The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1885-09-03
"LORENA."

The other day heard the almost for
gotten strains of "Lorena'' that old song
once SO popular with everybody. Very
few who sing 1t know what web of ro-
nance is woven in Its lines. OF the many
melodies that have had their run in
musical circles, not one has attained the
popularity OF "Lorena." The music has
japeculiar strain, and The words are touch
lug and full of pathos. / think the rea-
SON it keeps its place in the hearts and
memory Of the people is because II is a
true and an actual experience Of one who
has "loved and lost. y II is the cry OF
crushed and disappointed love and
makes the sympathy Of all who hear it.
The author of the song was young
preacher named Webstet, a stndent in
the Columbus Academlcal Collegiate
Institute.
In 1850, being then ~ yeats old he
went to GAINESVILLE Ohio to preach the
Gospel, being full ofpoetry and romance
besides being very eloquent he soon
charmed all who sat under the sound OF
his voice. Among his members was a love
ly young girl OILS summers, the sister
Of his wealthiest member, left dn orphan
at an early age, she lavished love upon
him divided only by sistpr with whom
she made her home, a beautiful residence
situated upon one ofthe many hills that
rise by grassy slopes from the smoky
little town below it was from here they
Watched the dying of the day
And heard The distant church bells Chino
In size she was below the medium,
had deep blue eyes, light hair ard was
as fair as a lilly. She was sweet sing
er and rs full Of poetry and rornance us
the pastor. It was a case of love ut first
sight but their loving did not prosper well
for her sister WAS proud and aristocrat-
lie and had higher notions of the girls
future than TO sanction marriage with
a poor preacher. Being dependent upon
the sister for a home and was In the
habit Of consulting and being guided by
her she was inclined to yielu to tae-eoun-
sci offered, and to. this indec sion of
character she may attribnt5 her msfor-
tune. Had sho pnsshssed one half the
will of her sister, there wonM have been
no aftef regrets and her life would not
have Been the miserable failure that 1t
I
has turned out to be. Yet there are
many who think "There isa destiny
that shapes our lives, rongh-hcw 1t as
we thay." Lorena was as passive
and submissive IN the hands of her sis
ter as q ball ofputty, and ut last one e.
vening she told the preacher of her sis
tiers opposition and the next day She
wrote the oft QUOTED lines :"If we try we
may forget"
Long years after that day with these
cruel false words burning in his heart
he pens the song destined from It's
birth to be the most popular one ever
written.
Steamboats, were named ''Lorena,"
Engines on the ives ern Railroads were
named "Lorena," fond mammas and
doting papas christened the little stran-
ger "Lorena." Often in society today
you meet with young ladies bearing the
pretty name 'Iorena"
"Fes these were words of thine Lorena,
They burn within my memory yet,
They touch SOM tender chord Lorena,
Which thrill and thembe with regret;
There Is future oh thank God,
or life this is 40 smalla part,
tbs dust to dust beneath the sod,
Up there up there It's heart to heart
The effect of the separation was toi
crush the young man forever; no one to |
synpathize or urge him on to victory |
and to honors. He writes to friend |
few years ago, over 30 years after the oc-
currance that all the surk lines are not
yet erased from his heart 1t is said that
the young lady lost her vivaclty and
sunny witching ways and that the beau
tiful blue eyes were often suff'used with
bitter tears ofresret. One day she was
an Indifferent actor in wedding plan
ned and perfected by her ambitious sis
ter and Is now living in ironton, Ohio,
the wife of judge aud her sister has
long since passed over the river where
Tis heart to heart and not dol
lar to dollar. Mr.. Webster is a minister
.. N .I 10