The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A RICH MAN BEGGED A GYPSY TO TELL HIS NEWLY BORN SON'S
FORTUNE. THE GYPSY SAID THAT THE SON WOULD DROWN
BEFORE HE WAS EIGHTEEN. THE ALARMED FATHER BUILT A
HUGE WALL AROUND HIS HOUSE AND HIRED PEOPLE TO
CONTINUALLY WATCH OVER HIS SON. YEARS PASSED. ONE
DAY THE BOY SLIPPED OUT OF THE HOUSE AND FOUND A
COOL STREAM. HE MERELY PUT HIS FEET IN AND AN UNDERTOW
PULLED HIM IN. SECONDS LATER, HIS FATHER FOUND HIM
DROWN.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAID THAT HIS WAS THE MOST POPULAR GYPSY
STORY IN ROMANIA AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.
INFORMANT SAID THAT THIS LEGEND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR
KEEPING MOST GYPSIES OUT OF THE MAJOR TOWNS IN
ROMANIA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; ROMANIA

Date learned: 11-08-1971