The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

DEATH STORY

DID YOU HEAR WHAT HAPPENED TO VIRGINIA GARTON WHEN
VIRGINIA SMITH'S MOTHER DIED? WELL, SHE HAD BEEN TO
TOWN AND INSTEAD OF GOING IN HER HOUSE AND PUTTING HER
PACKAGES DOWN, SHE WENT UP TO VIRGINIA SMITH'S TO SEE
IF THERE WAS ANYTHING SHE COULD DO TO HELP OUT. A FEW
DAYS LATER, AFTER MRS. SMITH'S MOTHER DIED, MRS. GARTON
MISSED ONE OF HER PACKAGES AND CALLED MRS. SMITH TO SEE
IF SHE HAD LEFT IT THERE. SHE ASKED, "VIRGINIA, DID
I LEAVE A PACKAGE AT YOUR HOUSE THE OTHER DAY? IT HAD
A SLIP IN IT." MRS. SMITH WAS KIND OF QUIET FOR A
MINUTE AND THEN SAID, "WHEN I SAW THE SLIP, I THOUGHT
IT WAS ONE MY MOTHER HAD BROUGHT WITH HER AND I BURIED
HER IN IT." MRS. GARTON SAID, "OH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT,
I GOT IT ON SALE ANYWAY." TO WHICH MRS. SMITH VERY
CALMLY REPLIED, "THAT'S EVEN BETTER--MOTHER ALWAYS
DID LOVE A BARGAIN."

Where learned: NASHVILLE ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED

Date learned: 08-13-1968