The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ONCE AGAIN, WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD, I WAS OUT WALKING
ONE DAY. I HAD A NEW DRESS ON, AND I FELT PROUD. I
LOOKED AT MYSELF, BECAUSE WE ONLY GOT A NEW DRESS EVERY
2 OR 3 YEARS. I WAS SITTING IN CHURCH THAT SAME DAY
AND MY MOTHER HOLLERED AT ME, WHEN I STARTED LOOKING
AT MYSELF. WHEN WE WENT HOME, MOTHER SAID, "WHAT
DID YOU HAVE, YOU WERE WALTZING AROUND." I SAID,
"NO, I WASN'T." MOTHER SAID, "YOU WERE ADMIRING
YOURSELF." I SAID THAT I WAS SEEING IF MY DRESS WAS
STRAIGHT IN THE BACK. I GOT SICK THAT NIGHT. MOTHER
SAID IT WAS THE EVIL EYES BECAUSE I WAS SHOWING OFF.
AN OLD LADY SAID PRAYERS OVER ME AND I GOT BETTER.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS UNSURE AS TO WHETHER THIS IS REALLY TRUE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK

Date learned: 02-06-1972