here was a girl, whose mother had been taken by the Trows at the girl's
birth, who grew up to be a lovely creature with golden hair. such hair had
never been seen in Unst, so long, soft, shining. It fell in golden waves
about her and such an unusual mode of wearing it created much wonder. No
maiden--not even a child--ever permitted her hair to fall as it pleased except
this girl, and folks didsay that whenever she tried to bind it to her head,
the bright locks refused to obey her fingers, and slowly untwined themselves
until they became natural ringlets again.The girl was a sweet singer--and singing is a fairy gift--and she would wander about, lilting merrily to herself, while the neighbours wondered, and young men lost their hearts. It was believed that the girl was under the special care of the Trows, for everything seemed to be smooth before her, and her golden hair was called "the blessing o'them that loves her". But it happened that a witch began to covet the maiden's lovely locks, and one day, when the girl lay down among some hay and fell asleep, the witch cut off all her beautiful hair.
The poor young thing returned to her home shorn of her glory, and after that she pined away. All the song had died from her lips, all the smile had gone from her young face. But when she lay dead, in her teens, folks said that her golden hair began to grow again, and had grown to its former length and beauty ere the coffin-lid was closed upon her. The witch did not triumph, for the Trows, who had loved and watched over the motherless girl, took possession of the malignant old hag, and punished her as she deserved. She was compelled to wander about their haunts, and to live in the most strange manner. She was haunted night and day by evil creatures. Whenever she tried to sleep, the Trows would come and make such queer noises that she could not rest. She continued in this state till extreme old age, when she was spirited away altogether.
