The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THIS IS COMMON BELIEF IN NOVA SCOTIA. THIS TOOK PLACE IN
LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS. THE INFORMANT KNEW THE PAINTER. THE
PAINTER WAS WORKING AT SISTER'S HOUSE, AND AT ANOTHER
WOMAN'S HOUSE AT THE SAME TIME.
"ONE AFTERNOON THE PAINTER CAME TO OUR HOUSE AND HE WAS
STARK WHITE. IT SEEMS HE HAD BEEN PAINTING THE LADY'S HOUSE
IN THE MORNING. WHILE THERE A DOG CAME INTO THE YARD FACING
TOWARD HER HOUSE, HE BEGAN TO HO; FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
THE WOMAN LAUGHED, AND SAID, 'IF I WERE HOME, (NOVA SCOTIA)
I'D REALLY BE WORRIED; BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE A HOWLING DOG
POINTING AT A HOUSE IS A SURE SIGN OF DEATH.' HE LAUGHINGLY
AGREED. HE WAS FROM NOVA SCOTIA, AND HAD HEARD THE SAME
THING. HE WENT ON PAINTING, AND SHE WENT BACK TO WORK.
WITHIN ONE HALF HOUR, HE HEARD A SCREAM AND STEPPED BACK IN
THROUGH THE WINDOW TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE WOMAN WAS
ON THE FLOOR, HER DAUGHTER, THE ONE WHO HAD SCREAMED, WAS
KNEELING OVER HER. THE WOMAN HAD DIED OF A HEART ATTACK.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NOVA SCOTIA ; NASHVILLE ; Massachusetts ; LYNN

Date learned: 08-00-1968

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THIS BELIEF IS FOUND IN NEW ENGLAND AND NOVA SCOTIA:
"SOME PEOPLE WON'T HAVE A PARAKEET OR A CANARY IN THEIR HOME
BECAUSE IT IS A SIGN OF DEATH. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS
WORKING AT A RELIGIOUS CAMP IN HAMILTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
I WAS IN ONE OF THE BUILDINGS WITH A LARGE GLASSED-IN PORCH
AND SOMEHOW A BEAUTIFUL BIRD GOT IN THE PORCH. IT FLEW
AROUND, STRIKING THE GLASS, STUNNED HIMSELF AND FELL TO
THE FLOOR. I PICKED HIM UP AND TOOK HIM OUT INTO THE YARD.
HE REVIVED IN THE FRESH AIR AND FLEW OUT OF MY HANDS. WITHIN
A VERY FEW MINUTES A TELEPHONE CALL CAME IN, TELLING US THAT
A WOMAN, A VOLUNTEER WORKER, HAD JUST BEEN KILLED ON A
NEAR-BY TURNPIKE."

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NOVA SCOTIA ; NASHVILLE ; Massachusetts ; HAMILTON ; NEW ENGLAND

Date learned: 08-00-1968

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