The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

MRS. MURPHY REMEMBERS THAT HER MOTHER WAS A VERY SUPERSTITIOUS
PERSON, ESPECIALLY ABOUT DEATH. THEY HAD A LONG PORCH ON THEIR
HOUSE THAT RAN THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF TWO SIDES OF THE HOUSE. ONE
NIGHT MRS. MURPHY'S MOTHER, FATHER, AND UNCLE THOUGHT THEY HEARD
WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A PACK OF DOGS TROTTING ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH
OF THE PORCH. WHEN THEY WENT OUT TO SEE, THEY FOUND NOTHING. THEY
WENT BACK INSIDE AND IMMEDIATELY HEARD IT AGAIN. AGAIN THEY SAW
NOTHING. THIS HAPPENED A THIRD TIME AND THEN CEASED. THE NEXT
MORNING MRS. MURPHY'S LITTLE SISTER DIED. HER MOTHER CLAIMS TO
THIS DAY THAT THE SOUNDS THEY HEARD WERE OMENS OF THE IMPENDING
DEATH OF THEIR DAUGHTER.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Date learned: 05-22-1965