The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LEGEND--SKINNING A WITCH

FOR A LONG TIME, THE NEGRO AND HIS "YALLER-'OOMAN" LIVED HAPPILY
AS MAN AND WIFE IN THEIR CABIN NEAR THE SWAMP. BUT THE MAN BEGAN
TO NOTICE A STRANGE THING ABOUT HIS WIFE. SHE WAS ALWAYS GONE
AFTER MIDNIGHT. HE DECIDED TO PLAY POSSUM AND WATCH HER. SHE GOT
UP, RAKED RED-HOT COALS ONTO THE GRIDIRON AND PULLED OUT THE
SPINNING WHEEL. THEN SHE SAT OVER THE COALS AND BEGAN TO SPIN OFF
HER SKIN UNTIL IT WAS ALL GONE AND SHE HAD TURNED INTO A LARGE
YELLOW CAT. SHE THREW THE SKIN UNDER THE BED AND LOPED OFF. THE
MAN DECIDED TO TAKE CARE OF HIS WITCH-WIFE. HE GOT UP AND POURED
HER SKIN FULL OF SALT AND PEPPER. WHEN THE WOMAN RETURNED, SHE
JUMPED INTO HER SKIN AND LET OUT A SHRIEK. THEN SHE FELL DOWN AND
DIED.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Date learned: NOT GIVEN