The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

DEVILS SKATING

IN THE WINTERTIME ALL THE CHILDREN WOULD GO SKATING IN THE EVENING
ON A FROZEN LAKE NEARBY. AROUND TEN OR ELEVEN O'CLOCK ON SOME NIGHTS
DEVILS WOULD COME TO SKATE. THESE DEVIL'S WERE SMALL LIKE THE
CHILDREN AND ALL BLACK WITH BLACK CLOTHES. THEY HAD ONE EYE AND ONE
NOSTRIL AND ALWAYS SKATED ON ONE OF THEIR LEGS. THEY (THE ) DEVILS
WOULD PLAY A GAME WITH THE CHILDREN. THE CHILDREN WOULD HAVE SOME
WOODEN STICKS AND THE DEVILS HAD IRON ONE AND EACH TEAM WOULD TRY TO
HIT A WOODEN PUCK PAST EACH OTHER. AT THE FIRST COCK'S CROW THE
DEVILS WOULD LEAVE WITH A WHISTLE AND A GANG.

Submitter comment: THIS STORY WAS TOLD TO MY GRANDMOTHER BY HER GRANDMOTHER WHEN SHE
WAS A CHILD, THE STORY TAKES PLACE ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE NINETEENTH
CENTURY.

Where learned: TANJANSKIENE, KAROLINA

Keyword(s): DEVIL

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

View just this record