194 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



the old nurse to a sort of lynch-law, for having (he 

 affirmed) neglected her charge so as to cause the baby's 

 death, which had " crazed da por midder and hastened 

 her end." As this husband contracted a second 

 marriage, we must hope that No. 2 will escape the 

 fate of No. i, as a meeting in Trowland between the 

 two wives might be awkward. Still more awkward 

 would it be if the first wife were to return, for, deeply 

 as the husband mourned her, I fear he is not prepared 

 to welcome his lost spouse if she comes back to prove 

 that the old nurse's statement was a true one. 



The name of Trow has been superseded by that of 

 Fairy, but the characteristics of the race have never 

 changed, and a Shetland fairy is quite different from 

 Shakespeare's English dainty creatures, and from Lover's 

 queer Irish ones. It does not even resemble a Scotch 

 brownie. Some of the old men used to sing wonderful 

 lays of this unique fairyland which is located under 

 the green knowes or sunny hillsides. The music of 

 such songs was of a peculiarly wild, sweet kind, and 

 the accompaniment was always played on the violin (an 

 instrument so familiar that every Shetland boy learned 

 to play upon it). Having once picked up a few verses 

 of one of these ballads, I was anxious to procure all of 

 it, but have been unsuccessful as yet. However, the 

 greater part of the lay has been given me by my 

 brother who inherits the family love of such lore. 

 Here are the stanzas, with his remarks : — 



" Der lived a king inta da aste, 

 Scowan iirla griin ; 



