THE WHIP-POOR-WILL. 101 



masters, and retaliate injuries received from 

 them. If the largest goat-sucker chances to 

 cry near the white man's door, sorrow and grief 

 will soon be inside ; and they expect to see the 

 master waste away with a slow consuming sick- 

 ness. If he be heard close to the Indian's or 

 negro's hut, from that night misfortune sits 

 brooding over it, and they await the event in 

 terrible suspense. You will forgive the poor 

 Indian of Guiana, for this : he knows no better, 

 he has no one to teach him."* 



THE WHIP-POOR-WILL. 



In the wide-spreading woods of the distant west, 

 When the song-birds of day are gone to their rest, 

 A wild mournful sound at nightfall is heard, 

 The wailing cry of a night-flying bird. 

 And whip-poor-will, whip-whip-whip-poor-will, 

 Is the cry of the wandering night-bird still. 



The traveller starts when he hears the sound, 

 And pauses, and listens, and looks around ; 

 He deems it the voice of some mourning child, 

 Who has gone astray in the lonely wild. 

 And whip-poor-will, whip-whip-whip-poor-will, 

 Is the cry of the wandering night-bird still. 



Sometimes to the skirts of the forest he comes, 

 Flies through our gardens, and visits our homes, 



* See Waterton's Wanderings. 





