The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WHEN NARCE'S GRANDMA WAS YOUNG, THERE WERE NO BANKS.
THE ONLY BANKS WERE LIKE THE BANKS DURING COWBOY TIMES;
THERE WAS NO FICA INSURANCE IF MONEY WAS STOLEN. PEOPLE
WOULD BURY THEIR MONEY IN THE GROUND. PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT
IF A PERSON BURIED MONEY AND DIED WITHOUT DIGGING IT UP
THAT PERSON'S SPIRIT COMES BACK TO GUARD THE MONEY.
1. ONE NIGHT, THE TREE IN THE BACKYARD LIT UP LIKE
LIGHTENING. THERE WAS A KNOT IN THE TREE'S TRUNK AS IF
THERE WAS ONCE A HOLE THERE. ONE MORNING WHEN THE HOMEOWNERS
GOT UP, THE TREE WAS ALL BEATEN UP; THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE
TRUNK. A THIEF SMASHED INTO THE TREE AND STOLE MONEY THAT WAS
HIDDEN THERE.
2. AT THE HOUSE WHERE THERE WAS MONEY FROM THE PAST HIDDEN,
THE HOMEOWNERS WOULD HEAR PEOPLE IN THE KITCHEN. THEY WERE
TALKING, DOING DISHES, COOKING, AND SCRAPING THE TABLE CHAIRS
BACK. WHEN THE HOMEOWNERS GOT UP TO LOOK, THERE WAS NO ONE
THERE.
3. THIEVES MUST FIND MONEY ONLY UNDER THREE CONDITIONS:
IT HAS TO BE AT NIGHT, THERE CAN BE NO TALKING, AND THERE CAN
BE NO ENVY. IF ONE OF THESE CONDITIONS ARE BROKEN,
THE MONEY WILL TURN TO ASHES.
4. ONE NIGHT, A GROUP OF THIEVES WERE DIGGING UP SOMEONE'S
MONEY. THEY HEARD THE SHOVEL HIT SOMETHING HARD. SOMEONE
SAID, "THERE IT IS!" WHEN THE BOX WAS OPENED, THERE WAS
NO MONEY INSIDE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1910