The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

DEATH OF A DOUBTER

A YOUNG GIRL LIVING IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY DID NOT BELIEVE
ANY OF THE SCARY STORIES THAT SOME OF HER FRIENDS WOULD TELL.
SO HER FRIENDS DARED HER TO GO INTO A NEARBY CEMETERY AT MIDNIGHT
AND PLACE A KNIFE INTO ONE OF THE GRAVES, RIGHT OVER WHERE THE
HEART OF THE DEAD PERSON WOULD BE. SHE AGREED.
AT MIDNIGHT ON THE APPOINTED NIGHT THE GIRL TOOK A KNIFE, SLIPPED
OUT OF HER HOUSE, AND WALKED TO THE CEMETERY. SHE KNELT OVER A
GRAVE AND PLUNGED THE KNIFE DEEP INTO THE GROUND, OVER THE AREA
OF THE HEART. SHE THEN ROSE QUICKLY TO LEAVE. THEY FOUND HER
THERE THE NEXT MORNING, DEAD, HER HAIR TURNED COMPLETELY WHITE.
WHEN THE BODY WAS BEING REMOVED, A KNIFE WAS FOUND NEAR THE HEM
OF THE GIRL'S GOWN, PINNING IT TO THE GROUND. SHE HAD EVIDENTALLY
FELT A TUG ON HER GOWN WHEN SHE GOT UP TO LEAVE, AND MUST HAVE
THOUGHT SOME FORCE WAS PULLING HER DOWN INTO THE GRAVE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN