The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THAT'S THE SPIRIT

AN OLD NEIGHBOR WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A SICK FRIEND.
IT WAS NIGHT AND THE MOON WAS NOT SHINING. SO HE WAS
JUST WALKING ALONG AND HE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE CEMETERY.
HE WAS A LITTLE AFRAID, BUT HE WAS THINKING ABOUT HIS
FRIEND AND ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE MIGHT NOT GET BETTER.
JUST THEN, HE HEARS SOMEONE MOANING. THE MAN BECAME
FRIGHTENED AND HE STOPPED AND WAITED. AGAIN, HE HEARS
SOMEONE MOANING. SO THE OLD MAN ASKS THE SPIRIT OF
THE ONE WHO WAS BURIED IN THE GRAVE BESIDE WHICH HE
STOOD: "SOUL (SPIRIT), WHAT DO YOU DEMAND?" BUT AGAIN,
HE HEARD THE MOAN. WITH THAT, A VOICE COMES FROM
BEHIND THE TOMBSTONE, "I'D LIKE A PIECE OF PAPER."

Submitter comment: TRANSLATED FROM POLISH. I HEARD THIS WHEN I WAS
ABOUT 13-15, BUT COULDN'T REMEMBER THE DETAILS, SO
ASKED MY MOTHER TO WRITE THEM DOWN FOR ME. SHE DID
SO ON MAY 15, 1965.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSLATION

Date learned: 05-00-1965