The "Holy Willie" of this sarcastic but too daring poem, was one William Fisher, a farmer near Mauchline, and leading Elder of the Reverend Mr. Auld's Session. He was a great pretender to sanctity, austere of speech, and punctilious about outward observances. Yet he was by no means rigid as far as regarded himself: he scrupled not to "get fou," when whiskey flowed at the expense of others he was more particular, too, in the examination of female transgressors than some of his brethren thought was seemly; and when he left Mauchline for an eldership in a neighbouring parish he had a sore fall, for it is said he made free with the money of the poor. Burns prophetically intimates Willie's leaning to the latter vice : "And sometimes, too, wi' worldly trust Vile self gets in." His end was any thing but godly: he drank more than was proper during one of his visits to Mauchline, and was found dead in a ditch on the way to his own house. Burns loved to give vent to his satiric propensities in prayers such as that uttered by " Holy Willie." On one occasion a friend of his had aided in the summary punishment-sanctioned by old custom-of a girl belonging to an innkeeper, who had been too indulgent to one of the male customers. The law was angry, and the aggressor fled to the woods, but returned to his father's house late on Saturday night, knowing that he was free on the Sabbath. He met Burns on one of these occasions, and related his story: the Poet laughed—mused a little, and said, "Adam, you have much need of some one to pray for you."—" I wish you would do it, Robert," said the other, "I know no one so fit." Burns immediately composed a prayer, of which some stanzas are still remembered; it is explanation sufficient to say that "Geordie" and "Nanse" were the girl's master and mistress, and chief instigators of the prosecution. He commences by making his friend complain of “ scrimpit stature," and of bodily inability to endure the hornings and houndings of law : he then describes his privations and fears : "And now I'm derned in glens and hallows, And hunted, as was William Wallace, The Lord preserve us frae the gallows, He next demands vengeance on his persecutors : "Auld, grim, black-bearded Geordie's sel' O! shake him owre the mouth o' hell, Wi' hideous din: An', if he offers to rebel, Just heave him in. "When Death comes in, wi' glimmering blink, Ahint his yett, And fill her up wi' brimstone drink, Red reeking het!" He ac John Richmond of Mauchline says, that when he was a clerk in Gavin Hamilton's office, Burns came in one morning and said, "I have just been making a poem, and if you will write it, John, I'll repeat it." cordingly, to Richmond's surprise, repeated Willie's Prayer :" Hamilton came in, read it, laughing with it to Robert Aiken-and Aiken lighted. Holy and ran was de THE INVENTORY; IN ANSWER TO A MANDATE BY THE SURVEYOR OF THE TAXES. SIR, as your mandate did request, Imprimis, then, for carriage cattle, The fore-horse on the left-hand in the plough. My Fur ahin's a wordy beast, If he be spar'd to be a beast, For men, I've three mischievous boys, I on the questions targe them tightly; *The hindmost horse on the right-hand in the plough. I've nane in female servan' station, An' then, if kirk folks dinna clutch me, And now, remember, Mr. Aiken, This list wi' my ain hand I've wrote it, ROBERT BURNS. |