CHARLEY

                        An Old Ballad

As I walked over London Bridge,
   One misty morning early,
'Twas there I spied a pretty fair maid,
   Lamenting for her Charley.

Said she: "Go bring my milk-white steed,
   All saddled and all ready,
That I might go to the king's high court
   And plead for the life of Charley.

And when she'd come to the king's high court,
   She stepped up so ready,
Saying, "Pray King George have mercy on me
   And grant me the life of Charley."

He turned himself right round about,
   And thus he spoke to Sally,
"You've come too late, my pretty fair maid,
   For he's condemned already."

Now Charley did not rob the king's high court,
   Nor did he murder;
But killed six of the king's fat deer,
   And he sold them in Bohemia.

So Charley is to be hung with a silk white cord,
   Which never has hung any;
Because he's the son of a noble lord,
   And loved by a royal lady.

Charley walked up and down the hall,
   As he took leave of many;
And he there took leave of his own true love,
   Which grieved him most of any.

Oh, if I could stand on yonder hill
   - Where I've had kisses many -
With a full drawn sword in my hand,
   I'd fight for the life of Charley.

From the Portland "Oregonian" (Apr. 1, 1917), "Contributed by George L. Foster, of Dryad, Washington."