The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE BOY HE REMEMBERED WHEN A CHILD
WAS SICK WITH SCARLET FEVER, THE NEIGHBORS WOULD GET
TOGETHER, MOSTLY WOMEN WITH THEIR WOODEN SHOES ON,
WOULD WALK TO CHAPEL TO PRAY SO THAT THE CHILD WOULD
GET BETTER. IN FRONT OF THE CHAPEL WAS A WEEPING
WILLOW TREE AND WHEN THEY WERE FINISHED PRAYING, THEY
WENT OUT TO THE TREE AND TOOK A BRANCH AND WITHOUT
BREAKING IT, WOULD TIE A KNOT IN IT. THE PEOPLE
BELIEVED THAT THIS WOULD HELP.

Submitter comment: MR. VALKEN SAID THIS WAS DONE WHEN ANY CHILD WAS VERY
SICK. IF THE CHILD RECOVERED THEY SAID THIS HELPED;
IF THE CHILD DIED, HE JUST DIED THAT'S ALL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 10-20-1971