Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-03-16
Prom Chamhors's JlurnRl.
SHETLAND MARRIAGES.

Of an age, but this is seldom the greater
number of marriages are between youths Of
nineteen and maids of thirty-two. Whcncy-
er a young man can act his part in the man
ming Of a boat, he has arrived at the height
Of his ambition. and therefore there is no
wonder at his marrying early but why he
pitches on an old maid, instead of young
girl, is not so easily accounted for, unless 10
be that young men have a peculiar affection
for old maids, as old men have peculiar al-
fecton for young girls. This systom Of mar
riago holds good only with those who never
leave their native soil He who becomes
sailor, cannot generally marry so young but
he is always sure. before leaving his home. to
single out the object Of his future affections.
In no country is a lover so faithful To his mis-
tress az in Shetland. never heard of a Shet-
land sailor who was guilty OF a breach of pro-
mise. although he should be absent for ten
years Not only does he not break his en-
gagcment. but he never fails 90 write TO his
beloved one in elfusions Of the most endcar-
ing nature. always beginning or ending his
epistles with NV Pet My Jewel, My
Watch or MY Diamond Years before the
celebration of the marriage, the woman is boy
no means slack in telling all her neighbors of
the particulars Of the engagement, aud OF the
year. and Of the month, and of the day and
Of the hour when il is to be celebrated Such
an extraordinary license Of ante-uupual tattlo
would be hardly suitable for countries where
the bride sometimes misses the bridegroom
even at the horns Of the altar. The woman
has another license which is more peculiar:
she is allowed TO have a temporary lover dur
ing the absence Of the true one This license
is given bv the absent lover himself; but the
moment be returns home. the temporary lover
must desist from making any more visits
How far the temporary lover may carry on
his suit | could never accurately ascertain
but it is generally understood that they may
oglo, Joke. kiss at the back of the door, and
squeeze hands at parting. The absent lover
is allowed no license of the sort but must
walk as circumspcctly as though he were mar
ried. Whether he strictly adhcres 90 such a
course Of chastc behavior cannot always be
found out; but it is certain that, if alive. he
will return home and marry her who is as
dear to him as life itself When the marriage
ceremony is perlormed-not by a priest for
there is not a Roman Catholic In all Shetland,
but BY some Protestant clergyman Of the Es-
tablished Church. or Of some dissenting do
nomination. of which there are many-tho
marriage party, a mixed assemblage of old and
young, set off Immediately ON short tour
until it draws near the dinner hour. This
tonr must be gone through so as to form a
circle, and must not, on any account, be con-
trary to the course Of the sun. else the young
couples fortunes from that day take back
ward course.
As soon as they return home, they sit down
to dinner, where the tables are sure TO hc
groaung under loads of beef mutton, fowl,
fish and bursting. Bursting is used at every
meal in Shetland it is made from black oats,
made backer by burning in pot over the
fire. while undergoing the process of drying.
II is then ground by hand-mill, when 1T
might be sold for snuff, if people had no SON
ses but sight. Lastly, it is baked into round
balls of different sizes, which are very little
1attoned but not so much so that they can
be compared to the Scotch bannock These
burstings arc generally baked with suct' and
thus they comprise the greater part oI Shet-
land bread. The dinner being over, and hav-
ing washed well their throats with WHISKY
for they are all exceedingly fond of drink of
any sort-they commence the dance In this
art they are wonderful prohcients' Tor they
can dance hours without intermlssion. row
of men occupies one side OF the house from
end to end, and row of women stands oppo-
site. The fiddler strikes up some 'iotous anu
ranting tune; the dancers begin-thoy skip
they trisk, they fling they leap with the ut
most agility, assuming every posture ana at
titude. Some lean forward, and are intent IN
examining the skipping and iusNnS Of their
feet; some lean backward and have their eyes
fixed on the ceiling OF the house Tor nan an
hour. One man Is leaning side"ays,ahu win
sideiong glance is graHously auult'hg the
frisking Of one OF his feet every one IN SNORT
has some peculiar and Original dance Oh ms
own. In these different ana pecuiiar postares
they continue without reehng, lor haii an
hour humping and peltlng at H. uil perSPi-
ration streams to the ground ana must ascehuS
in clouds, or, as Burns would nave saia' titl
ilka body swat and reeklt During the hau
hour they thus dance without reeHng' every
one is trying his utmost IN cutting as many
strange capers as possible and ever ana anon
all roar out: Good luck to thee iad ana
Good luck to thee lass Inc lad ana the
lass who have such shower OF good lucks
hailed upon them are OF course the bridegroom
and bride. All the Shetlanders address each
other without distinction IN the Quaker style
by thous and thees, and by every other iamli-
iarity used by that innocent body OF people
There is another circumstance about the
dance that strikes a stranger very much. All
the dancers have shoes made of COW hide