The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE GIRL AND THE ANTS

A GIRL WENT TO THE BEACH AND FELL ASLEEP THERE. LATER IN THE DAY,
AFTER SHE HAD BEEN AWAKENED TO GO HOME, HER CHEEK BEGAN TO ITCH.
THIS ITCH CONTINUED, NO MATTER HOW MUCH SHE SCRATCHED.
EVENTUALLY HER PARENTS NOTICED HER CONSTANT SCRATCHING OF HER
CHEEK AND ATTEMPTED TO BREAK HER OF A "BAD HABIT." YET SHE CON-
TINUED TO INSIST THAT HER CHEEK ITCHED. SO THEY ASSIGNED HER TO
A REST HOME WHERE HER HANDS WERE TIED DOWN AND SHE COULDN'T
SCRATCH HER CHEEK.
A FEW MONTHS LATER, WHEN HER MOTHER WAS VISITING HER, THE GIRL
ASKED THE MOTHER TO RELEASE HER HAND FOR JUST A MINUTE. THE
MOTHER GAVE IN TO HER DAUGHTER'S PLEADING AND DID SO. IMMEDIATELY
THE GIRL SCRATCHED HER CHEEK VIOLENTLY, TEARING OFF THE TOP LAYER
OF SKIN. THE WHOLE INSIDE OF HER CHEEK WAS FILLED WITH ANTS--
SHE HAD HOUSED A LIVING ANT COLONY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00001957 CA