The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

GRANNY BEGAN: WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND READY TO GET MARRIED I THRILLED
TO THE UTMOST. THINGS WERE GOING ALONG VERY WELL WHEN ABOUT THREE
WEEKS BEFORE MY WEDDING MY MOTHER HAD A SUDDEN STROKE. SHE WAS
CONFINED TO HER BED. IT WAS ABOUT A WEEK LATER WHEN I HAD JUST
FINISHED MY FINAL FITTING OF MY WEDDING GOWN. I WAS GOIN' BACK TO
MY ROOM AND WHEN I GOT TO THE STEPS I SAW A BRIGHT LIGHT FROM ABOVE.
I WENT UP THERE AND SAW THE BLESSED MOTHER STANDING THERE. SHE
JUST LOOKED AT ME AND THEN TO MY MOTHER'S ROOM. I WALKED INTO MY
MOTHER'S ROOM WITH MY WEDDING DRESS ON. MOTHER HAD NEVER SEEN IT
BEFORE AS I WAS GOING TO SURPRISE EVERYONE. SHE SAW ME AND GAVE A
FAINT SMILE. I TURNED AND LEFT THE ROOM. ONCE OUTSIDE, I SAW
THAT THE BLESSED VIRGIN WAS GONE. I WENT TO MY ROOM AND LATER THAT
EVENING WHEN I LOOKED IN ON MOTHER I FOUND THAT SHE HAD DIED WITH
THAT SAME FAINT SMILE ON HER FACE. IT WAS THE BLESSED MOTHER THAT
TOLD ME TO GO AND LET HER SEE ME IN MY WEDDING GOWN.

Submitter comment: TOLD TO ME DURING ONE OF GRANNY'S FRONT PORCH TALKS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR