The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

MALIGNANT WIND

IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, IN MY PARENTS HOME VILLAGE, THERE WAS A CROSS-
ROADS WITH A SIGNPOST THAT GAVE DIRECTIONS TO LARGE NEIGHBORING
TOWNS. PEOPLE WOULD NEVER GO THERE AROUND SUNSET OR DURING THE
NIGHT BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS A TERRIFIC WIND THAT WOULD
BUFFET YOU, TEAR YOUR CLOTHES, KNOCK YOU DOWN, GIVE YOU BRUISES,
ETC. ONE EVENING THE VILLAGE PRIEST WAS RETURNING FROM VISITING
A SICK PERSON OUT IN THE FOREST AND APPROACHED THE CROSSROADS JUST
AFTER SUNSET. WHEN HE REACHED THEM, A HUGE WIND THREW HIM DOWN,
AND PHYSICALLY INJURED HIM. THE PRIEST ONLY SURVIVED BY CRAWLING
TO THE SIGNPOST AND HANGING ON. THE PEOPLE FOUND HIM BADLY INJURED
THE NEXT MORNING, STILL CLINGING TO THE POST. AFTER HE RECOVERED
HE WENT TO THE CROSSROADS NEAR SUNSET WITH SOME OF THE VILLAGERS.
THEY HAD A LARGE WOODEN CRUCIFIX THAT THEY SET UP NEXT TO THE SIGN-
POST. THE PRIEST WAS BLESSING THE CRUCIFIX AND THE ROADWAYS WHEN
THE STRONG WIND CAME UP AND TRIED TO TEAR THE CRUCIFIX DOWN AND
HURT THE PEOPLE. BUT AS IT STARTED SHAKING THE CRUCIFIX IT SUDDENLY
DIED OUT. NO ONE WAS EVER BOTHERED AGAIN.

Where learned: OHIO ; HUNGARY ; AUSTRIA ; CLEVELAND

Date learned: 09-10-1972

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MY MOTHER WOULD TELL OF A NEW MOTHER IN THEIR TOWN IN AUSTRIA-
HUNGARY WHOSE NEW-BORN BABY CRIED CONTINUOUSLY AND WOULD NEVER BE
QUIET. THE NEW MOTHER WAS BECOMING VERY UPSET AND NERVOUS BY ALL
THE SCREAMING AND CRYING AND CRYING AND CARRYING-ON. AN OLD GYPSY
HEARD THE SCREAMING ONE DAY AND CAME UP TO THE HOUSE TO ASK IF THE
MOTHER WANTED THE BABY TO BE QUIET AND CRY ONLY WHEN HUNGRY OR WET,
AND THAT THE OLD GYPSY COULD STOP THE GENERAL CRYING. THE MOTHER
SAID YES AND WAS TOLD THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE OLD WOMAN
ALONE WITH THE BABY FOR A WHILE. THE MOTHER LEFT THE OLD WOMAN WITH
THE BABY IN THE HOUSE AND WENT OUTSIDE TO WAIT. A WHILE LATER THE
OLD GYPSY WOMAN CAME OUT WITH THE BABY AND THE BABY WAS QUIET AND
CONTENTED. THE MOTHER ASKED WHAT SHE HAD DONE WITH THE BABY, AND
THE GYPSY REPLIED THAT SHE HAD TAKEN SPIT AND RUBBED IT ON THE
BABY'S EYES WHILE SAYING SOME WORDS AND THAT THE BABY WOULD NOW BE
FINE. IT WAS JUST AS SHE SAID AND AFTER THAT THE BABY ONLY CRIED
WHEN IT WAS HUNGRY OR NEEDED TO BE CHANGED.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; HUNGARY ; AUSTRIA ; CLEVELAND

Date learned: 09-10-1972

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