414 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1794. 



Gaffer. Gray. By Mr. Holcroft. 



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, 

 Weli-a-day !" 



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!'» 



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-dayl" 



The lawyer hves 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 !" 



The 'squire hns fat beeves and brown ale, 



Gaffer Gray ; 

 And the season vi'ill welcome you there. 



" The fat beeves aad the beer, 



And his merrA' new year. 

 And all for the flush and the fair, 



Well-a-day !" 



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 bis morsel a morsel will give, 



Well-a-dav' 



IMPROMPTU. 



