The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

IRISH FOLK TALE

ONE EVENING A MOTHER AND HER CHILDREN WERE COMING HOME
FROM THE STORE. THEY WERE ALMOST HOME WHEN THEY SAW
A NEIGHBOR'S CHILD RUN ACROSS THE STREET. THIS
FRIGHTENED THEM BECAUSE THE CHILD WAS VERY YOUNG--TOO
YOUNG TO BE WALKING AND TOO YOUNG TO BE OUT SO LATE
AT NIGHT. ON ARRIVING HOME, THEY HEARD FROM ONE OF
THE MEN OF THE VILLAGE THAT THIS PARTICULAR CHILD
THAT THEY HAD SEEN RUNNING ACROSS THE ROAD HAD DIED
AT THE EXACT TIME THAT THEY HAD SEEN HIM IN THE ROAD.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS TALE JUST A SHORT TIME AGO
FROM A GIRL AT WORK, AN IRISH GIRL WHO HAS JUST
BECOME A NATURALIZED CITIZEN. THE GIRL SAYS THE
STORY IS TRUE. SHE HEARD IT FROM A JOHN ROARTY OF
LETTERHENNY, IRELAND, COUNTY DONIGAL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION

Date learned: 01-10-1964