The folk process works in stories as well as songs. The following is from "Snappy Stories that Preacher's Tell" compiled by Paul E Holdcraft (1932, the Stockton Press). Compare to the story that Masato found and note that Holdcraft didn't write this in 1932, he got it from some other preexisting source. It appears we're not as familiar with breeds of cattle as we once were.

THE ANTHEM

Elder Watkins, just back from the city, was telling his wife of the church he had attended.
"Did you know any of their songs?" asked she.
"No," replied the elder, "they didn't sing anything but anthems."
"Anthems!" exclaimed his wife. "What on earth is an anthem?"
"Well", answered the elder, "I can't tell you just exactly, but if I'd say to you, 'Betsy, the cows are in the corn,' that wouldn't be an anthem. But if I'd say, 'Betsy, Betsy, Betsy, the cows, the cows, the Holstein cow, the muley cow, the Jersey cow, the spotted cow - all the cows are in, are in, the corn, corn, corn. Ah-men!' why that'd be an anthem.


rich r