Joe, I don't know if it existed back in 2003 when you linked to the Ballad Index, but Robert Waltz (who will hopefully soon also be seeing this thread) and his compatriots now has a page dedicated to the Springfield Mountain song: Springfield Mountain [Laws G16]

I did come across a version from 1821, reproduced below, from a Boston, Mass. weekly. I'll include the introductory text, which alludes that the song is older than that.

New England Galaxy, July 27th, 1821, p. 4:

Mr. Editor,

The following pathetic effusion was written several years since, by an attorney at law, who resided at Springfield, Massachusetts. It is, however, merely "a piece of a thousand others," (as the Major says) which I have seen in that flourishing town, from the pen of the same great poet. Were it not to please the dear, bewitching, tender-hearted, smooth-faced creature, "Lydia Languish," who appears so bloomingly in your last paper *, I should not have troubled you to insert it in the Galaxy. Yours, affectionately, CONSERVE OF ROSES.

SENTIMENTAL DITTY. -- "Founded on Fact."

On Springfield Mountains there did dwell,
A likely youth, who was known full well;
A likely youth, 'bout twenty-one,
Lieutenant Curtis' only son!

Last Monday morning he did go
Down in the meadow for to mow,
He mow'd all round, at length did feel,
Some poison serpent bite his hell [sic].

He laid his scythe down on the ground,
And with his eyes he looked around,
But not a soul could he descry,
To carry him home when he should die.

The serpent's bite began to smart,
The venom had nearly reach'd his heart;
He cried aloud, but no one came
To help poor Curtis, who was so lame!

At last this youth "gave up the ghost,"
And to Abraham's bosom he did post,
Crying all the way as he went,
O cruel, cruel, serpent!

Now readers all, pray drop a tear,
For the unhappy youth who slumbers here;
From his sad fate a warning take,
And shun the poison of a snake!

* Perhaps finding the request could add a bit more detail to the song, but the OCR searches of preceding issues aren't turning up much, and I'm not dedicated enough to pour over pages of small, scratchy microfilm to find something which will provide inconsequential detail at most.

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I don't know if the Traditional Ballad Index esisted in 2003. I think it did, but not on the Web. I've been using it and posting its contents for a long time. I was just recently appointed to the Board of the Ballad Index. -Joe-