The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

TALE: THE OLD WOMAN IN OUR PARISH

THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO USED TO LIVE IN OUR PARISH WHO WOULD
NEVER MISS SUNDAY VESPERS. SHE NEVER WENT TO MASS YET EVERY SUNDAY
AFTERNOON THERE SHE WAS AT VESPERS. THIS WENT ON FOR YEARS AND IT
TOOK TO BE HABIT SEEING HER THERE, RAIN OR SHINE.
WELL ONE PARTICULARILY BAD WINTER WE HAD A BLIZZARD THAT STARTED
RIGHT AFTER THE LAST MASS WAS LETTING OUT. BOY, WHAT A BLIZZARD.
IT KEPT ON SNOWING AND BLOWING ALL AFTERNOON AND AS THE TIME FOR
VESPERS APPROACHED WE BEGAN TO WONDER IF SHE'D SHOW UP. THEY
DIDN'T HAVE CARS IN THOSE DAYS AND THE PEOPLE USED TO WALK IF THEY
WANTED TO GO ANYWHERE. WELL, SINCE IT WAS MY TURN, I WENT TO THE
CHURCH AND SURE ENOUGH, THERE SHE WAS. I HAVE TO ADMIT I WAS QUITE
SURPRISED TO SEE HER AS SHE HAD QUITE A WALK.
ANYHOW, AS THE WOMAN LATER TOLD ME, WHILE SHE WAS AT VESPERS, SHE
PRAYED AND PRAYED THAT THE WIND WOULD CHANGE AND SHE'D HAVE IT AT HE
BACK ON HER WAY HOME. KNOW WHAT, SHE DID. THE WIND CHANGED
COURSE DURING VESPERS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 06-00-1964