The tale of bravery I tell,
Will your attention hold,
Though not performed on battle field,
Nor by a warrior bold.
An Irish girl, to whom the Lord
Nor speech nor hearing gave,
Tho' but a poor deaf mute was she,
Her heart was stout and brave.
Deaf, dumb, yes, poor and motherless,
Friendless and obscure;
Only her father left to her,
And he was old and poor.
A farmer he, and owned a bull,
That in a shed was chained,
For it was savage, but one day
Its liberty obtained.
The poor old man was unaware
The bull had broke its chain,
Until the beast upon him turned
Ere he the door could gain.
The dumb girl neared the open shed,
As she the threshold crossed;
Oh! dreadful sight, her father high
By savage bull was tossed.
She could not hear if help was nigh,
She could not call for aid;
So quick to rescue him she ran,
Too brave to feel afraid.
One hand she slipped within a ring,
That through its nose was placed;
And with her father's stick upraised,
The angry bull she faced.
Oh! then ensued a struggle, fit
To fill her heart with dread;
While at her feet her father lay,
To all appearance dead.
Long and fierce the battle raged
Between the bull and maid;
Nor would she yield, tho' by its horns
Her side was open laid.
Blow after blow upon its head,
With heavy stick she rained,
Until the savage beast was cowed,
And she the victory gained.
And then the stick away she threw,
(But held on as before,)
Her father with one arm she raised,
And slowly neared the door.
Then back into the shed she forced
The bull, and slammed the door,
While in her aching, bleeding arms,
Her father's form she bore.
But, sad to say, her father dear,
Whom thus to save she tried,
Had been so injured by the bull,
In one short hour he died.
An orphan now, alone and poor,
Homeless, and deaf and dumb;
Oh, who will help some christian friends,
To make for her a home?
If you who read these simple lines,
With speech and hearing blest,
And have it in your power to aid
And comfort the distressed,
Oh! think of this brave-hearted girl,
And help her in her need;--
With voice and pen on her behalf
For timely help I plead.