The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE PICTURE

"A FEW YEARS AGO MY HUSBAND AND A FRIEND WERE DRIVING ON DETROIT'S
EAST SIDE. IT WAS RAINING VERY HARD. THEY DROVE PAST A CEMETERY,
AND HERE WAS THIS PRETTY GIRL STANDING ON THE CORNER.
SHE WAS WEARING A WHITE SUIT AND A WHITE FLOWER ON IT. SHE HAD LONG
HAIR, AND WAS REALLY QUITE ATTRACTIVE. THEY STOPPED AND ASKED HER FOR
A RIDE SINCE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SEE HER STAND IN THE RAIN LIKE THAT.
SHE SAID THAT SHE ONLY HAD TO MAIL A LETTER, AND SO THEY DROVE HER.
WHEN SHE GOT OUT OF THE CAR THEY DISCOVERED SHE HAD LEFT THE LETTER
BEHIND. THEY DROVE BACK TO WHERE THEY HAD DROPPED HER OFF BUT
COULDN'T FIND HER. THE ADDRESS ON THE LETTER WAS OF A HOUSE NEAR BY
SO THEY TOOK IT TO THAT HOME. THE LADY WHO ANSWERED THE DOOR WAS
REALLY FRIENDLY. SHE INVITED THEM IN, AND THEY SAT AND TALKED.
THEN JACK (HER HUSBAND) SAW A PICTURE OF THE GIRL WHO HAD LEFT THE
LETTER ON THE WALL. HE TOLD THE LADY. SHE WAS VERY SURPRISED AND SAID
THAT HE MUST BE WRONG BECAUSE THIS GIRL, HER DAUGHTER, HAD BEEN DEAD
FOR YEARS. NOW I REALLY BELIEVE THIS IS TRUE. THEY NEVER DID FIND
OUT WHAT WAS IN THE LETTER, BUT THE STORY OF THIS WAS IN THE
NEWSPAPER."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 06-30-1964