OSLA'S WEDDING. 325 



the bridegroom took the " married woman." Eeturn- 

 ing, the bridegroom of course took his wife, and the 

 married man and married woman marched in company ; 

 and all the others going and returning — always arm-in- 

 arm — were coupled according to their choice or pre- 

 dilections ; but once paired, as they were on starting 

 for church, each lad stuck to his lass as his special 

 charge throughout the whole festivities with the most 

 praiseworthy devotion and constancy, very rarely even 

 dancing with any one else. A younger brother of 

 Osla's acted as "gunner," always an important official 

 on such occasions. Armed with an old flint-lock 

 musket, he kept blazing away blank shots at intervals 

 as the company tramped merrily over the roadless 

 hills. Arrived at the church, the musket was left 

 outside at the door, and the party trooped in and took 

 their places in front of the communion table, where 

 the minister was already waiting. The simple cere- 

 mony over, the bridegroom and best man pulled out 

 their brand-new snuff-boxes and handed them round, 

 first of all to the minister. Also the best man 

 produced and handed to the girls a second box filled 

 with very minute caraway comfits, into which each 

 lass gingerly dipped the tip of her tongue, and 

 abstracted for her delectation whatever of the contents 

 might chance to stick thereto. It would have been 

 contrary to all immemorial precedent not to have been 

 provided with these snuff and comfit boxes. Then a 

 whisky-bottle was produced and the health of the 

 newly married couple drunk. A Shetland bride's gown 



