Submitter’s note: With the seriousness of today, and for the last few months, we would like to share a change of pace, to take us away from it all, just for a little while. Today we share with you “The Taileypo Story,” as told by Mr. Grover G. Brown.
A long time ago, way down in the big woods of Tennessee, a man lived all by himself. This man’s house had just one room, and that was his parlor, living room, bedroom, dining room and kitchen, too. In one end of this cabin was a big open fireplace where this man cooked and ate all his meals.
One night, he was sitting before the fire half-asleep when the curiousest animal you ever saw crept through the half-open door, and it had a great, long tail. This man reached over with his hatchet and whacked this varmint’s tail right off with the first lick. That varmint ran out into the night. And then that man, fool-like, cooked that tail and ate it.
He went to bed, but he had not been asleep very long until he was awakened. He heard something right outside the cabin wall. It sounded as if it were trying to get in. He listened. He heard it scratch, scratch. He heard it wail: “Taileypo, Taileypo. All I want’s me Taileypo.”
Now this man had three dogs. One’s name was Ino, one’s name was Uno and other one’s name was Cumpty Co Calico. This man called his dogs. He said, “Huh, Huh, Huh,” and they all came pilin’ out from under the floor and chased the varmint way down in the big woods.
The man went back to sleep, but along about midnight he was awakened again. He listened. He heard something outside the cabin wall. It sounded as if it were trying to get inside. He heard it scratch, scratch. Again he heard it say, “Taileypo, Taileypo. All I want’s me Taileypo.” Again this man called his dogs. This time they all came rushing around the corner of the house and they caught up with this varmint and they tore down the fence trying to kill it. This time, they chased it away down in the big swamp. The man went back to sleep.
Away along after midnight, he was awakened again. He listened. Off in the distance he heard something say, “Taileypo! You know, I know, all I want is me Taileypo.” Again this man called his dogs, because he was frightened, but this time they failed to come. That varmint had either killed or lost them down in the big swamp.
The man went back to sleep. The next time he woke it was almost time for break of day. He thought he heard something in the room. Right down by the foot of his bed he heard something scratch, scratch! He peeped out from under the covers, and pretty soon, he saw two sharp, pointed ears coming slowly up over the foot of the bed.
Then, he saw two big fiery eyes. The varmint crawled up over the foot of the bed. He could feel the sharp claws through his clothing. It crept right upon his chest. He could feel its hot breath in his face. It looked him right in the eye and said, “Taileypo, Taileypo! You know, I know, all I want’s me Taileypo!”
This man was frightened just as you or I would be. He was scared so badly he could not open his mouth for a long time.
When he could speak, he yelled, “I HAVEN’T GOT YOUR TAILEYPO!”
“YES, YOU HAS,” said the Taileypo, and it scratched him all ter pieces, and some folks say it got its Taileypo.
Now there is nothing left of the old log cabin away down in the big woods of Tennessee except an old stone chimney. But when the moon shines brightly and the wind blows down the valley, you can hear something say, “Taileypo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o,” and then die away.
Submitted by Pauline Hoover, Brown County Historical Society
