ng their friends and
acquaintances and reproducing in miniature the carnival of more
southern climes. On one or other of these occasions a torchlight
procession forms part of the revelry. Formerly blazing tar barrels
were dragged about the town, and afterwards, with the first break of
morning, dashed over the Knab into the sea. But this ancient and
dangerous custom has very properly been discontinued. The dresses of
the guisers are often of the most expensive and fanciful description.
Highlanders, Spanish cavaliers, negro minstrels, soldiers in the
peaked caps, kerseymere breeches, and scarlet coats turned up with
buff, of the reign of George II., Robin Hoods, and Maid Marians were
found in the motley throng. Some, with a boldness worthy of
Aristophanes himself, caricature the dress, the walk, or some other
eccentricity of leading personages in the town; others--for the spirit
of "the Happy Land" has reached these hyperborean regions--make
pleasant game of well-known political characters. Each band of guisers
has its fiddler, who walks before it, playing "Scalloway Lasses," or
"The Foula Reel," or "The Nippin' Grund," or some other archaic tune.
Thus conducted, and blowing a horn to give notice of their approach,
the maskers enter the doors of all houses which they find open, dance
a measure with the inmates, partake of and offer refreshment, and then
depart to repeat the same courtesies elsewhere. At daylight the horn
of the Most Worthy Grand Guiser, a mysterious personage, whose
personality and functions are enveloped in the deepest concealment, is
heard summoning all the bands to end their revels, and when, in the
cold grey dawn of the winter morning, the worthy citizens of Lerwick
awake to pursue their wonted avocations, not a trace remains of the
saturnalia of the night before.--Sheriff Rampini, in _Good Words_.

Now, passing from the islands to the sea itself, it is pleasant to
note that in recent years Christian hearts have carried

CHRISTMAS CHEER TO THE NORTH SEA FISHERMEN.

Through the "Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen" twelve thousand brave and
hardy fishermen have been cheered at Christmastide, for to their
fleets the Mission's vessels now take medical and surgical aid, books
and magazines, woollen garments and tobacco, which, as adjuncts to
higher religious aid, are turning the once wild and desperate
ocean roughs into clean-living sailors and good husbands and
fathers--therefore are these days on the Nor