The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

GHOST STORY

"WHEN MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER CAME TO THE UNITED STATES, SHE
MOVED INTO AN APARTMENT BY HERSELF. AT THAT TIME SHE WAS IN
HER EARLY TWENTIES AND LIVED IN NEW YORK CITY. SHE LIVED
IN THE UPPERMOST APARTMENT. IT WAS AN ATTIC WHICH HAD BEEN
CONVERTED INTO AN APARTMENT. MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER WAS VERY
QUIET AND NEVER SPOKE TO ANYONE. EXCEPT ONE DAY A LADY
DRESSED IN A WOMAN'S VERSION OF A SAILOR SUIT CAME BY AND
VISITED MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER. MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER DIDN'T
KNOW HER BUT SHE STILL INVITED HER IN. EVENTUALLY THEY
BECAME GOOD FRIENDS. THE LADY CAME BY AND VISITED MY GREAT-
GRANDMOTHER EVERY DAY. ONE DAY, HOWEVER, THE LADY DIDN'T
COME. MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER WASN'T REAL WORRIED ABOUT IT
UNTIL A WHOLE WEEK WENT BY WITHOUT THE WOMAN VISITING HER.
MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER THEN WENT DOWNSTAIRS AND SPOKE TO HER
LANDLADY. SHE ASKED HER LANDLADY ABOUT THE MYSTERIOUS
WOMAN DRESSED IN A SAILOR SUIT. THE LANDLADY WAS SHOCKED.
SHE TOLD MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER THAT THE WOMAN SHE WAS
TALKING ABOUT HAD BEEN DEAD FOR SOME TIME; SHE HAD HANGED
HERSELF IN MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER'S APARTMENT SHORTLY BEFORE
MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER HAD MOVED IN."

Where learned: NEW JERSEY ; CARTERET

Date learned: 00001973CA