Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1885-07-04
aLoRENA's" LOVER

culiar charm, the words were slngularly
touching, and their very 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, rs the music to give the compost
ton its wonderful success. 1t was sung
everywhere, in parlors, in concerts, on the
street and in the camps of the contending
armies. In the northern army ii was i'm
mensely 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, except
ing martial airs, about the only one SING IN
the confederate camp. Everywhere was
"Lorena" A steamer on the Ohio was
named Lorena, engines on western roads
were called Lorena, and a 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,
md supposed correctly, and it may not be
unintsresting at this late day to give ad-
mirers of the famous melody the facts In
the love affair.
The author of the words was
THE REV. II. d. L. WEBSTER.
He studied in the Columbus Academical and
Collegiate Institute, and was editor of the
college paper. In the year 1913, being then
"a years Of age, and full Of poetry and TO
nance, he was enjoying his first passionate
at Zanesville, Ohio. His leading parishion-
or was q wealthy manufacturer, whose res
idence was upon one of the many hills
which surround that smoky town. The
house was about half a mile out, and the
eminence upon which it was seated was the
one referred to in the song:
Twas howery Nav.
When up the hilly slope we climbed,
To watch the dying of the day,
And hear the distant church bells ckimed.
There lived in his family 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
han, and was as fair rs q liis. She VIZ not
only . sweet singer, but she was as full OF
poetry and romance as her pastor. ana they
soon became very much attached. Their
loving did not, however. prosper we'll"
for the family were proud and ariseOcratic,
and "had higher notions of the girls flu
ture than to sanction her marriage with
Door preacher" As she was dependent
upon them for a home, she was forced to
yield 10 their counsel-Mr Webster coy. he
now thinks il 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 for him. Lorena
seems to have been passive, 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 UNcoro uERABLE oPPosI-
TIoN,
heard his fate, ard took quiet brt painful
farewell, very little being said. That night
she wrote him last letter, in which she
used the worls. so well Remembered by
those familiar with the song, u" II We try,
we may forget" Il was eight years after
that - wfole:
For ~ W FRY. mAy forget"
Wess Tord4 OF .illne cue years AGO
Tee these were words of thine, Iorena,
They burn wirir my memory yet.
They touch some tender cords Lorena,
which thrill and tremole with regret;
There IL "a future. Oh thank doc,
OF life this is 50 small part
sJ,s dust 70 duet beneath rhe sod.
Bat There, mp There, tits heart to heart
The effect of the separation WIS to crush
1he Young man, and, writing to friend
Ave years ago, twenty SIX years after the
! occurrence. be seys: !" I doubt IL all the
dark lines are erased from my heart yet. "
He resigned bis nastorate and sought an
other field. snotberirg his pain by hnrd
study and work. And the only sign Of that
main the world e-er saw was the heart cry
tr the song of g Lorena."
In 1855 he was residing in Racine, Wis
whore
HE MKT J. p. WEBSTER,
ehs composer, who, slough Of the same
name. IL no relation 20 aim. They soon
beesrne very intimate. J. p. Webster was
writing song music, and was troubled &c
Hnl apurcpriste words Rev. MIR. Webster
TIA him that he would write aong, and in
twe days he produced il. entitled, bertha y
= mere fancy name. When the composer
eans b sst It TO music. he wanted a name
q three syllabies. accented on the second
end Me author then made up the name Of
"Legena."
The young lady's name was not Lorera,
hsvevsr, nor Bertha, nor Ella.
IL b said that she lost her yivacity, and
suAay witnhing ways after they parted, and
aev@ reeainsd them; and that she Is now
sd, aady woman, past the prime of life.
oAs = tie wife Of judge. and lived FOL
Qsa11 years Il lyonton. ON the Ohio. Wher
lage hsaEd fsom, however, several months
-. she W. travelling in Europe. Hel
~DQQpd anA naughty sister has long sincs
$50 ovoa the liver, where ''tis heart Il
keoGA' instead Of dollar to dollar" He
heotheg-in-law died only few weeks ago
- Wohstos, also past the prime OF life, II
5000, end lives in Nssnah, Wis. 9 msn
- anA NE editor Of local paper
1fnn1o 16WAo.