In the time before the Union, a Tullibody farmer of the name David Rae, fell in love with a woman he believed to be fair from his home village. Janet Cokley was this woman's name and in time they married. However, David soon discovered the wife he had been so proud of winning was a very vain woman, who was known around the village to be very flirtatious.
One day, as he toiled in his fields, David came upon a wee fairy called Red Cap. So, David sat for a while and chatted with Red Cap, as they chatted away David spoke of his wife's behaviour and how he wished he could change it.
Red Cap being a fairy went into his pocket and produced a small stone. He told David this was a magic stone, and he should ensure his wife swallows it while eating her broth one night and this would change her flirtations and vain behaviours. So that night as David and Janet were preparing to sit down to their evening broth David waited for an opportune moment and slipped the magic stone into Janet's soup without her noticing. Unfortunately, as she ate her soup she came across the stone and threw it out the front door.
Poor David's life continued with his flirty wife and as the year passed his dismay grew. The following year on Hallowe'en night David had travelled to a party near Airthrey Hill and as he wandered home that night, he met wee Red Cap again. Chatting as old friends, David told Red Cap what happened with the small magic stone and how Janet's behaviour was still the same and how she liked to flirt with the men from the village and had to look her very best every day.
Red Cap sighed and felt so heavy of heart for his saddened friend that he came up with a plan. Red Cap told David that if yet another year passed during which Janet's behaviours did not change then on next Hallowe'en the loose woman would be taken by himself and a group of his fairy friends to Fairyland.
As the following year passed poor David's situation just worsened. Janet's flirtation and vain ways were brought to the attention of the Kirk (church) minister and the decision was taken to ostracise Janet throughout the village, very much to David's embarrassment.
As Hallowe'en approached again David insisted that this year to try and prevent further embarrassing situations, there would be no parties - instead Janet and he would be having an early night. On Hallowe'en David stood firm and told Janet no parties and sent her off to bed with him going to follow behind once he had ensured the house was all locked up.
After a good night's sound sleep David woke in the morning feeling refreshed only to find that he was in the bed alone. He called Janet and upon receiving no reply he rose from bed and went around the house looking for her, but she was nowhere to be found. He then went around to check the doors to see if she had risen early and was already away out, but no the doors were firmly locked from the inside.
David then went out into the village and asked those who were still returning from parties if anyone had seen his wife. All the villagers he meant told him the same story, they had all seen Janet floating away on a strange wee cloud which was heading towards Dumyat and the Fairy Knowe.
The locals made a wee rhyme about Janet's disappearance:-
“Was it the fairies,
Or the presbytery
Or poor jealous David
Who arranged for her removal?
Hopefully for Janet's sake
It was the fairies”