The Ride of Jennie MeNeal.

The Ride of Jennie MeNeal.
293-8.

Paul Revere was a rider bolu
Well has his valorus deed been told;
Sheridan’s ride was a glorious one- Often It has been dwelt upon.
But why should men do all the deeds
On which the love of a patriot feeds ?
Hearken to me, while I reveal
The ride of Jennie McNeal.

On spot as pretty as might be found,
In the dangerous length of the neutral ground;
In a cottage cozy, and all their own,
She and her mother lived alone.
Safe were the two, with their frugal store
From all of the many who passed their door,
For Jennie’s mother was strange to fears,
And Jennie was large for fifteen years;
With vim her eyes were glistening;
Her hair was the hue of a blackbird’s wing,
And while the friends who knew her well
The sweetness of her heart could tell.
A gun that hung on the kitchen wall
Looked solemnly quick to heed her call,
And they who were evil minded knew
Her nerve was strong and her aim was true
So all kind words and nets did deal
To generous, black eyed Jennie McNeal.

They were a furlong behind, or mare,
When the girl burst through the Colonel’a door:
Her poor arm helpless, hanging with pain,
And she all drabbled and drenched with raint
But her cheeks as red as fire brands are,
And her eyes as bright as a blazing star,
And shouted: “Quick! Be quick. I sayl
They come! They come! Away! Away!”
Then zunk upon the rude white floor of deal,
Poor, brave, exhausted Jennie McNeal.

The startled Colonel sprang and pressed
Wife and children to his breast,
And turned away from his fireside bright,
And gilded into the stormy night;
Then soon and safely made his way
To where the patriot army lay.
But firat he bent in the dim firelight.
And kissed the forehead broad and white.
And blessed the girl who had ridden so well
To keep him out of a prison cell.
The girl roused up at the martial din
Just as the troopers came rushing In,
And laughed, e’en in the midst of a moan,
Saving: “Good sirs, your bird has flown.
‘Tis I who have scared him from his nest.
So deal with are as you think beat,”
But the grand young Captain bowed and saidi
“Never ever you ho A moment’s dread. hold
Of womankind I must crown you queen,
So brave a giri I have never seen,
Wear this gold ring as your valor’s due,
And when peace comes, I will come for you.”
But Jennie’s face an arch smile wore,
So she said: “There’s a lnd in Putnam’s corps
Who told me the name, long time ago,
You two would never agree I know:
I promised my love to be true as steel
Sald good, surs hearted Jennie McNeal.