North American Tales

Like Meat Loves Salt

Background 

Before a father sets off on a trip to town, he asks his three daughters what gift they would like him to bring back for them. They each ask for a dress to wear to a dance. When he returns, with the dresses and roses, he asks each of his daughters how much they love him. The eldest two give him an answer he likes, so he gives them a flower each and their dresses. But, the youngest girl, who had been the King's favorite, says, "I love you like meat loves salt." The father is angry and locks his daughter in a tower, only to be visited by an old woman who brings her food and other necessities. One day, a Duke sees her and rescues her. The two marry.  Eventually, the father grows old and needs to live with his daughters. It is then he finds out that his eldest daughters don't really love him after all because they treat him poorly. One day, his youngest daughter finds him, but he does not recognize her. She invites him to dinner and instructs the cook to make sure there is absolutely no salt in the meat. It is at dinner that the father realizes how much his youngest daughter loved him. 

This version of the tale is the Appalachian one from Grandfather Tales by Richard Chase. It is of motif H592.1.0.1, and similar tales exist in Rumania, Sweden, and Greece (MacDonald, Sourcebook). In Spanish version, a girl compares her father to salt and teaches him the value of salt (MacDonald, Sourcebook). 

Suggested Lessons and Activities 

1. Could be shared at Valentine's Day in conjunction with other holiday activities, such as card making, crafts, songs, and other activities. 

2. Discussion of similes and metaphors. Students make own similes for cards to their parents or other family members to let them know how much they love them. 

3. Poetry 

Citations 


Chase, Richard. Jack Tales. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1943. 

Old Drye Frye

Background

Old Drye Frye is the humorous tale of a preacher who dies by choking on a chicken bone. Because the host is afraid of being accused of murder, he moves the preacher to another location. No one wants to be blamed for his death, so his corpse is "passed around." It is motif type 1537 (MacDonald, Sourcebook). In some variations, the trickster is "paid to keep quiet." This action falls under type 1537.

Suggested Lessons and Activities

1. Discussion: What are some other humorous tales that are similar this one? (Example: Compare to Soap! Soap! Soap!, Just Say Hic, Lazy Jack, and others.)

2. Reader's Theatre or acting out this story.

3. Song: "This is the Song that Never Ends"

4. "Passing" Activities --

- Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?

- Hot potato

- Story game that uses audience participation to tell the story

5. Other humorous tales include Old One-Eye, Just Say Hic, and the Three Sillies.

Citations

Chase, Richard. Grandfather Tales. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1948.

Sody Sallyratus

Background 

Sody Sallyratus is the story of a pet squirrel, a little boy, a little girl, an old man, and an old woman. The woman would like to make her famous biscuits for her pet squirrel but she is missing one important ingredient -- sody sallyratus (baking soda). One by one, she sends her family to buy the needed ingredient from the general store, but her family does not return as they are eaten by a bear on the return trip. When she makes the trip, she meets a similar fate. Finally, the pet squirrel goes and become a hero who saves them. Sody Sallyratus is a wonderful Appalachian tale that has several motifs, according to MacDonald's Storyteller's Sourcebook. The motifs are:

K553.2 - crossing a bridge
J2415 - trying to imitate jump
913 - bursting open (in this case, a bear).

Similar stories include the Czechoslovakian story of Kuratko (Z33.5) a huge chicken who eats grandfather, grandmother, washerwoman, and the cat. The cat cuts his stomach and all escape (MacDonald, Sourcebook). In another American tale (Z33.6.1) a greedy old man eats everyone then chases a squirrel, tries to imitate his jump, and bursts open. 

Suggested Lessons and Activities 

1. May be integrated in animal studies. 

2. Discussion fiction and non-fiction. 

Citations 

Chase, Richard. Jack Tales. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1943. 

Sloat, Teri, reteller. Sody Sallyratus. New York, Dutton Children's Press, 1997.