2.On a spot as pretty as might be found In the dangerous length of the Neutral Ground，In a cottage，cosy，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 tall for fifteen years；With fun her eyes were glistening，Her hair was the hue of the 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 knewHer nerve was strong and her aim was true.
3.One night，when the sun had crept to bed，And rain-clouds lingered overhead，Soon after a knock at the outer door，There entered a dozen dragoons or more.The captain his hostess bent to greet，Saying，“Madam，please give us a bit to eat；We will pay you well.......Then we must dash ten miles ahead，To catch a rebel colonel abed.He is visiting home，it doth appear；We will make his pleasure cost him dear.”
4.Now，the grey-haired colonel they hovered near Had been Jennie‘s true friend，kind and dear；And oft，in her younger days，had heRight proudly perched her upon his knee.She had hunted by his fatherly side；He had taught her how to fence and ride，And once had said，“The time may be Your skill and courage may stand by me.”
5.With never a thought or a moment more，Bareheaded she slipped from the cottage door；Ran out where the horses were left to feed，Unhitched and mounted the captain’s steed；And down the hilly and rock-strewn wayShe urged the fiery horse of grey.
Around her slender and cloakless form Pattered and moaned the ceaseless storm；Secure and tight a gloveless hand Grasped the reins with stern command；And on she rushed for the colonel‘s weal，Brave，fearless-hearted Jennie Macneal.
6.Hark！from the hills，a moment mute，Came a clatter of hoofs in hot pursuit；And a cry from the foremost trooper said，“Halt，or your blood be on your head！”She heeded it not，and not in vainShe lashed the horse with the bridle-rein.Into the night the grey horse strode，His shoes struck fire from the rocky road，And the high-born courage that never dies Flashed from his rider’s coal-black eyes.The pebbles flew from the fearful race；The rain-drops splashed on her glowing face.“On-on，brave horse！”with loud appeal，Cried eager，resolute Jennie Macneal.
7.“Halt！”once more came that voice of dread-“Halt，or your blood be on your head！”
8.The grey horse did his duty well，Till all at once he stumbled and fell-Himself escaping the nets of harm，But flirting the girl with a broken arm，Still undismayed by the numbing pain，She clung to the horse’s bridle-rein，And gently bidding him to stand，Patted him with her able hand；Then sprang again to the saddle-bow，“Good horse！one more trial now！”
9.As if ashamed of the heedless fall，He gathered his strength once more for all；And galloping down a hillside steep，Gained on the troopers at every leap.
When the girl burst through the colonel‘s door-Her poor arm，helpless，hanging with pain，And she all drabbled and drenched with rain；But her cheeks as red as firebrands are，And her eyes as bright as a blazing star-And shouted，“Quick！be quick，I say！They come！they come！Away！away！”Then fainting on the floor she sank.
10.The startled colonel pressed His wife and children to his breast，And turned away from his fireside bright，And glided into the stormy night；Then soon and safely made his way To where the patriot army lay.
But first he bent in the warm firelight，And kissed the forehead cold and white.
11.The girl roused up at the martial din，Just as the troopers came rushing in；And laughed，even in the midst of a moan，Saying，“Good sirs，your bird has flown.’Twas I who scared him from his nest；So deal with me now as you think best.”......
12.But the gallant young captain bowed，and said，“Of womankind I must crown you queen；So brave a girl I have never seen.
Wear this gold ring as your valour‘s due；And when peace comes，I’ll come for you.”
