The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A boy raised his arm to hit his mother and God struck him dead
in his tracks. When he was to be buried, his parents were unable
to close the casket because his arm had remained above his head in
the position to strike his mother. The parents eventually had to
break the boy's arm to close the casket.

Submitter comment: This was told to children to prevent them from ever raising an
arm to strike a parent.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION

Date learned: 10-00-1991