What the heck are the lyrics of this folk song talking about?

[astro]

On an LL Bean ad I heard the first part of this old folk song "“I Found Her Little Footprints in the Snow” ".

Now some folks like the summer time
When they can walk about
Strolling through the meadow green
Is pleasure there’s no doubt.

and it sounded so merryI decided to google it up, but the rest of it isn’t so merry. “Bless that happy day when Nellie lost her way” seems an odd sentiment for a person freezing to death. What’s “merry” about it.

Here’s a link to the ad. From this page of the Mt Washington Observatory.

Chorus
I traced her little footprints in the snow
I found her little footprints in the snow
Bless that happy day when Nellie lost her way
I found her when the snow was on the ground

Verse 2
I went out to see her
There was a big round moon
Her mother said she just stepped out
But would be returning soon
I found her little footprints and
I traced them in the snow
I found her when the snow was on the ground

Verse 3
Now she’s up in heaven
She’s with the angel band
I know I’m gonna meet her
In that promised land
Everytime the snow falls
It brings back memories
I found her when the snow was on the ground

[Walloon]

You seem to have answered your own question.

[astro]

@Walloon

You seem to have answered your own question.

I’m assuming she died of exposure. Do you have a different take on it?