The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

IF A BIRD FLIES IN THE HOUSE, A DEATH WILL FOLLOW. THE
MAID WE HAD WHEN I WAS A CHILD, AND WHO WORKED FOR ME LATER,
BELIEVED THIS. HER NAME WAS CELANE DENY, SHE WAS ABOUT
20, IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, IN 1940. SHE WOULD GET
HYSTERICAL IF A BIRD GOT IN THE HOUSE. IF IT CAME DOWN
THE CHIMNEY SHE WOULD SCREAM AND RUN OUT OF THE ROOM WHERE
IT WAS. THEN SHE WOULD OPEN THE DOORS AND WINDOWS AND
HIDE BEHIND THE COUCH OR RUN IN THE CLOSET AND JUST PEEK
OUT. IT WAS BAD LUCK FOR HER IF IT TOUCHED HER. SHE
WOULD KEEP MY SISTER AND ME RIGHT WITH HER SO IT
COULDN'T TOUCH US EITHER.

Where learned: KENTUCKY ; TENNESSEE ; LEBANON ; LOUISVILLE

Date learned: NOT GIVEN ; 00-00-1940