The Newyears eve Sleighride by Allevia N. Detwiler, April 17th, 1870 1. Young Charlotte lived by the mountainside In a wild and lonely spot No dwellings there for three miles round Except her fathers cot 2. Yet on a cold and wintry night Young swains were gathered there Her father kept a social board 1 And she was very fair 3. Her father loved to see her dress Gay as a city belle For she was the only child he had And he loved his daughter well 4. Twas new years eve the sun was down Yet beamed her wandering eye She to the frozen window went To see the sleighs go by 5. How restless beamed her wandering eyes When his well known voice she heard Came driving up to the cottage door Young charlies sleigh appeared 6. There is a merry ball tonight At an inn fifteen miles off The air is freezing cold as death But our hearts are warm and light 7. Charlotte dear her mother said This blanket around you fold For it is a dreadful night ahead You will catch your death of cold 8. Oh no Oh no charlotte said For she felt like a gipsy queen To ride in blankets all muffled up I never can be seen 9. My silken cloak is enough for me For you know it is lined through out Besides i have a satin shawl To lie my neck about 10. Her bonnet and her cloak was on She stepped into the sleigh And away they rode by the mountain side And oer the hills away 11. There is music in the sound of bells As oer the hills they go What a queaking noise the runners make As they leave the drifted snow 12. This is a dreadfull night he said The reins I scarce can hold Then Charlotte said in a feeble voice I am exceedingly cold 13. He cracked his whip he urged his steed Much faster than before Untill five other weary miles In silence they passed oer 14. How fast said Charles the ice and snow Is gathering on my brow Then Charlotte said in these few words I am growing warmer now 15. Over the hills and frosty air And by the cold star light Untill at length at the village ball They both appeared in sight 16. He drove up to the door jumped out He offered her his hand Why sit you there like a monument That has not power to stir 1 a social board 19 th century poetical phrase suggesting good food, good cheer, good company
17. He asked her once he asked her twice He gave his hand to her He asked her for her hand again But yet she did not stir 18. He took her hand in his oh god Twas cold and hard as stone He stripped the mantle from her brow While the stars upon her shone 19. Then quickly to the lighted hall Her lifeless form he bore Young charlotte was a frozen girl And she never spoke no more. 20. Twas there he sat down by her side While the bitter tears did flow Said he my young and charming girl You never more can know 21. He twined his arms around her neck He kissed her marble brow His thoughts ran back to where she said I am growing warmer now miss Allevia N. Detwiler April 17th 1870 ---------- Gelletly Family History of This Adventurous Poem 148 years after its writing, this poem was transcribed in April 2018 by Janice and Don Arrowsmith using a magnifying glass and persistence. Punctuation and spelling are copied exactly. We surmise that Allevia Detwiler may have been at this writing a teenager or young adult, having been born possibly around 1840-1850. She likely was a sister of Abraham Detwiler (1831-1917). Abraham married Mary Culp (1837-1920) on December 4, 1859, and they had fourteen children. Their thirteenth child, Tryphena Detwiler (1878-1956), might therefore have been a niece of her father s sister Allevia Detwiler. Of course, Allevia could have been married to a brother of Abraham, but then this document would likely have travelled via her own family down through the generations. Tryphena married Alfred G. Gelletly (1872-1941) on March 7, 1905. They had eight children, who are our Gelletly ancestors: Alfred (Jr.) 1906, Pauline (1908), Henry (1910), Theodore (1912), Mary (1917), Edwin (1919), Grace (1922), and Kenneth (1926). Tryphena, a literate, articulate woman who, to judge by her letters, wrote both well and often, had likely preserved her Aunt Allevia s poem. Perhaps the Gelletly children gathered around Tryphena to hear their mother read again the thrilling sleighride poem by their Great-Aunt Allevia Detwiler! If you ever felt you were a poet and wanted others to come to know it, Then in this group you can proudly be: The Society of Poets of Allevia D. S.P.A.D. Society of Poets of Allevia Detwiler