Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1880-03-18
LORENA'S LOVER.
History of the Song that Charmed all Hearts
Some Twenty Years Ago.


History of the Song that Charmed all Hearts
Some Twenty Years Ago.
About the year 1858 there appeared in
the musical circles of the West, song
which for twelve years had run rarely
attained by popular melodies. The mu-
SIC had peculiar charm, the words were
touching, and their length, ex-
tending to eight long verses, suggested
to the reader story back OF them. In
fact, the extreme pathos Of the words
contributed as much, perhaps as the mu-
sic, to give the composition its wonderful
success. 1t was sung everywhere, III par
lors, III concerts, on the street and in the
camps of the contending armies. In the
Northern army it was immensely popu-
lar, and it found its way South through
Louisville and Cincinnati, and during
the rebellion was the only piece sung IN
Southern homes, and, excepting martial
airs, about the on y one sung in the Con-
feaerate camp. Everywhere was s'Lor-
ena.' A steamer on the Ohio was named
Lorena, engines on Western roads were
called Loren., and person now some
times meets in society young ladies'
named Lorena, called that by mothers
twenty years ago. That the song had
story nearly every one familiar with it
supposed, and suppoaed correctly, and it
may net be uninteresting at this lae day
to give admirers of the famous melody
the facts IN the love affair.
TIE author of the words was Rev. Fl.
L. Webster. He studied in the Col
umbus academical and collegiate insti-
tute, and was ed1 or of tie college paper.
In the year 19A8, being then "a years of
age, and full OF poetry and romance, he
was enjoying his fist passionate in zanes-
vile, Ohio. HIS leading parishoner was
a wealthy manufacturer, whose residence
was upon one o. the many hills which
surround that smoky town. The house
was about halt mile out, and the emin-
ence upon which it was seated was the
one referred to in The song:
Twas fowely May,
When UP the billy slope we climbed
| To watch The dying OF the day,
And hear | e distant church bell chimed
There lived il tins family young SIS
ter of his wife, who was the leading sing
er in the choir. She was 10 years of
age, small Of ste ture, had blue eyes and
! light brown hair, and was as fair as Il
lily. She was not only sweet singer,
but she was as full fpoetry end romance
as her pastor, snd they soon became very
much attached. Their loving, did not,
however, "p1osper well,' ior the family
were prond and aristocratlc, and had
higher notions OF the girls future than
to sanction her marriage with ''poor
preacher" AS she was dependent upon
them for home, she was forced to yield
to their counsel-Mr. Webster says he
now thinks it a wise counsel-and they
were obliged to give each other up. II
was however the strong will and the
proud spirit of the sister more
than the opposition OF The brother
in-law, that separated them or
rather kept Lorena from him. Lorena
seems to have been passive, indelsive in
character, and submissive III the hands OF
. her strong -wl,led sister M. Webster saw
her ior the last time 81 her home, learned
of the sisters unconquerab'e opposition,
!, heard his fate, and took quIet but pain.
full farewell. very little being said. That
, night she Woe II N lsSt letter in which
; she used The No"ds, SO well remembered
by those f,mi'iAr N.il the song, "If We
try we may .orget.' It was eight year:
after that Re W ote:
For 'IfW ny, we n Y forget
Were words o thine LONG years ago.
? Yes, these were words d thine, Lorena,
1hey BON within NY Nero, yet,
They touch some tcnGcr cords, Lorena,
Which Tbrjlls and trembles with re
81 greet,
There is iuture OH thank God,
u o. life tbs is 20 small part.
IT'S du to dust beneath he sod,
= But There, up There lis heart 10 heart
The eGect o. the separation was t.
crush TIE young man. and, writing
to friend FIVE years ago, twepty-2ix year
af,er the occurrence. he says: doubt i
!. all dark lines are Ell ased from my hear
r YETI He resigned bis pastors te ant
!. sauoht another lield, smotheriug ms pail
by ha1 q study and work. And the ONLY
: sign OF thai pam he world ever saw wa
? the heart-cI. IN The song CT '.Lorena." II
i 1856 be was residing Racine, Wiscon
sin, where he met ]. p. Webster, the com
e poser, who, though OF the same name, i
| no rel ton 10 him. They soon became
i intimste. j. P. Webster was writing song
). music, and was troubled 10 find appro
e pirate words. Few. Mr.. Webster tolt
him thet be would write song, and il
: two days produced it, entitled, 'Bertha
8 A mere fancy mann. When the compos
Il er came 10 set it 10 music he wanted
: meme OF three syllab'es, accented on tn,
sound, and the author then made up tn,
name of Lorons."
The young lady name was rot Lerena
however, nor Bertha, but Ella. 1t is sail
- that she lost her vivacity, and her sunny
: witching ways after they parted, AM
!, never rcgalucd them, and that she is nov
sad. sickly oman, past the prime o
s life. SEeis tie VIE of judge, and live
: for many yc lrs at Ironton, on the Ohio
L When l., beard from, however, severa
: months ago. she was travelingi in Europe
:. Her proud ard naughty sister long ag
t passed over tine river, where s''tls heart t
heart, instead of dollar 10 dollar He
|. brother-in-law died only few week
ago. Mr.. Webster, also past the prime
OF life, Is married and lives in Neenah
Wisconsin, a minister and the editor of
:, local paper.