The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

"THIS HAPPENED IN 1959. HORACE TURNER WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE
JUNIOR CHOIR WHEN I ATTENDED CHURCH AND ACCORDING TO HIS WIFE,
GOD WANTED HORACE TO PREACH, BUT HORACE RESISTED. ONE THURSDAY
NIGHT, IT SEEMED AS IF HORACE HEARD THESE WORDS, 'I'M GOING TO
TAKE SOMETHING FROM YOU THAT YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT AND GIVE YOU
SOMETHING GREATER IN RETURN.' ON FRIDAY, WHILE HORACE WAS ON HIS
LUNCH HOUR, HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO CAPTURE A MOTHER PIGEON AND TAKE
IT HOME TO HIS CHILDREN WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE HEARD A
WHOOSHING SOUND AS IF SOMETHING HAD FLOWN AWAY. HE LOOKED
TOWARD THE SKY, SAW NOTHING, AND THE PIGEON WAS STILL IN THE EXACT
SPOT. SHE WAS IN BEFORE HORACE HEARD THE SOUND. THE 'WHOOSH'
CAME AT THE SAME TIME THAT HORACE'S ONLY SON, WHO WAS TEN, DIED
FROM A GUNSHOT. HIS 12-YEAR-OLD FRIEND SHOT HIM (HORACE'S SON)
WITH A 30-30 WINCHESTER. A FEW NIGHTS LATER, HORACE PREACHED HIS
FIRST SERMON AT THE DINNER TABLE WITH HIS FAMILY. HE TOLD ME ONCE
THAT HE DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT SERMONS AND THAT ALL HE DID WAS PICK UP
PAPER AND PEN AND THE WORDS FLOWED AS IF BY MAGIC. HE'S STILL
PREACHING AT THIS TIME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MUSKEGON

Date learned: CA00001959