Page:Shetland Folk-Lore - Spence - 1899.pdf/157

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Shetland Folk-Lore

is in waiting. The night is dark and murky, and the sea is breaking on the shore, but fearlessly she takes her seat in the tiny skiff. With amazing speed they skim the waves, and soon she is landed in the Wick o' Gröten, in the island of Fetlar. Presently she is ushered into a spacious cavern, where a great company of strange beings are gathered together. The special object of Catherine's visit is soon accomplished, and she is presented with a tiny pig (jar), containing an ointment for anointing the new-born child. While she is performing this delicate operation, she accidentally touches one of her eyes. No sooner does the mysterious ointment touch the eyelid than she beholds a certain woman of her former acquaintance, who had been some time dead. Calling her by name, she exclaims : “Lass, what w'y is du come here?” “What e'e saw du yon wi'?” enquires one of the trows. “Dis ene,” replies

Catherine, pointing to her left eye. Im-

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