The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

TALE

ONCE THERE WAS A MAN WHO LIVED WITH HIS THREE
DAUGHTERS ON THE EDGE OF A SWAMP. ONE DAY, THE MAN FELL
ILL AND KNEW HE WOULD DIE SOON. HE CALLED IN HIS
DAUGHTERS AND SAID, "GIRLS, I'M GOING TO DIE SOON.
AND WHEN I DO, I WANT YOU TO BURY ME IN THE SWAMP."
THE GIRLS THOUGHT THIS A STRANGE REQUEST, BUT THEY LOVED
THE OLD MAN AND PROMISED. AND THE OLD MAN DIED AND WAS
BURIED IN THE SWAMP.

THAT NIGHT, THE YOUNGEST SAID TO THE OTHERS, "NO USE
IN ALL OF US SLEEPING IN ONE ROOM. I'LL SLEEP IN DAD'S
ROOM." THE OTHER TWO DAUGHTERS AGREED.
DURING THE NIGHT, THE YOUNGEST, SLEEPING IN HER
FATHER'S ROOM, WAS AWAKENED AT MIDNIGHT BY VOICES.
LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW, SHE SAW PEOPLE IN WHITE
WALKING AROUND IN THE SWAMP WHERE HER FATHER WAS
BURIED, SAYING AS THEY WALKED: "IT FLOATS, IT
FLOATS!!"

SHE RAN IN TERROR TO HER SISTERS' ROOM AND TOLD THEM
WHAT HAPPENED. "I'M NOT AFRAID," SAID THE SECOND
ELDEST, "YOU MUST HAVE BEEN DREAMING. I'LL SLEEP IN
DAD'S ROOM TOMORROW." AND SHE DID.

AROUND MIDNIGHT, SHE TOO WAS AWAKENED BY VOICES.
LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW, SHE SAW THE SAME GHOSTLY
PEOPLE MARCHING AROUND WHERE HER FATHER HAD BEEN
BURIED. AS THEY MARCHED AROUND, THEY SAID OVER AND
OVER: "IT FLOATS! IT FLOATS!!"

IN TERROR SHE RAN TO HER SISTERS' ROOM AND RELATED WHAT
HAD HAPPENED. "YOU MUST HAVE BEEN DREAMING. I'LL SLEEP
THERE TOMORROW," SAID THE ELDEST. AND SHE DID.

AROUND MIDNIGHT, SHE AWAKENED TO THE VOICES. LOOKING
OUT THE WINDOW, SHE SAW THE GHOSTLY PEOPLE WALKING
AROUND WHERE HER FATHER WAS BURIED IN THE SWAMP SAYING:
"IT FLOATS! IT FLOATS!!"

IN TERROR SHE CALLED OUT, "WHAT FLOATS?" "IVORY SOAP."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 07-00-1955