The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LEGEND

ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO, MY AUNT AND UNCLE, MARY AND PAT KELLY,
OWNED A HOME ON A HILL ABOUT THREE MILES OUT OF MASSON, QUE-
BEC {CANADA}. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL LIVED A FAMILY
BY THE NAME OF ROBETAILLE. EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
NIGHTS, THE ROBETAILLES GAVE A SQUARE DANCE FOR THE
COMMUNITY. THE WHOLE FAMILY PLAYED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
WHEN THE LAST ROBETAILLE DIED, JOE "THE FIDDLER" THE DAY
AFTER HIS FUNERAL MARY KELLY HEARD MUSIC COMING FROM THE
ROBETAILLE HOUSE. SHE WENT AND GOT PAT KELLY AND HE
HEARD THE MUSIC ALSO. EVERYONE ON THE STREET HEARD THE
MUSIC, SO THEY WENT AND GOT THEIR PARISH PRIEST, FR.
ROTHIER. HE LISTENED AND HEARD THE MUSIC ALSO. HE SAID
IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT IT WAS THEIR SPIRITS PLAYING AND
THAT IT WAS A SIGN BECAUSE THEY HAD HELPED THE YOUNG
PEOPLE OF THE TOWN WITH THEIR MUSIC. THIS CONTINUED
EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT. THE HOUSE WAS PUT UP
FOR SALE BUT NO ONE WOULD BUY IT, SO IT WAS TORN DOWN.
ONCE AFTER IT HAD BEEN TORN DOWN, THEY HEARD THE FIDDLE
PLAYING.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT CLAIMS THAT THIS IS TRUE FOR WHEN THEY WERE
ALIVE, SHE HEARD THE ROBETAILLES PLAY.
SOUNDS OF SQUARE DANCE MUSIC HEARD FROM HOUSE AND ITS SITE EVEN AFTER
LAST FIDDLER DIES.
KELLY AND ROBETAILLE FAMILIES, NEAR MASSON, QUEBEC, FATHER ROTHIER

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CANADA

Date learned: 03-24-1972