The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-12-07
EDUCATIONAL.
l0REyA.

rena," and remember it as one of the
most popular and. thrilling pieces of
music in its day. Even yet is occa-
sioually sung, and seems to have
lost none of its original pathos. We
reproduce history Of the poem, as
furnished by correspondent to the
Cincinnati Post. The circumstan-
ces surrounding the writing of the
ballad, fully explain the depth of
sadness found in the lines:
A few weeks ago while at Ports
mouth, Ohio, / heard lady sing the
s old song "Lorena." She was in the
parlor of the hotel and the music
rang through the Railways and into
the great office where old and young
men were lounging and smoking.
The full mellow voice of the lady
and the words of the song wrought
an electric effect upon the careless
travellers and loungers. Talking had
ceased. The tipped back chairs
were brought onto all fours, and
each man listened until the last pa
thetic line was sung. / saw tears
in manly eyes and for moment not
word was spoken. Out ON the
high hill on the Kentucky shore the
tinkle of the herd bell rang out it's
dull notes as the flock climbed slow
" up the slope. Hearts were com
muning with themselves in the SOL
enln moment
The spell was finally broken by
an old gentleman who had come
from Ironton, Chic, small town
further up the river. Said he:
@That song always Affects me, for
! know something Of its history"
l asked him to repeat it and he
seemed only too wiling to comply.
He had known ali the parties con
cerned.
AS far hael, as 1S4S, q young
preacher loeated at yarpsy;lle 0bio'
fresh from the old Collegiate Insti-
tute at COLUMBUS. He was aged 81,
gifted with fair talents, lover of
l;terot,,ra ord was ronarl,sl,l,, ro
mant;c n mentol toxf,,ro III com
menced HE mi,isterial drt;es at
GAINESVILLE with h;gh homes Hero
ba t;nallv mot ElIo F Z nor,ho,
of tbo cbo;r
Che voc n;netoon short !, stature
ond net;so w;ts hlna e,,as l;abt
brown hair ond saaturas tbst took
hold mon tho anoatrv of baoron ),
She also was ,,oat;cal r,mart;c and
tberssoro ;ndae;s;re md snhm;ss;ro i
Az ornbor sbo w,s danandont n,,o,,
tba hpshand - har s;star NJ s Z.
= wealthy mannfactrrer and q lead.
ino member oe tbe yonno nroacber's :
cbnrcb His home was 2 npon ono -
the hills that surround the citv oi
old Isaiah Zane
Here the girl Ella had every com.
fort and nlnssnre that heart could
.,l eL4-I y, 9 -
"iSn 1oon '',o tf's'i opeii Va 10Y,
pound her 10 the Young dlvlne, and
she promised to be his wife. But
love that planneth all things well,
encountered the golden barrier OF
f wealth and aristocracy. The proud
sister heard, with contempt, the sto.
4 ry of mutual love.
"a poor preacher with no capital
4 but his Bible and no income but the
pittance of Gods people cannot
we'd my sister"
Il The young girl bowed in submis
sion to her elders.
One Sunday in May the young
preacher stroiled home from the
church with his idol, they, slowly
climbing up the hill, while the proud
sister was taken home in her carri-
.ge.
The day was the one to which the
song refers:
a'Twas iowery May,
When up the hill we slowly climbed
nS % hsar the @ a distant 4 church @ bells cnimed
On that dav he hoard his fate
Sbe could not disregard the v;sbe,
of bar s;star II mnst naeds be fare
we'll forever He saw her araip a
| her home the followino evening sb,
| sadly and tearfullv said ut mignt
have teen Ua then ! voun . man
whose eight Of life'' seemed GOING
| out elasned her feverish hand 81
lentlv nresaed s. earnestly and ther
mi ont ;nto the darlxness of th,
| might with the STERN clouds Of &c
sa.;r a,,o,4 b;s heart
r,,. -s. ,;,l ,,..o,
AVA 49, - = =
fOf farcWeli, IN Wnlth Sne Nf9te'
.Tf we try. we NAV forget
T,g,;s ,,o,,,,,r ,ns, voc tba Rev Il;
.,
~ II " epSttt. nc .'fhs tioin VIZ
to-o
neaIu OF DID unit ioJc. Miicu ~
located at Racine. Wisconsin. j.
Webster. the musical composer. met
L.. .L p,L ,.,o,e. ~ ~ t,l.,,d
fliin V'OsN. ~ ~ y - - N,-,Vs
KIN DuC became WaFhl ifisnus. Sne
lay the preacher promised the com
poser some verses l0r song. nc
wrote il. calling it Bertha, but the
hame world not fit the music. and
~, ~