The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HOUSE DEMON AND THE FARMER

ONE FARMER BECAME VERY RICH BECAUSE EVERYTHING WENT SO
WELL FOR HIM. THERE WERE NO MISHAPS OR ACCIDENTS OF ANY
KIND. THE OTHER FARMERS DECIDED THAT HE MUST HAVE A
HOUSE-DEMON AS A FRIEND, SO THEY STARTED WATCHING HIM
CLOSELY.
FIRST OF ALL, THEY NOTICED THAT HE NEVER WENT TO CHURCH,
ONLY HIS WIFE AND SON. (HOUSE-DEMONS DON'T LIKE ANYONE WHO
WENT TO CHURCH). THEN ONE NIGHT, THEY NOTICED THAT THE
FARMER PUT OUT A PLATE OF SCRAMBLED EGGS BY HIS DOOR. THE OTHER
FARMERS HAD BEEN TRYING TO THINK OF A GOOD WAY TO SCARE
THE DEMON AWAY, BUT COULDN'T THINK OF ONE. BUT NOW THEY
FOUND THE WAY. SO THEY DEUMPED THE EGGS OUT AND BURIED
THEM. INSTEAD OF THE EGGS, THEY PUT SOME COW MANURE IN THE
PLATE AND LEFT IT BY THE FARMER'S DOOR.
THE NEXT DAY, THE NEWS SPREAD THAT THE FARMER'S COW WAS
SICK. SINCE THEY HAD NO VETERINARIANS IN THOSE DAYS, THE
COW DIED WITHIN A FEW DAYS. SHORTLY AFTER THE COW'S
DEATH, THE FARMER'S SON BECAME ILL AND ALMOST DIED. THEN
AFTER THE SON WAS WELL AGAIN, HIS STEAM BATH BUILDING
BURNED DOWN. SO THE PEOPLE TALKED AMOND THEMSELVES THAT
NOW THAT THEY HAD ANGERED THE DEMON, THE DEMON WAS PUNISH-
ING THE FARMER FOR SOMETHING HE DIDN'T DO.

Submitter comment: TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN BY RAMUNE M. STONYS
TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN BY COLLECTOR

James Callow comment: ALSO SEE P425 FOR MORE ON HOUSE DEMONS BY THIS INFORMANT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 01-19-1972