The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

EVIL EYE

MY MOTHER TELLS ME HER MOTHER, WHO WAS IRISH, WAS VERY
SUSPICIOUS OF PEOPLE WHOM SHE CONSIDERED TO HAVE THE
EVIL EYE. MY MOTHER'S SISTER WAS PRACTICALLY ENGAGED
BUT HER MOTHER WOULDN'T GIVE HER CONSENT BECAUSE SHE
CLAIMED HE HAD THE EVIL EYE. WHEN THE BOY COULDN'T
MARRY MY MOTHER'S SISTER, HE HAD A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
OR SOMETHING, BUT IN ANY EVENT, HE CAME AFTER MY
GRANDMOTHER WITH A KNIFE. DRESSED ONLY IN A BATHROBE,
HE WAITED OUTSIDE AND WAS GOING TO KILL HER, WHEN SHE
LEFT THE HOUSE. HE DIDN'T KNOW THEN SHE WAS AT CHURCH,
BUT WAS ARRESTED BEFORE HE GOT IN. MY GRANDMOTHER
BELIEVED HE WAS POSSESSED BY THE DEVIL AND COULD NOT
HAVE ENTERED THE CHURCH IF HE HAD WANTED TO.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED