Numskull is sent to fetch children. He either smothers them during conveyance or scalds them during bathing. (Cf. J2465.4.)

Motif

Numskull is sent to fetch children. He either smothers them during conveyance or scalds them during bathing. (Cf. J2465.4.)

The wise and the foolish. · Fools (and other unwise persons). · Absurd short-sightedness. · Other short-sighted acts. · view the constellation · filed as J2175.5

Filed across the traditions

Lithuanian Balys Index No. *1677
Russian Andrejev No. *1681 II.

Within the index

Filed under Short-sightedness in dealing with children.

Filed beside it

Anticipatory whipping. A schoolmaster whips his pupils to keep them from wrong-doing. He does not wait until after the deed is done Scolding the drowning child instead of helping him Absent-minded nurse lets child down into well instead of bucket Man lets his infant son play in river. Son drowns Numskull kills his children trying to cure their illness

Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)

Washing the child. Fool uses boiling water and kills it

ask the rhapsode about this motif · search the shelf for “conveyance” · wander