ONE THOUSAND FAMOUS THINGS 103

Poor Jim Dick

WHEN I was a small boy there was a black boy in the neighbour-
hood by the name of Jim Dick. I and my playfellows
tormented the poor black by calling him Negro, Blackamoor, and
other names.

The poor fellow appeared excessively grieved at our conduct and
soon left us. Later on, skating in the neighbourhood, I had the
misfortune to break my skates, and I could not go without borrowing
Jim's skates. I went to him and asked him for them. " Oh, yes,
Robert, you may have them and welcome," was his answer. When
I went to return them I told Jim I had returned his skates and was
under great obligations to him for his kindness. With tears in his
eyes he said, " Robert, don't ever call me a Blackamoor again ! "
and immediately left the room.

The words pierced my heart and I burst into tears, and from that
time I resolved never again to abuse a poor black. Robert Souihey

Bird of the Wilderness
T\ IED of the wilderness,
JD Blithesome and cumberless,
Sweet be thy matin o'er mountain and lea !
Emblem of happiness^
Blest is thy dwelling-place,
0 to abide in the desert with thee !
Wild is thy lay and loud,
Far in the downy cloud,
Love gives it energy, love gave it birth;
Where, on thy dewy wing,
Where art thou journeying ?
Thy ky is in Heaven, thy love is on Earth.
O'er fell and fountain sheen,
O'er moor and mountain green,
O'er the red streamer that heralds the days
Over the cloudlet dim.
Over the rainbow's rim,
Musical cherub, soar, singing, away 1
Then, when the gloaming comes,
Low in the heather blooms,
Sweet will thy welcome and bed of love be.
Emblem of happiness,
Blest is thy dwelling-place,
0 to abide in the desert with thee !
James Hogg