Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Literary
August 21, 1811
The Rhode Island Republican
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
A poetic dialogue between a New York citizen and an Irish orphan girl who recounts her family's flight from oppression, the British impressment of her brother, her mother's death from despair, and her plea for protection in America, where the citizen vows to help her.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
THE IRISH ORPHAN.
DIALOGUE
Supposed to have taken place between a Citizen of New-York, and a female Irish emigrant;
CITIZEN.
Irish Maiden, whither fly you?
Whence the moisture on your cheek?
Danger here shall not come nigh you—
Tell me what, and whom, you seek.
IRISH GIRL
Pity, sir, a hapless stranger,
Friendless, on a foreign shore!
Much alas! I fear of danger—
I'm from Erin just come o'er.
CITIZEN.
Where's your kindred, friends, protector?
Sure you ventur'd not alone?
Had you not some kind director?
Mother, sister—have you none?
IRISH GIRL.
Yes, I have—I had a brother,
Once a widowed parent's stay:
Yes, alas; I had my mother—
Both by fate were snatch'd away
CITIZEN.
Thou, an Orphan, unprotected,
You have left your native isle
To Columbia's shore directed,
Where you meet no kindred's smile?
IRISH GIRL
No—a parent, and a brother,
With me from oppression run;
Death deprived me of my mother—
Cruel Britons press'd her son!
Under Freedom's banner sailing,
Just in view of Freedom's shore,
Bright'ning prospects Hope was hailing,
Whispering future bliss in store!
When we spied the flag of Britain,
Where foreboding fancy read
Some impending evil written—
How my bosom beat with dread!
First a shot our course arrested.
Then their slaves disgrac'd our deck
Fathers from their children wrested!
Sons from parent's—sister's neck!
Spare! I cried, O spare my brother!
Spare him for a parent's sake!
Save! O save him! cried my mother,
Or his sister's heart will break!
Smiling' pirates! they but mock'd us!
Laugh'd at fond affection's grief!
And with brutal language shock'd us,
While we wept without relief!
But when from us they departed,
Shrieks of anguish pierc'd the air!
Then my mother, broken hearted,
Fell, the victim of despair;
Pity then, a hapless stranger,
Friendless, on a foreign shore!
O, protect a maid from danger,
who, for comfort looks no more!
CITIZEN.
Yes fair daughter of oppression,
Exile from Hibernia's plains,
Victim of the curs'd aggression
Which the flag of Freedom stains:
Here I swear to be thy brother;
See a sister in my wife:
Find a parent in my mother—
I'll protect thee with my life.
SELIM.
DIALOGUE
Supposed to have taken place between a Citizen of New-York, and a female Irish emigrant;
CITIZEN.
Irish Maiden, whither fly you?
Whence the moisture on your cheek?
Danger here shall not come nigh you—
Tell me what, and whom, you seek.
IRISH GIRL
Pity, sir, a hapless stranger,
Friendless, on a foreign shore!
Much alas! I fear of danger—
I'm from Erin just come o'er.
CITIZEN.
Where's your kindred, friends, protector?
Sure you ventur'd not alone?
Had you not some kind director?
Mother, sister—have you none?
IRISH GIRL.
Yes, I have—I had a brother,
Once a widowed parent's stay:
Yes, alas; I had my mother—
Both by fate were snatch'd away
CITIZEN.
Thou, an Orphan, unprotected,
You have left your native isle
To Columbia's shore directed,
Where you meet no kindred's smile?
IRISH GIRL
No—a parent, and a brother,
With me from oppression run;
Death deprived me of my mother—
Cruel Britons press'd her son!
Under Freedom's banner sailing,
Just in view of Freedom's shore,
Bright'ning prospects Hope was hailing,
Whispering future bliss in store!
When we spied the flag of Britain,
Where foreboding fancy read
Some impending evil written—
How my bosom beat with dread!
First a shot our course arrested.
Then their slaves disgrac'd our deck
Fathers from their children wrested!
Sons from parent's—sister's neck!
Spare! I cried, O spare my brother!
Spare him for a parent's sake!
Save! O save him! cried my mother,
Or his sister's heart will break!
Smiling' pirates! they but mock'd us!
Laugh'd at fond affection's grief!
And with brutal language shock'd us,
While we wept without relief!
But when from us they departed,
Shrieks of anguish pierc'd the air!
Then my mother, broken hearted,
Fell, the victim of despair;
Pity then, a hapless stranger,
Friendless, on a foreign shore!
O, protect a maid from danger,
who, for comfort looks no more!
CITIZEN.
Yes fair daughter of oppression,
Exile from Hibernia's plains,
Victim of the curs'd aggression
Which the flag of Freedom stains:
Here I swear to be thy brother;
See a sister in my wife:
Find a parent in my mother—
I'll protect thee with my life.
SELIM.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
Dialogue
What themes does it cover?
Liberty Freedom
Political
War Peace
What keywords are associated?
Irish Orphan
Emigrant
British Oppression
Freedom
Dialogue Poem
What entities or persons were involved?
Selim.
Literary Details
Title
The Irish Orphan.
Author
Selim.
Subject
Supposed To Have Taken Place Between A Citizen Of New York, And A Female Irish Emigrant
Form / Style
Dialogue Poem
Key Lines
Irish Maiden, Whither Fly You?
Whence The Moisture On Your Cheek?
Danger Here Shall Not Come Nigh You—
Tell Me What, And Whom, You Seek.
Pity, Sir, A Hapless Stranger,
Friendless, On A Foreign Shore!
Much Alas! I Fear Of Danger—
I'm From Erin Just Come O'er.
No—A Parent, And A Brother,
With Me From Oppression Run;
Death Deprived Me Of My Mother—
Cruel Britons Press'd Her Son!
Yes Fair Daughter Of Oppression,
Exile From Hibernia's Plains,
Victim Of The Curs'd Aggression
Which The Flag Of Freedom Stains: