Dearman Birchall Diary Entry

Dearman Birchall Diary Entry

An 1871 diary entry about a scary story Dearman Birchall heard at a party.

M.R. James's "The Diary of Mr. Poynter" was not the earliest occurrence of a story in which somebody mistakes an intruder in their home for their own pet. In "The Diary of Mr. Poynter," James Denton reaches down to pet his dog, but he places his hand on a faceless, hairy creature lurking in his home. This chilling motif of mistaking the horrific for the familiar has consistently been used throughout time. Stories such as "The Licked Hand," in which what a homeowner believes to be their dog licks their hand, when in reality, it was a human, have been passed on from generation to generation. It is even easier for these stories' lives to continue with the internet, as there are thousands of websites dedicated to urban legends, scary stories, etc.
This diary entry is the first known recording of this horror motif, which shows the lasting impact a chilling tale has on a person, and inspires them to pass it along, never allowing the story to die.
This article discusses the origin of this horror motif, but the most striking and relevant part is that M.R. James's story was preceded by another version.

Dearman Birchall

Diary of Dearman Birchall

Snopes

11 August 1871

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/arent-you-glad-you-didnt-turn-on-the-light/