The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-03-17
History Of the Song that Charmed all Hearts
Some Twenty Years Ago.

Southern homes, and, excepting martial
airs, about the only one sung in the Con-
tederate camp. Everywhere was 'sLor.
ena." A steamer on the Ohio was named
Lorena, engines on Western roads were
called Lorena, 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 late day
to give admirers Of the famous melody
the facts IN the love affair.
The author of the words was Rev. n.
l.. Webster. He studied in the Col
umbus academical and collegiate insti-
tute, and was editor of the college paper.
In the year 1S4S, being then "a years of
age, and full of poetry and romance, he
was enjoying his first passionate in Zanes-
vile, Ohio. His leading parishoner was
a wealthy manufacturer, whose residence
was upon one Of 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:
was uOWcry May,
When up the billy slope we climbed
10 watch the dying of the day, ass
And hear the distant church bell chimed
There lived in this family young SIS
ter of his wife, who was the leading sing
er in the choir. She was 10 years of
age, small Of stature, had blue eyes and
light brown hair, and was as fair as
lily. She was not only a sweet singer,
but she was as full of poetry and romance
as her pastor, and they soon became very
much attached. Their loving, did not,
however, prosper WE'LL" for the family
were prond and aristocratic, and had
higher notions of the girls future than
to sanction her marriage with a 'spoor
preacher" As she was dependent upon
them for a home, she was forced to yield
to their counsel-Mr. Webster says he
now thinks it wise counsel-and they
were obliged to give each other up. 1t
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, indeclsive in
character, and submissive IN the hands OF
her strong-wllled sister Mr.. Webster saw
her for the last time at her home, learned
of the sisters unconquerable opposition,
heard his fate and took qu1et but pain
full farewell, very little being said. That
night she wrote him last letter in which
she used the words, so we'll remembered
by those familiar with the song, .@If we
try we may forget" 1t was eight years
after that he wrote: e-~-#- -. Be- y.
For IF we try, we mey forget"
l Were words Of thine long years ago.
Yes, these were words II thine, Lorena.
they burn within my memory vet,
They touch some tender cords, Lorena,
Which thrills and trembles with re-
There is a future. Oh! thank God,
OF life this is SO small part.
Ills dust to dust beneath the sod
But There, up There it's heart to heart
The effect OF tire separation was to
crush the young man, and, writing
to friend five years ago, twenty.six years
after the occurrence, he says: I doubt if
all dark lines are erased from my heart
yet" He resigned his passionate and
saught another field, smothering his pain
by hard study and work. And the only
sign of that pain the world ever saw was
the heart-cry in the song of "Lorena." In
1856 he was residing in Racine, Wiscon-
sin, where he met J. P Webster, the COM
poser, who, though Of the same name. is
no relation to him. They soon became
intimate. J. P. Webster was writing song
| music, and was troubled to find appro-
pirate words. Rev. Mr.. Webster told
him that he would write song, and in
two days produced it, entitled, 'Bertba. -"
A mere fancy name. When the compos-
er came to set it to music he wanted a
name of three syllables, accented on the
sound, and the author then made up the
name of s'Lorena." -.
The young lady S name was not Lorena,
however, nor Bertha, but Ella. It is said
that she lost her vivacity, and her sunny,
witching ways after they parted, and
/ never regained them, and that she Is now
a sad, sickly woman, past the prime of
life. She is the wife Of a judge, and lived
for many years at Ironton, on the Ohio.
When last heard from, however, several
months ago, she was travelingin Europe.
Her proud and naughty s1sterslong ago
passed over the river, where '''t1s heart to
heart, instead of dollar to dollar.' Her
brother-in-law died only a few weeks
ago. Mr.. Webster, also past the prime
OF life, IS married and lives in Neenah,
| Wisconsin, minister and the editor Of
local paper.
How PEOPLE GET SICK = Eating too
| much and too fast; swallowing i'm
peYfectly-masticated foods using too
much fluid at meals; drinking poison
GUS whisky and other Intoxicating
drinks; repeatedly using poison as
medicine; keeping late hours at night
and sleeping late in the morning: wear
ing clothing too tight; wearing thin
shoes; neglecting to wash the body
| sufficiently to keep the pores open;
exchanging the warm clothing worn in
warm room during the day for cos
tunes and exposure incident to even
ing parties; COMPRISING the stomach
to crafty a vain and foolish passion for
dress; keeping up constant excitement;
fretting the mind with borrowed troub-
les; swallowing quack nostrums for
every imaginary i'll; taking meals at ir-
regular intervals, etc.
L