an open window. He crows and wakes the sexton, who thinks it is his cue to answer part of the liturgy (sing a certain song) [X451].
Billy goats instead of Sheep. A clergyman preaches a sermon to his congregation, telling them that on Judgment Day when he stands before God (St. Peter at the gate of heaven), he will have to tell Him that, instead of faithful sheep, there were only…
Cards (Liquor Bottle) Fall from the Sleeve of the Clergyman. During his sermon, a clergyman drops playing cards (liquor flask) out of his sleeve (pocket). He asks the congregation (children) if they know what the cards are for. They show that they…
“You Shall See me a Little While Longer.” A clergyman makes a bet with one member of his congregation that he will be able to empty a jug of wine during his sermon without being observed by the congregation (an alcoholic clergyman depends on his…