1.

Young Charlotte lived on a mountain side,
In a wild and lonely spot;
There was no other dwelling for five miles 'round
Except her father's cot.

2.

Her father owned the social board,
And she was light and fair,
And many a cold and winter night
Young swains would gather there.

3.

'Twas New Year's Eve, the sun was low,
Joy beamed in her mild blue eyes;
And she sat and waited until Young Charles
Came dashing swiftly by.

4.

" Oh, daughter, dear! " the mother cried,
" This blanket around you fold,
For 'tis a dreadful night abroad
And you'll take your death of cold. "

5.

" Oh, no! Oh, no! " the daughter cried,
And she laughed like a gypsy queen;
" To ride in a blanket all muffled up
I never shall be seen.

6.

" My silken cloak is quite enough,
You know it's lined throughout;
Besides I have a silken scarf
To wrap my neck about. "

7.

Cloak and bonnet she put on,
They stepped into the sleigh,
And o'er hills and valley down
For many a mile away.

8.

In a village not more than fifty miles away,
There's a royal ball tonight,
The air is deathly freezing cold,
But their hearts were young and light.

9.

" Such a night, " says Charles, " I never knew,
My reins I scarce can hold; "
Young Charlotte spoke in a frozen voice,
" I am growing very cold. "

10.

He cracked his whip, he urged his team
Much faster than before;
Five miles in silence they rode on
And neither spoke a word.

11.

" How fast, " said Charles, " this frosty ice
Keeps gathering on my brow; "
Young Charlotte spoke in a broken tone,
" I am growing warmer now. "

12.

They drove up to the ball-room door
He gave his hand to her
" Why sit you like a monument
That hath no power to stir? "

13.

He asked her once, he asked her twice,
Still she answered not a word;
He asked her the third time then
And still she never stirred.

14.

He took her hand in his, and God,
It was cold as any stone!
He pulled the robe off her brow
And the cold stars on her shone.

15.

He then did kneel down by her side
And kissed her marble brow;
" My once, my own intended bride,
You never more shall know. "

16.

He bore her out into the sleigh
And with her quickly drove he home,
And when he reached the cottage door
Oh, how her parents mourned.

17.

They mourned the loss of their daughter dear
And Charles mourned o'er his doom,
He mourned until his heart did break
They sleep soundly in one tomb.