The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SPIRIT OF THE FOREST PINE

THE STORY TAKES PLACE IN A BEAUTIFUL GROVE OF PINE
TREES. THE SPIRIT OF THE FOREST PINE LIVED IN THE
FOREST BY WATER, BECAUSE EVERYTHING INDIAN IS BY
WATER BECAUSE THEY LIKE WATER. A BEAUTIFUL INDIAN
PRINCESS USED TO GO AT NIGHT TO BEG THE SPIRIT TO TAKE
HER TO HIS PALACE, CASTLE OR WHATEVER IT WAS. SHE
JUST WANTED TO GO WHERE HE LIVED. SHE USED TO SING TO
HIM TO TRY TO LURE HIM TO HER. SHE FELL ASLEEP AND
WHEN SHE WOKE UP THERE WERE TINY LITTLE MARKS AROUND HER
AND A GARLAND OF FLOWERS AND PINE NEEDLES WAS ON HER
HEAD. SHE GOT REAL EXCITED. THE NEXT NIGHT SHE WENT
BACK AND SANG TO HIM AGAIN. SHE FELL ASLEEP AND HAD
A DREAM THAT TINY SPIRITS WERE DANCING AROUND HER. THE
LITTLE SPIRITS SPOKE TO HER AND SAID "YOU MAY COME
TO LIVE WITH THE SPIRIT BUT YOU MAY NEVER LEAVE THE
FOREST" AND SHE THOUGHT ABOUT HOW SHE LOVED THE SUN-
SHINE AND SHE DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE THERE WITHOUT THE
SUNSHINE FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE. SO SHE SAID
NO AND THEY SAID OK. SO THE NEXT MORNING SHE WAS
HEARTBROKEN, BECAUSE SHE WANTED MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE
TO LIVE WITH HIM. SHE WENT BACK EVERY NIGHT AND SANG
TO HIM CAUSE SHE'D BLOWN HER CHANCE AND THEY NEVER
CAME BACK. SHE ALWAYS GRIEVED FOR THAT FOREST LAND
BECAUSE SHE GAVE IT UP.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Date learned: 04-24-1969