The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LITHUANIAN GHOST STORY

THIS STORY WAS RELATED TO MY GRANDMOTHER BY MY GREAT UNCLE
MICHOLAS TAUJANSKAS WHO EXPERIENCED THIS TALE IN
APPROXIMATELY 1914 AS A SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD YOUTH. HE
WAS AN ORGANIST AT THE LOCAL VILLAGE PARISH.
A PASTOR'S YOUNG HOUSEKEEPER HAD STRANGLED (BY DRINKING
SOME SULFURIC ACID) HER CHILD AND HAD COMMITTED SUICIDE.
THEY BURIED HER BUT THAT WAS NOT THE END. AS SOON AS
THE PRIEST PUT OUT THE LIGHT FOR THE NIGHT AND SAT DOWN
BY HIS STOVE TO WARM HIMSELF IN THE WINTER TIME HE
WOULD BE PULLED AROUND THE ROOM IN HIS CHAIR. IF HE LAY
DOWN IN BED, HE WOULD {BE} PUSHED OUT OF BED, AND THE
WHOLE ROOM WOULD BE COMPLETELY OVERTURNED. BUT IF A CANDLE
OR LIGHT WAS LIT, THE SPIRIT DISAPPEARED. THE SPIRIT ALSO
LEFT AT THE MIDNIGHT, JUST BEFORE THE FIRST COCK'S
CROW. THE PRIEST TRIED EVERY METHOD KNOWN TO THE CATHOLIC
RELIGION TO EXORCISE THE SPIRIT OUT OF THE ROOM, BUT EVERY-
THING FAILED. THIS LASTED THREE OR FOUR YEARS, AND AS
A RESULT, THE FIRST PRIEST LEFT THE PARISH AND A SECOND
YOUNG PRIEST DIED OF FRIGHT. A THIRD PRIEST CAME AND
DURING HIS TENURE SOME PEOPLE WERE BURYING A PERSON NEXT
TO THE HOUSEKEEPER AND NOTICED A TUNNEL LEAVING THROUGH
THE CASKET AND GOING TO THE SURFACE OF THE GROUND. SO
THE CASKET WAS DUG UP AND UNCOVERED. THE HOUSEKEEPER
WAS TURNED ON HER SIDE AND HER CLOTHES WERE ALL RUMPLED.
SO THE PRIEST SUGGESTED THAT THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEKEEPER
BE CUT OFF AND PLACED BETWEEN HER LEGS. THIS WAS DONE
AND THE STRANGE HAPPENINGS STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. THE
PURPOSE OF THE BEHEADING WAS SO THE GHOST COULD NOT
REACH ITS HEAD AND THUS ESCAPE THROUGH THE TUNNEL.

Submitter comment: THE PERSON RELATING THIS STORY ACTUALLY BELIEVED IT.
INFORMANT VISITING UNITED STATES FROM LITHUANIA FOR
APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; LITHUANIA

Date learned: 01-18-1968 ; 00-00-1914