, 1883-12-01
Famous Popular Songs.

"Auld Lang Syne" is popularity sup
posed to be the composition Of Burns,
but, in fact, he wrote only the second
and third verses of the ballad as
commonly sung, retouching the 9TH
ers from an older and less familiar
song.
"The Old Oaken Bucket" was
written by Woodwork in New York
city during the hot summer Of 1917.
He came into the house and drank a
glass of water, and then said: "IIow
much mere refreshing it would be
to take a good long drink from the
old oakcn bucket that used to hang
in my fathers WELL" His wife sug-
gested that it was a-happy thought
for poem. He sat down and wrote
the song ms we have it.
VtfJunniI, Spare that Tree" was
the result of an accident that hap
pened George p. Morris. A friends
mother had owned a little place in
the country which she was obliged,
through poverty, to sell. On the
property grew large oak that had
been planted by his grandfather.
The purchaser Of the house and land
proposed to cut down the tree, and
Morris friend paid him $40, for a
bond that the oak should be spared.
Morris heard the story, saw the tree,
and wrote the song.
"Oft in the Silly Night" was pro-
duced by Moore after his family had
undergone apparently every misfor-
tune. One of his children died young,
another went astray, and third
was accidently killed.
"The Light of Other Days" was
written to be introduced into Balfe's
opera, "The Maid Of Artois." The
opera Is forgotten, but the song still
lives, and is as popular as ever.
Payne wrote "Home, Sweet
Home" to help fill up an opera he
was preparing, and at first it had
four stanzas. The author never re-
ceived anything for it, but though
the opera was failure when played
in the Convent Garden Theatre, the
song took, and over 100000 copies
were sold the first year. In two
years the publishers cleared $4,000
by the publication; the limitations
have been innumerable. The melody
is believed to be a Sicilian air, and
DOnazetti has a variation OF ii in his
opera, "Anna Bolena." Payne was
afterwards appointed American Con
sui at Tunis, where he died, and
whence his remains the other day
were sent to America. Some of his
miseries may be guessed by his own
worlds How often have l been in
the heart Of Paris, Berlin, London,
or some other city, and have heard
persons singing, or hand-organs
playing, "Home, Sweet Home"
without having a shilling to buy my
self the next meal, or a place to lay
my head. The world has literally
sung my song till every heart Is
familiar with its melody; yet / have
been wanderer from bOyhood, and
in my old age have to submit to hu.
initiation for my bread.
Fosters "Old Folks at Home" was
the best song he ever wrote. Ovel
100000 copies were sold by the firm
that first published it, and the author
is said to have received $4,000 fol
his share of its sale. Christy, the
noted minstrel, paid S4O0 for the
privilege Of having his name printed
on one edition Of "Old Folks al
Home" as the author and composer
The song is thus often enormously
attributed to him.
Crock Me to Sleep" was written
by Mrs. Allen, OF Maine. She wa:
paid s. for it, and Russell & Co., oI
Boston, who had in three year'
gained $4,000 by its sale, offered hel
S5 a piece for any songs she might
write. Some years after, when
poor widow, and in need Of money
she sent them a song, which wa
promptly rejected.
"a Life ON the Ocean Wave" by
Epes Sargent, was pronounced
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