WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL When I was a little girl In a garden playing A thing was often said To chide us delaying. When after sunny hours, At twilight's falling, Down through the garden walks Came our old nurse calling "Come in! for it's growing late, And the grass will wet ye! Come in! or when it's dark The Fenians will get ye." Then, at this dreadful news, All helter-skelter, The panic-struck little flock Ran home for shelter. And round the nursery fire Sat still to listen, Fifty bare toes on the hearth, Ten eyes a'glisten. To hear of a night in March, And loyal folk waiting, To see a great army of men Come devastating. An Army of Papists grim, With a green flag o'er them, Red-coats and black police Flying before them. But God (Who our nurse declared Guards British dominions) Sent down a fall of snow And scattered the Fenians. "But somewhere they're lurking yet, Maybe they're near us," Four little hearts pit-a-pate Thought, "Can they hear us?" Then the wind-shaken pane Sounded like drumming; "Oh!" they cried, "tuck us in, The Fenians are coming!" Four little pairs of hands In the cots where she led those, Over their frightened heads Pulled up the bedclothes. But one little rebel there, Watching all with laughter, Thought, "When the Fenians come I'll rise and go after." Wished she had been a boy And a good deal older -- Able to walk for miles With a gun on her shoulder. Able to lift aloft The Green Flag o'er them (Red-coats and black police Flying before them). And, as she dropped asleep, Was wondering whether God, if they prayed to Him, Would give fine weather. -- Alice Milligan (b. 1866)