The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A DANCE OF DEATH

A GIRL DANCED A DANCE OF DEATH WITH THE DEVIL.
HER PARENTS FORBID HER TO DANCE BUT SHE USED TO
SLIP OUT AND GO TO THE DANCES ANYWAY. ONE NIGHT
SHE PUT ON RED SHOES AND WENT TO THE DANCE.
THERE SHE MET THIS STRANGER WHO WAS DRESSED DIFFERENTLY
FROM ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE AT THE DANCE. HE WAS VERY
SHARP. HE ASKED HER TO DANCE AND SHE SAID YES. THEY
DANCED AND DANCED AND DANCED. FINALLY SHE ASKED
DANCE SAID THAT IF SHE TOOK OFF HER RED SHOES
TO STOP AND HE SAID NO. THE REST OF THE PEOPLE AT THE
THAT THIS WOULD MAKE HIM
STOP BUT SHE COULDN'T. FINALLY SHE DROPPED DEAD FROM
EXHAUSTION AND WHILE THE REST OF THE PEOPLE CAME TO SEE
WHAT HAPPENED THE STRANGE MAN HAD DISAPPEARED. THE STRANGER
WAS THE DEVIL FOLKS SAID AND HE TOOK HER WITH HIM BACK
TO HELL. ON THE DEATH OF THIS GIRL A FEW OF THE
PEOPLE SAID THEY SAW THE MAN'S HORNS
AS HE RAN OUT.

Submitter comment: MRS. LEWIS SAID THAT THIS STORY WAS TOLD TO HER BY HER
GRANDMOTHER WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL. HER GRANDMOTHER
SAID THAT THIS WAS A TRUE STORY.

Where learned: FREE PRESS SERVICE DESK

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