Louisiana capitolian., 1881-11-19

History of the Song that Carried "if
Hearts some Twenty Years Ago.
Boston Star

dies. The music had apeculiar charm
the words were singularly touching,
and their length, extending to eight
long verses, suggested to the reader
story back of them. In fact, the ex-
treme pathos Of the words contributed
as much, perhaps, as the music to give
the composition its wonderful success.
1t was sung everywhere, in parlors,
in concerts. on the street and in the
camps of the contendipg armies. In
the Northern army it was immensely
popular. and it found its way South
through Louisville and Cincinnati,
and during the rebellion it was the
only piece sung in Southern homes,
and excepting martial airs, about the
only one sung in the Confederate
camp. Everywhere was "Lorena."
A steamer on the Ohio was named
Lorena, engines on Western roads
were called Lorena, anda person now
sometimes meets in society young To-
dies named Lorena, called that by
mothers twenty years ago. That the
song had story nearly every one ia
miliarwith it supposed, and supposed
correctly, and it may not be unln-
teresting at this late day to give adj
mirers of the famous melody the facts
in the love affair.
The author Of the words was Rev.
II. D. l.. Webster. He studied in the
Columbus Academical and Collegiate
Institute, and was editor of the college
paper. In the year ls4s, being then
twenty -four years OF age, and full OF
poetry and romance. he was enjoying
his first pastorate III GAINESVILLE. Ohio.
His leading parishioner wasa wealthy
manufacturer. whose residence was
upon one of the many hills which sur
round 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 fowery Nay,
When up the hily slope wo chmbea
10 watch the dying of the day,
Aud hear the distant church bells chiIaed
There lived in this family q younger
sister OF his wife, who was the leading
singer in the choir. She was 10 years
Of age. small Of stature, had blue
eyes and light brown hair. and was
as fair u, IA lily She was not only
a sweet singer, but she was as full o
poetry and romance as her pastor
and they SOON became very much at
taclled. Their loving did not, how
ever. "prosper WE'LL" for the famil.
were proud and aristocratic, and "hat
higher notions OF the girls future thar
to sanction her marriage with poo
preacher" As she WIS dependen
upon them for q home, she was fOrce'
to Weld to their counsel--Nr. Web
ster says he now thinks it wise coun
sel-and they We're obliged to Civ
each other up 1t was, however, tn
strong will and the proud will OF tn
sister, more than the opposition 9
the brother-in law, that separate
them. Or rather kept Lorena fror
him. Lorena seems to have bee
passive, indecisive in character, an
submissive in the hands Of her strong
willed sister. Mr.. Webster saw he
for the last time at her home, learne
Of the sisters unconquerable oppos
ton, heard his fate, and took a quit
bat painful farewell. very little b'
ing said. That night she wrote bill
u last letter in which she used tl
words, so we'll remembered by thot
familiar with the song; "lf We II
we may forget" 1t was eight yea
after that he wrote;
Hoy III We try we nay forget
We're words Of thine hong years aea.
Yss these were worde 0f shine, Lorena,
They burn within nay memory yet
They tguCh some tender chords, Lmcn&
Which thrill and treruble with regrst
There IL q future OH thank God
Nlife this is 40 srnan part,
ris dust to dust beneath The ead
But There up There, 'ts hear, 10 hsart.
The effect Of separation was
crash the young NAN, and writing
a friend five years ago, Jwenty-s
years after the occurrence, he say
"I doubt ii all dark lines are eras