Montgomery County sentinel., 1878-11-29
Selected @yiseellany,
GRANDFATHER'S CLOCK.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE AUTHOR.
From the New York Sun.

Fho" tuc NcW IOTk Duu.
Not to know "Grandfather's Clock"
argues yourself unknown. With its
accompaniment of winding up striking,
ticking, and running down, it is nightly
played in the theatre and concert hall to
applauding auditors, and is whistled by
unnumbered puckered mouths. But not
to know the words of this latest musical
hit, or not to be able to name the author
is simply to enroll ones self with the
thousands that would be obliged to con-
fess to the same ignorance Two years
ago the writer was shown a sheet of music
by Mr.. Chauncy M. Cady. The music
was entitled "Grandfather's Clock" II
was then unknown Mr.. Cady hummed
it, and said, that's going to be popu-
lar. 1t will be just the thing to catch
the ear" This was in '76. Mr.. Cady's
prophesy has come true in '78, and yes
terday he himself told how it was done.
1T was written by Henry G. Work" !"
said Mr.. Cady. "You know him No!
Bless you I! His life is little romance.
Let me tell you about him. In the first
place, his father was Alanson Work, who
with Burr Thompson, was, in 1841,
condemned to twelve years hard labor in
the Missouri State Prison for assisting
fugitive slaves across the Mississippi
river. We'll, about the beginning of the
rebellion Work came to our Office in
Chicago Q was then with Root, in the
firm of Root q Cady) with the manu-
script of a song. He was then prin-
ter, struggling for living. We saw
that he had something in him, and not
only bought his song, but engaged him
to write for US for term Of years, agree
ing to pay him stipulated copywright.
After he turned out Kingdom Com
ing" and one or two other popular songs,
we increased his copy right voluntarily.
His songs made great hit, especially
"Wake, Nicodemus," Babylon is Fal-
len, )" and Marching Through Georgia. I"
You didn't know that he wrote that
Yes, indeed, told you that he had it in
him.
His proceeds from his SONGS" con-
tinued Mr.. Cady, "madc him rich. He
Travelled extensively in this country and
in Europe. and in 1867 he went from
Chicago with snug fortune. Then he
went to Vineland, N. J., and with his
brother invested his earnings in two or
three hundred acres Of land, built houses,
and prepared to establish an extensive
fruit farm. But the hard times came
on, bis investments we're improbable,
and he lost all he his property. Added
to this we're domestic trials Of the most
heart-rending nature, and finally there
only remained to bin his little daughter
Nellie. He disappeared from view. No
one knew where be was.
Meantime the Chicago fire dissolved
the firm Of Root & Cady. We lost
$315, 900, and recovered from insurance
companies only $55, 900 It was
severe stroke to me. | was threatened
with brain fever, and had to quit work.
About three years ago | came here and
started in business again as music pub
Usher. wanted some one 10 write
pOpuldI HuriI iOi hhSt nbh Il buouHub VI
Harry G. Work. But / couldn't find
him lie had secluded himself 30 effec-
tually that it was six months before /
could find him, aud then it was by meet
ing him accidently on Broadway He
was very poor and was trying to support
himself aud his little daughter by writ
ing magazine articles. Well the result
our meeting was that Work wrote three
songs for me, The Mystic Veil,' Sweet
Echo DELL and Grandfather's Clock
These were all published in 1876, and
sold well from the start. but the latter
has eclipsed the others, and, 10 fact, all
other songs recently published. II is
the bit Of the times"
"But how did you make il popular,
Mr.. Cady7 You showed il 10 me in
1876. but did not hear Of il again until
1878"