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Both young and old come ponder what I now relate,
It's of a cruel treachery in Charlottetown of late,
The memory of my ripe few years be always on the boy,
Young Melvyn was that young man's name, his mother's only joy.
The memory of that much-loved son his mother's eyes behold,
The murder of the deepest fall on his immortal soul.
To gaze upon that fair young man no one would ever thought
So horrible a crime as this would enter his young heart.
'Tis of her I now must speak that cruel death was o'er,
The broken-hearted parents dear, the saddest of them all,
Their hearts were filled with sorrow, they were mourning for their son,
And when the tears was falling fast that cruel deed was done.
Mary being tall, young, and fair, so proud her beauty bore,
Went forth to meet with one she loved so she ofttimes did before,
And as she tripped along the road one look back home she cast,
But little in her heart she dreamt that it would be her last.
Her thoughts was sad on her brother dear was buried that same day,
She stood beside the silent grave and seen him ebb away,
The tears was fresh upon her cheeks as she went on her way,
Expecting to meet with one she loved to wipe those tears away.
She met further what horrid fate, anguish, and despair,
If that poor wretched corpse would speak, alas, what would we hear!
Anguishing cries, and bow to him, and bid her life to spare,
Standing with a weapon in his hand he seized that pistol near.
Her fresh young life he took away, the breath of life was gone,
He took her to a river, tied to a heavy stone,
And as he cast her body in he slowly looked around,
Saying, "No one will ever think of this, she never will be found."
The watchful eyes of God was on that every movement there,
And soon before the justice they loudly did declare:
"Shame on that beastly villain who led that girl astray,
And cruelly to hide his shame he took her life away."
Now come, young girls, a warning take before it is too late,
Be careful in your friendship, and choose a proper mate,
For when in company of men be prudent and take care,
Put no temptation in their way, of flattering beware.
As they will say kind and loving words, they'll whisper in your ear,
Seek the vows of those you love and judge for their sinceres,
And mothers who got children dear, pray every day and hour,
Pray to that Lord who reigns above to keep them by His power.
Come, young men, a warning take by friends who wish you well,
Think on young Melvyn as he lay locked in his lonesome cell,
Think on the anguish and despair when told that he must die,
That he must pay the penalty for the love he has denied.
Young Melvyn's eyes did stream with tears, with bitter anguish fell,
When to his parents and those he loved he bid a last farewell.
"Now cover up my eyes," he said, "that I might never see
That gallows in the dreadful spot that now do wait for me."
Young Melvyn paid the penalty, he sleeps beneath the sod,
We'll leave him to the mercy of our everliving God.
Collected in 1958 from Mrs. Charlotte Decker of Parson's Pond, NL, by Kenneth Peacock and published in Songs Of The Newfoundland Outports, Volume 2, pp.643-644, by the National Museum of Canada (1965) Crown Copyrights Reserved.
