Scathlan 2

PAT O'DONNELL My name is Pat O'Donnell, and I come from Donegal, I am you know a venomous foe to traitors one and all. For the shooting of James Carey I was tried in London town And now upon the gallows high my life I must lay down. I sailed on board the ship, Melrose, in August eighty-three, Before I landed in Capetown it came well-known to me; When I saw he was James Carey we had angry words and blows, The villain, he tried to take my life on board the ship Melrose. I stood up to defend myself and fight before I'd die, A pocket pistol I drew forth, and at him I let fly; I gave him the second revolver, boys, which pierced him through the heart, And I let him have the third one, boys, before we did depart. Carey's wife and son came to the cabin where he lay, And seen him lying all in his gore, which filled her with dismay, "O'Donnell you shot my husband", Mrs. Carey now did cry, "Oh, yesI I did in self-defence, madam", then said I. The captain had me handcuffed, and in irons firmly bound, He handed me over as a Fenian when I landed in Capetown; I was then brought back to London until my trial came on, And the prosecutors for the Crown was Carey's wife and son. To all the evidence they swore, I said it was a lie, The jury found me guilty, and the judge made this reply: "You'll never more see Erin's shore, O'Donnell, you must die, On the twenty-fourth of December, upon the gallows high" . Here's a health to old Donegal, the place where I was born, ·And also the United States, to it I never showed any scorn; Unto the Virgin Mary on my bended knees I call, To pray for poor O'Donnell from the town of Donegal. I wished I was a free man, and could live for another year, I'd make all those informers fly before my eyes with fear; St. Patrick banished the serpents from our blessed and holy ground, I'd make them fly before my eyes like a hare before the hound. Good Christmas all, on you I call, this is my dying day, They say I am an Irishman, kind Christians for me pray; My grave is ready open, and I'm ready for to die, May the Lord have mercy on my soul while in my grave I lie. 43