The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

VARIATION ON A GOLDEN ARM

I FIRST HEARD THIS WHEN I WAS SEVEN, FROM AN OBSCURE
NEIGHBORHOOD FRIEND: A GIRL HAD HER ARM CUT OFF BY
A WITCH, WHO SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED IT WITH A GOLDEN
ONE. AFTER A WHILE, THE GIRL TOOK SICK AND DIED,
AND WHILE SHE WAS LAID OUT IN THE FUNERAL HOME, HER
SISTER STOLE HER GOLDEN ARM. A FEW NIGHTS AFTER THE
FUNERAL, THE SISTER WAS LYING IN BED, WHEN SHE HEARD
EERIE SINGING: "MARY, I WANT MY GOLDEN ARM!" SHE
LEAPED OUT OF BED AND THE GOLDEN ARM CAME AT HER AND
TWISTED HER HEAD OFF HER NECK. THE NEXT MORNING THE
WITCH CAME AND TOOK MARY'S BODY WITH HER.

Submitter comment: HORROR STORY, WITCH STORY.
HORROR STORY, WITCH STORY

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1957