ages the islands have derived from being severed from Norway: "A' the guid we ever got frae Scotland wis dear mael an' greedy ministers." An old, forgotten custom is commemorated in the following proverb: "Ye'll no forget da stane whaar ye got a sair bane." This refers to the custom of riding the scattald marches, on which occasion a boy got a flogging at each march stone to stimulate his memory. The last of these old saws I will quote is one I heard many years ago from my friend, Mr. James S. Angus. It survives in the old Norse tongue, and is almost as old-fashioned in sentiment as it is in language, but it breathes the true Old Norse spirit and is full of the wisdom of our forefathers: "Gött a taka gamla manna ro." Or, as Dr. Jakobsen has rendered it : "It is good to take old men's advice." THE LAMMAS FOY VERY year about old Lammas the haf fishing came to a close. The boats were then hauled up on the green and whumbled in their winter böls. But before the crew finally broke up for the season, the Foy (feast) was held, generally in the skipper's house. To this feast every man brought his wife, and if single his sister or sweetheart. Although the luxuries of modern times. were then unknown, yet the foy table was laden with substantial fare. Home-made scones, burstin brönies, and sonsie pan On cakes, together with an ample supply of fresh butter and eggs, made good eating. A reested (smoked) ham or a few legs of vivda gave variety to the bill of fare. the table stood a couple of Dutch krooks, the contents of which cheered the hearts of those weather-beaten sons of toil. The conversation, as may be supposed, turned chiefly on the fishing, each man recounting his experiences of the perils of the deep, and the hairbreadth escapes he had made. The wives, too, were relating to each other their own or some neighbour's experience with trows and witches, and their numerous seasons of anxious waiting while their goodmen were at sea. One of the oldest women was generally called upon to "cast a cup" for the young men, who were anxious to get a peep into the future, particularly in matters of love, and who were generally gratified by hearing of courtships, sporins, and bridals. As the contents of the krook was handed round, the conversation became |