Eavesdropper
A Maryland Tall Tale
retold by
S. E. Schlosser
There is an old tale which claims that at midnight, on Christmas Eve, the cattle will kneel in the barn and speak with one another. Once an old Maryland man decided to test the tale by hiding in the barn at midnight to listen. So he climbed a rope to the window in the hayloft. He lay down on the rough gray boards, covered himself with hay and waited.
Around midnight, he saw all the cows in the barn kneel. At first he could not make out any words, but then, he heard the cow underneath his hiding place say to its neighbor: "I am afraid our poor old master will not live out the year."
"Oh dear," exclaimed her neighbor. "What a pity."
The old man was so frightened by the cow's words that he hurried over to the window, wanting to get away from the barn as fast as he could. But his sweating fingers slipped on the rope and he fell to the ground, broke his neck, and died.
Since then, the people in Maryland have never eavesdropped on the cattle at midnight on Christmas Eve.
You can read more Maryland folktales and ghost stories in Spooky Maryland by S.E. Schlosser.
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Comments
If the man died how did the word go around about his death?
Posted by: Bob | September 7, 2010 02:16 PM
There is no way that the word would go around. how did they even know he died cause of the cows talking?
Posted by: Saira | September 9, 2010 11:31 AM
because they saw his body
Posted by: notgonnatell | September 11, 2010 02:30 PM
good question? how did it get around
Posted by: kori | September 11, 2010 07:17 PM
You just know how to ruin a good Tall tale don't ya BoB! LOL
Posted by: Mike | September 12, 2010 07:33 AM
In one version I heard, the man told his wife he was going to eavesdrop on the cows on Christmas Eve. That's how people knew what caused his accident.
Posted by: Justme | September 13, 2010 10:23 AM
This is weird....
Posted by: Marissa | September 16, 2010 11:07 PM
weird thing
Posted by: setem | October 1, 2010 07:37 PM
I think the cows saw him
Posted by: Flara | October 2, 2010 09:31 AM
it is cool
Posted by: desiny | October 8, 2010 02:33 PM
Are you kidding me? It's a story... To scare little kids so they won't eavesdrop.... Why go and ruin with stupid QUESTIONS!!!
Posted by: Savana Johnee | October 16, 2010 12:04 AM
that man should have been careful he listen to what the cows said and knew it could happen so he's pretty stupid to not listen and be carful
Posted by: eleni | October 23, 2010 10:27 AM
wow!! that wasnt even scary..juss sayin!
Posted by: KeLsEy | October 28, 2010 01:21 PM
i would have went through the front door, like the cows would have done anything
Posted by: jbarnes | November 28, 2010 04:33 PM
COOOOOOOL!
Posted by: rtyrtyrtyrtyrtyry | December 8, 2010 02:37 PM
Hahahahaha the farmer didn't listen to the stupid cows lol maybe he learned his lesson :p
Posted by: Jessica&Mariana | December 29, 2010 04:02 AM
You never know it might be true but only god knows
Posted by: Gabriela | December 29, 2010 11:25 PM
Of course people realized beause, it was christmas eve, and he was by the cows. on christmas eve the cows are supposed to talk and your not supposed to listen, so when you find a dead man with the cows after christmas eve what would you think? -__-
Posted by: Rose | January 19, 2011 08:48 PM
I like it, such a shame he died.
Posted by: Raven | February 4, 2011 11:36 AM
its awesome
Posted by: tyler chambers | March 9, 2011 12:46 PM
Like the story and i liked how he dieded in the end because that was part of the story
Posted by: Candy | May 5, 2011 04:14 PM
i will never eavesdrop cattle in my life
Posted by: jose | May 22, 2011 10:57 AM
It's called a Folktale for a reason.
Posted by: Alexis | July 6, 2011 03:38 PM