When I was a kid, I had this great book of ghost stories from around the world. The one that I posted is from Ireland and was originally a song. I just thought I'd share it while I think of something better to do a blog on.



There was a lady on the North Sea shore,
Two daughters were the babes she bore.
As one grew bright as in the sun,
So coal black grew the other one.

A knight came riding up to their door
Lay the bend to the bonnie broom
He travelled far to be their wooer
Fa la la la la la la, la la la

He courted one with gloves and rings,
He loved the other above all things.

"Oh, sister, come take a walk with me
And we will watch the ships at sea."
But as they walked on the windy shore,
The dark girl threw her sister o'er.

Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam,
Crying, "Sister reach to me your hand.
Oh sister, sister let me live!
And all that's mine I will surely give."

"It's your own true love I shall have and more
And thou shall never walk ashore."
And so she floated like a swan,
The dark sea bore her body on.

Two minstrels walked along the strand
And watched the maiden float to land.
They made a harp out of her breast bone
That would melt a heart of stone.

They took three strands of her golden hair
And with them strung the harp so rare.
They took it down to her father's hall
To play the harp before them all.

But as they laid it upon a stone,
The harp began to play alone.
The first string sang with a doleful sound,
"The bride her younger sister drowned!"

The second string as that they tried,
In terror sits the dark-haired bride.
The third string sang out so sad and low,
"And now at last my tears shall flow..."