The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ONE TIME IT WAS AUGUST 15TH, ASSUMPTION DAY. WE WENT TO
CHURCH IN THE MORNING -- MY MOM AND MYSELF. I HAD A NICE
DRESS ON WITH NEW SHOES AND EVERYTHING. I WENT TO THE
BINGO AND I WAS ALL RIGHT. I STARTED TO GO TO THE
HORSERACES, BUT I COULDN'T GO. I STARTED GETTING A
HEADACHE AND UPSET STOMACH. MY MOTHER SAID, "WHAT'S THE
MATTER WITH YOU." I SAID, "I DON'T KNOW." SHE ASKED,
"DID YOU EAT TOO MUCH AT DINNER?" I SAID, "NO," AND SHE
SAID, "I BET YOU GOT THE EVIL EYES." SHE CALLED THIS OLD
LADY. THE LADY SHE COMES OVER. SHE SAID A PRAYER AND
POURED SOME OIL IN A DISH OF WATER. IF THE OIL SUNK YOU
HAD THE EVIL EYES, IF IT FLOATED YOU WERE FINE. THE OLD
LADY SAID, "IT SUNK; YOU GOT THE EVIL EYES." SHE SAID A
PRAYER AND I FELT BETTER RIGHT AWAY.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES NOT KNOW WHETHER OR NOT TO BELIEVE THIS,
HOWEVER, SHE DID FEEL MUCH BETTER. THE NEXT DAY WAS JUST
LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK

Date learned: NOT GIVEN