Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-12-13
From the Washing on Globe I
Story Of q Poem.

o
sold in Cincinnati by the managers of tho
iplg held 10 that city IN AID OF tbr Ssuanry
Commission, was copy vi Mrs. Akers' ceie
brated song-"ltock Me 10 Steep sent by
the authoress in answer 10 a request II The
committee on autographs that she would con.
tribute manuscript copies of s9me Of her %.
ems The poem has been set 70 nusic BY A.
least eight composers il this country and IN
Europe One Of these compositions has pass
ed through upward Of fty tiiuos; aud many
thouaauds OF dollars mast have been real
lzed by the mnsiGpublishors, who app opti
ated u Immediately on its appearances, with.
out so much as asking permission to do go
There has been good deal OF dispute
about the authorship OF this soug some olaim-
ing IT, very confidently, for their friends. and
others, very imprudenuy, fOrthamselgca To
those who ore acquainted with the fine aud
sensitive nature Ia which tbs tender poem
had II origin, It appears iu nOsiae. singular
that such claims can be act up and persisted
10 without any risk of contradiction from the
real author while the fact that she authorized
its original publication under her accustomed
nom de plume, aud has permitted Il 50 be
very generally copied by the Newspaper pr8ss
Of the country witb her real name attachdd.
should, in view OF the brilliant reputation al
ready acquired at the TIM. il first appeared,
be evidence sufficient everywhere and with
everybody that whatever Of credit attaches 10
this production is due to Mrs Alters, and tnl
her alone. We copy from the Portland { Nc, n
Transcript he following Interesting st,d sui ert
concerning this matter, and append CORRECT
version of the song itself:
Few poems OF the present time have had
wider circulation than tho beautiful lines Of
Mrs. Akers-mors widely known under the
nom de plume of Florence Percy--entflei
Rock Me to Sleep, Mother They have been
published by nearly every newspaper in the
land, printed in books, set to music, and sung
and recited in thousands OF house helds.
The sentiment lhBy breathe Of a longing for
q mothers care and q return to the unbutden.
ed hours of childhood comes home to the
hearts ofall who have experienced--aud who
has not f--the heart aches Of this weary
world
Like most poems which have attained a
wide newspaper circulation, these verses have
met with variety Of adventures aud mishaps
They have in some instances, been shorn OF
their fair proportions, in others laid claim to
by ambitious aspirants for poetica hos ors
and again have had appended to them ro-
mantle history quite sufficient on which 10
the latter kind we find in the Merced Banner.
a California newspaper, TO which one - W..
contributes avery affecting history Of the
author Of Rock Me TO Sleep He is not at
liberty TO give her name, but furnishes her
with career As full ct romance and misfor-
tune as any novel.reader could desire.
After the usual accompanimonts OF an
elopement an unworthy husband, a cruel
parent, who is made 70 relent by the perusal
OF this poem, written on n sick bed with a
view to reconciliation, g. W. finally en- n
the author strange, eventfu history by kill
| her of with with hereditary consumpti on,
three years ago The San Francisco SIN.
day Mercury copies this imaginative narrative
the editor sagely remarking that "lhe story is
not new to us, and appendin5 mutilsted
copy oi the now famous verses And this is
fame The authoress, however, should not
complain-she may thank her stars that she ia
yet permitted to live
"Again, we learn that in d western tity q
married lady whose maiden name sugularly
enough, was Florence Percy, is gratifying a
desire for literary honors by claiming This
poem as her own production
"The true history ofthe poem may he given
in few words. 1t was written by Mrs. Akers
in Rome# during her visit to that city q few
years since and sent 10 FREUD in this city,
who caused it to be published in the PhiIadel
phia Evening Post in which paper il 6rst ap-
peared in print. II is not to be found in Mrs.
Aker's volume Of poems as it was written
some years after the book was published
Written u this country, earned 10 Iaiy, aud sen
home thence for pubhcsuon,-Ed Gfob,
ROCK ME TO SLEEP
Backward, turn backward, o, Time, In your flight,
Make sehid again, iusi for "a, ,night
mother, come bRcs from the eoholess shorei
i Take me again TO your heart as Of yor .
Kiss from my forsheRd the burrows Of cave, ...i
smooth the few silver threads out Of my hari
hoek me TO sleep, mother--roek me TO sleep.
| Backward, dow backyard, O, tide Of the years,
am so weary Of toll and OF tears
Toil without recompense-teprs sll in vain
Tai them aLd give me my childhood gam
I have grown weary Of dust Rnd decay
Weary OF hingug my soul-weslth away
Weary OF sowing for others TO reap
Rock me to sleep, nother-rock me to sleep.
Tired OF the holloS the base the nntrue.} on
Mother, q, mother, my heart calls for you.
Many summer me grass has crown green,
| bloss0med and faded, our iases hetwecn;i
Yet Wllk strong yeaInlng and passionate pain
Long to neht for yonr presence arun.
Come nom the silence so long and deep,
Rock me TO sleep, mother roes me 70 slefp.
over my heart, in the days that are iiown, 80.
No love like moiher-loys ever has shona;
No other worship Ahides and endures--
Faithful, un-el hsh, and patient bke ycursi
None like = mother cltaTIn ava y pain
From the rick soul and the World-VeaIy bInin.I
slumbar's sou Vams o 'er my heavy tts Creep
Rock me 10 sleep, mothet-rock iae to sleep, Ia
Come let your brown hair, Just n GIFTED WITH poid,
Fall on my shoulders again, a. Of Old, sI.-as
Let u drop over my iOrShead 90 night. l.aI..
shading my aint eyes away from the u ghi; 81.
for with its sunny edged shadegs onee more
HAPPY viii throng the sweet visions Of yore--t.
Lovingly, sOnly, its bright billows sweep
Rock me 70 sleep, mother-rock lne 70 sleep.i
Mother, dear mother, the years have been lois b
Since laat listened 10 your lullaby sOngi ~
sing, then, and unto my soul tshall seem
WomRphOod's years hEEe haen only dream.
Clasptd 10 yonr heart IN loyng emhra3s,
VIA your light lashca just sweeping my face,
Never hereafter 10 wake or u wsep--. as.sta