The alarms of Miss Wilmot concerning her brother had not been lightly excited: they might rather be called prophetic. She had indeed strongly communicated her terror to me. One morning I was meditating on the subject, and recollecting those early days when gathering the first fruits of genius, I was taught by him to distinguish and enjoy the beauties of its emanations, and the sublimity of its flights. His affection for me, though but a boy, had induced him to give me some short poetical compositions of his own. I was reading them over, with strong feelings, partly of sorrow and partly of indignation, at the folly and injustice of a world that could overlook such merit. One of them in particular, which I had always admired for the simple yet pathetic spirit of poetry in which it was written, I was then perusing. It was the following. I Ho! Why dost thou shiver and shake, Gaffer-Gray! And why doth thy nose look so blue? ''Tis the weather that's cold; 'Tis I'm grown very old, And my doublet is not very new, Well-a-day!' II Then line thy worn doublet with ale, Gaffer-Gray; And warm thy old heart with a glass. 'Nay but credit I've none; And my money's all gone; Then say how may that come to pass? Well-a-day!' III Hie away to the house on the brow, Gaffer-Gray; And knock at the jolly priest's door. 'The priest often preaches Against worldly riches; But ne'er gives a mite to the poor, Well-a-day!' IV The lawyer lives under the hill, Gaffer-Gray; Warmly fenc'd both in back and in front. 'He will fasten his locks, And will threaten the stocks, Should he ever more find me in want, Well-a-day!' V The squire has fat beeves and brown ale, Gaffer-Gray; And the season will welcome you there. 'His fat beeves and his beer, And his merry new year Are all for the flush and the fair, Well-a-day!' VI My keg is but low I confess, Gaffer-Gray; What then? While it lasts man we'll live. The poor man alone, When he hears the poor moan, Of his morsel a morsel will give, Well-a-day!