The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-12-23
LORENAjS LOVER.
The Song that Carried all Hearts Twenty Years
Ago.
Boston Star.

Ago.
Boston Star
About the year 1858 there appeared in the
musical circles of the West a song which foi
twelve years had run rarely attained by
popular melodies. The music had peculiar
charm, the words were snguia-ly touching
and their length, extending 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
music to give the composition Its wonderful
success. IL was sung everywhere In parIors,
in concerts, OH the street, aud in the camps
of the contending armies. In the Northern
army Ii was immensely popular, and found
its way South through Louisville and Gin
cinnati, and during the rebellion it was the
only piece sung In Southern homes, and sx-
cepting martial airs, about the only one sung
In the Confederate camp. Everywhere was
"Lorena." A steamer on the Ohio was
named Lorend, 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 ev-
cry one familiar with 1t supposed, and sup
posed correctly, and 1t may not be uninter-
esting at this late day to give admirers of the
famous melody the facts in the love affair.
The author Of the words was Rev. II. ID. L.
Webster. He studied In the Columbus Aca-
demical and Collegiate Institute, and was ed
itor Of the college paper. In the year 1s4s,
being then twenty four years of ago and full
Of poetry and romance, he was enjoying his
first pastorate In GAINESVILLE, Ohio. His lead
ing parishioner was . wealthy manufacturer,
whose residence was upon one of the many
hills that surround that smoky town. The
house was about half mile out, and the
eminence upon which it was seated was the
one referred TO in the song:
Twas fiowerv MAY.
When up the hilly slope we climbed
To watch the dying of the day,
And hear the distant church bells chimed.
There lived in this family young sister of
his wife, whe was the leading singer In the
choir. She was nineteen years of age, small
Of stature, had blue eyes and licht-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 weli," for
the family were proud and aristocratic, and
81 had higher notions of The girls future than
20 sanction her marriage with poor preach
er." As she was dependent OH them for
home, she was forced to yield TO their coun-
sei--Mr. Webster says that he now thinks il
wise coursel-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 pas
sive, indecisive In character, and submissive
In the hands of her strong willed sister. Mr..
Webster saw her for the last time at her
home, learned Of The sisters unconquerahle
opposition, heard his fate, and took quiet
but painful farewell, very little being said.
That night she wrote him last letter, in
which she used the words. so well rcmem-
bered by those familiar with the song: "If
we try We may forget" 1t was eight Yeas
after that he wrote:
For " III we try we may forget"
Were the words of thine long years ago.
Yes, these were words of thine, Lorena.
They burn within nv memory yet,
They touch some tender chords, Lorena,
Which thrill and tremble with regret.
There is future. Oh ! thank God,
or life this is so small part,
'Tis dust to dust beneath the sod,
But there, up there, tits heart to heart.
The effect of the separation was 10 crush |
the young man, and writing to friend five
years ago, twenty-six years after the occur
renee, be says: 81 doubt If all the dark
lines are erased from my heart yet" He re-
signed his pastorate and sought another
field, smothering bis 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 be was residing
In Racine, Wis, where he met j. p. Webster,
the composer, who, although of the same
name, is no relation to him. They soon be-
came very intimate. j. p. Webster was
writing song music, and was troubled to find
appropriate words. Rev. Mr.. Webster told
him that he would write song, and In two
days he produced it, entitled "Bertha," .
mere fancy name. When the composer
came TO set IL TO music. he wanted name
Of three syllables, accented on the second,
and the author made up the name Of g Lo-
rena."
The young ladys nane was not Lorena,
however, nor Bertha, but Ella. 1t is said
that she lost her yivacity and sunny, WITCH
ing ways after they parted, and never re-
gained them, and that she is now q sad,
sickly woman, past the prime OF life. When
last heard from, however, several months
ago, she was travelling In Europe. Her
proud and naughty sister has long since
passed over the river, where !" 'tis heart to
heart, instead Of dollar to dollar" Her
died only few weeks ago.
Mr.. Webster, also past the prime Of life, is
married. and lives In Ncenah, Wis.,, minis
er and the editor Or local paper.
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