The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LITTLE MATCH GIRL

THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL WHOSE MOTHER DIED. HER FATHER REMARRIED
AND HER STEPMOTHER WAS VERY MEEAN AND WOULD SEND HER ON THE CORNER
EVERY NIGHT TO SELL MATCHES. IT WAS THANKSGIVING NIGHT AND THE
LITTLE GIRL WENT TO HER CORNER TO SELL MATCHES AS USUAL. IT GOT
BITTER COLD AND IT STARTED TO SNOW AND SNOW, AND SHE BECAME VERY
COLD. THE LITTLE GIRL WENT IN BETWEEN TWO HOUSES AND LIT A MATCH
TO WARM UP. SHE LOOKED THROUGH A WINDOW OF ONE OF THE HOUSES AND
SAW THE FAMILY GATHERED AROUND THE TABLE WITH A GREAT BIG TURKEY.
SHE KEPT LIGHTING MATCHES TO KEEP WARM AND WATCHING THE PEOPLE IN
THE HOUSE. SHE BEGAN TO CRY, AND WAS ALMOST FROZEN TO DEATH, WHEN
HER MOTHER HEARD HER CRIES AND CAME DOWN AND TOOK HER TO HEAVEN
WITH HER WHERE THEY WERE BOTH HAPPY TOGETHER.

Submitter comment: THIS STORY IS A TRADITIONAL ONE IN OUR FAMILY, DATING BACK SEVERAL
GENERATIONS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT