THE TAX-GATHERER. Oh! do you ken Peter, the taxman an' writer? Ye're well aff wha ken naething 'bout him ava; They ca' him Inspector, or Poor's Rate Collector-- My faith! he's weel kent in Leith, Peter M'Craw! He ca's and he comes again--haws, and he hums again-- He's only ae hand, but it's as good as twa; He pu's't out and raxes, an' draws in the taxes, An' pouches the siller--shame! Peter M'Craw! He'll be at your door by daylight on a Monday, On Tyesday ye're favoured again wi' a ca'; E'en a slee look he gied me at kirk the last Sunday, Whilk meant--"_Mind the preachin' an' Peter M'Craw._" He glowrs at my auld door as if he had made it; He keeks through the keyhole when I am awa'; He'll syne read the auld stane, that tells a' wha read it, To "_Blisse God for a' giftes_,"[*]--but Peter M'Craw! His sma' papers neatly are 'ranged a' completely, That yours, for a wonder, 's the first on the raw! There's nae jinkin' Peter, nae antelope's fleeter; Nae _cuttin_' acquaintance wi' Peter M'Craw! 'Twas just Friday e'enin', Auld Reekie I'd been in, I'd gatten a shillin'--I maybe gat twa; I thought to be happy wi' friends ower a drappie, When wha suld come papin--but Peter M'Craw? There's houp o' a ship though she's sair pressed wi' dangere, An' roun' her frail timmers the angry winds blaw; I've aften gat kindness unlocked for frae strangers, But wha need houp kindness frae Peter M'Craw? I've kent a man pardoned when just at the gallows-- I've kent a chiel honest whase trade was the law! I've kent fortune's smile even fa' on gude fallows; But I ne'er kent exception wi' Peter M'Craw! Our toun, yince sae cheerie, is dowie an' eerie; Our shippies hae left us, our trade is awa'; There's nae fair maids strayin', nae wee bairnies playin; Ye've muckle to answer for, Peter M'Craw! But what gude o' greevin' as lang's we are leevin'? My banes I'll soon lay within yon kirk-yard wa'; There nae care shall press me, nae taxes distress me, For there I'll be free frae thee--Peter M'Craw! [*]A devout legend, common in the seventeenth century above the entrance of houses.