aka The Blind Teacher
Mining is a dangerous job It can kill and maim He went down in the earth one day And came up not the same. One hand gone, his sight as well What was he to do Give in to misfortune Or try to battle through? His name was Thomas James Blind at twenty two He learnt a way of reading Then realised what he’d do Leave his Cornish homeland A new life he would find He sailed out to Australia And there he helped the blind. To many towns he travelled With his faithful dog Humping all his heavy books At the old jig-jog Seeking out the sightless Teaching them to read Showing them true friendship Through his kindly deed. He met young Tilly Aston And set her on her way He prayed her loss of sight Would bless her future days The little maid of Carisbrook Did not need eyes to see This valued gift of reading Would change her destiny. And so he wandered far and wide Guided by their need Providing and collecting books He taught the blind to read This tall, devout, kind stranger Deserves his story known And through this song I surely hope A good man I have shown.
Read about Thomas James in Jim’s article, The Blind Teacher.