1One time there was a man and a woman. They had three daughters, two of whom had signed their names to the devil and were gone. Mary, the youngest one, stayed at home with her mother and father. One weekend, Mary had finished with her work, she had cleaned up everything, and she walked to the store. When she got there, her sister was there. She said, « Mary! You have to come with us tonight. We’re gonna have a big time, lots of fun, lots of money, lots of sport! » « No! » said Mary, « I’m staying home with mum and dad! I wouldn’t say I wouldn’t go out with you later though! » And Mary went back home. She finished all her work, then her mother said, « I suppose Mary, you want to go to the dance tonight? » « Well mum! If you want to let me go, I go \ » « Well! Ask your father! » So Mary asked her father if she could go to the dance. He said « Yes! But your hour is ten o’clock, the next time you go again! » Oh, she was glad. She put on the best clothes she had, she went out, and when she got outside, there was a man there with his horse and carriage, waiting for her. She got aboard and off they started. He was coaxing her to sign her name. « No! » she said, « I wouldn’t sign my name. I’ll keep you company but I wouldn’t sign my name! » He did not insist. « And, » she said, « when I want to go home, be sure you will come here and take me home! » « Yes! » he said, « just let me know! » So anyhow they went there. It was a big castle. She saw her sisters dancing and flying everywhere. Suddenly, she looked; it was five to ten. Now she wanted to go home! « Now! » she said, « my hour is up! » He took her on the horse and carriage, and off they went. When they arrived home, he asked her, « Are you going to the dance next week? » « Well! » she said, « I believe if you go, I go! »

2Anyway, Mary went home and worked hard during the whole week. When the next Friday came her mother said, « I suppose, Mary, you want to go to the dance tonight? » « Well mum! If you let me go I go! » « Well ask you father! » So she asked her father and he said, « Yes! And if you are a good girl like the other night, well you go again tonight, and your hour tonight is eleven o’clock! » An hour more! She was glad! She went to get dressed. When she came downstairs, she went outside. He was there with his horse and carriage waiting for her. They took off, and on their way going he coaxed her again, « Sign your name to us! » « No I wouldn’t sign my name. I’ll keep you company, but I wouldn’t sign my name! »

3When they go there, everybody was dancing. Her sisters were dressed up, there was lots of money, lots of fun, and everything that was to go was going. Mary danced, too, she danced and had fun with him. So anyhow, she looked at the time. It was five to eleven, she told him « My time is up to go home. Would you come and take me home? » « Sure! » he said, « I’ll take you home! » When they got home, he asked her again if she was coming to the dance next week. « Well! » she said, « I go next week, but that will be my last time. I won’t go anymore! »

4And she worked the whole week. Everyday she worked like a dog. When Friday came, she went down to the store again. There she met her sister who asked her if she wanted to come to the dance tonight, « Well yes, I may come later! » And she went back home. She finished her work and her mother asked, « I suppose Mary, you want to go to the dance tonight? » « Well mum, yes I’d like to go to the dance if you let me go but that’s my last dance! » she said, « I’m not going anymore, I want to stay with you all the time! » So she went to ask her father. He said, « Yes, you can go! » « Well dad, that’s my last dance tonight, I’m not going anymore, I’m gonna stay with you all the time! » She told that to her father, too. So she got dressed and when she went outside he was there with his horse and carriage waiting for her. On their way going he coaxed her again, « Would you sign your name to us! » « No! » she said, « I wouldn’t sign my name, I’ll keep you company but I wouldn’t sign my name! » She had to be home for twelve o’clock. Anyway they arrived at the dance. Everybody was having a good time. When came nine o’clock the devil said, « The dance’s gonna finish on the silver mountain! » and he asked Mary, « Are coming up with us? » « Well! If you promise me to take me home when I want to go! » « Sure! » he said, « I’ll take you home anytime! » She was glad! So he took his hat off the ground and everything disappeared away. They found themselves in a big castle, full of lights and everything. The party went on. Well, after a while Mary wanted a drink. She went outside the castle; and saw a little chapel. She found it funny. Anyway she came back to the castle and the devil was there with a big book and a pen waiting for her. « Now Mary! You’ve got to sign us your name! » « No! » she said, « I won’t sign my name! » « You’ve got to! » he said. Mary grabbed the pen. She made a big cross in the book and everything went in flame. Everything disappeared. She was left alone on the mountain. The next morning, here comes daylight. Mary looked around her, the mountain was covered up with fifty-cent pieces, she was on the silver mountain. She took out one fifty-cent piece, « Oh! » she said, « the rest is all smooth, there’s a hole in, I’m gonna put it back! » And she put it back. Then she remembered the road and the little chapel; she decided to go down that road to see where it led. She walked and finally broke out in a big big town. There were many people, horses, cars, trains, and all kinds of things she had never seen before. But she was not home yet, and she kept on walking. By and by she saw a carriage coming towards her, it was a king with his queen and his son. They stopped and the king said, « Get aboard, I’ll take you home! » And Mary got aboard. The king was driving to his place. On their way going he said, « Mary! Would you like to marry my prince? » « Oh king! You’re making fun of me! » « Oh no! » he said, « you’ve done us a good thing, you enchanted all of us! We’re enchanted thanks to you! » They drove to the king’s castle, and when they arrived, the king married them right away. They had a big supper and a big dance. And they all went to Mary’s mother and father’s. She was always talking about them; she was longing to see them, you know. They arrived to Mary’s parents’ house. It was an old shack; they were really poor off. Her mother had seen them coming and she had told her husband, « Look! The king and the queen are coming this way, and there are two more of them! » Anyway, they got off and Mary went to her mother first, « I suppose mum, you’re tired waiting for me! » « Oh Mary, it’s not you! » They were so happy to see their daughter back, and with the prince! They could not understand what happened. So the king told them, « Your girl, she enchanted us. I married her to my prince, and you’re gonna come with us to stay with us! » So they did, and if they’re not dead they’re living yet!