The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1889-12-06
miscellaneous.
STORY OF A SONG.

Perhaps the most popular song ever writ.
ten was Ever of Thee"
1t is not untrue to state that no song ever
had such sale, and certainly no publisher
ever reaped SO much profit from song
sdid Mr.. Turner from the publica-
ton of Ever of Thee" But there is
romance attaching to it which until now
has not been written.
1t happened in this way: On cold day
in he January of 1850 the door of Mr.. Turn
ers's music shop, in the Poultry, London,
was nervously opened, and most unclean,
and ragged specimen of humanity dragged
himself in. He looked as though he hadn't
been washed for months. His beard was uu-
kempt, and dirty and matted. For boots he
wore some folds Of filthy rags, aud in all he
was a specimen of the most degraged class OF
the community.
One of the clerks said to him: "You get
out of here"
Two ladies who happened to be in the
shop noticed his woe begone look, and were
about to offer him some money, when Mr..
TIA clerk in the establishment seeing.the
poor fellow slivering with coldand apparent
hunger, ptied him aud brought him into the
workshop so that he might have warm up"
by the stove. A few minutes after, MIR.
Turner, the proprietor, came In and, seeing
the ragged individual, asked what he wanted,
and "who allowed him in?"
II did," said Mr.. T. the poor fellow
looked 80 cold and miserable | couldn't send
him out in this piercing wind without giving
him u warm, and, besides, he says he has got
some business with you"
Business with me?"
to listen TO-"
Turner eyed him from head to foot, and
then laughed outright
The miserable looking object at the stove
began to grow uneasy. and begged to be al
lowed to play the air of his song, which he
then unearlhed from his rags and handed to
the music publisher. Turner Looked at it
and said
"Who wrote this?"
~ did sir" came from the rags.
"Youl Well, I'll have II played over, and
if IS any good I'll give you something for
it,"
~ beg your pardon, sir I'd prefer to play
it for myself
what you play2 Well, bring him up to
the piano room when he gets warm and we'll
humor him."
In few minutes the bundle of rags was
seated at the concert grand piano, and Ever
of Thee" was played for the first time by the
composer, james LdWsOn.
His listeners were electrified when they
heard this dilapidaled looking tramp make
the piano almost speak. His touch was smp.
ly marvellous, and his very soul seemed to be
al his finger tips. When be had finished be
turned to his little audience and said:
I'd like to sing 1t for you, but have ter
rible cold. l haven't been in bed for five
nights. I'm hungry, sir, and feel l could
not do it justice"
Turner was almost dumb with amazement
The air would take; he knew it would be a
success, and he decided that this man had a
history which, perhaps, might advertise the
song. So he determined to cultivate him,
and in flaltery(as he thoughO pressed him to
sing "just one stanza" Lawson protested,
but finally agreed, and if Turner was amaz-
ed when he heard him play, he was positive
ly enraptured when that hungry voice, hun
cry with love, hungry physically, poured out
in the sweetest OF lenors the first stanza of
the song in which his soul lived.
1t was the story of lost love, but he cher
ished it, and as he sang it was easy to see
that he lived and breathed only for that love
ever of Thee" has never been so sung since
But that trial verse made its success and TO
the experienced publisher, Mr. Turner, it was
decidedly apparent that he had secured a
great song.
Addressing Mr.. T, he said "Mr.
T, take this man along get him bath,
shave, some decent clothes; in fact fix him
up like ~ gentleman, and then bring him
here and we shall see about this song"
T--'took him along" He took him to
bath, and while the unclean was being
clean, lie bought for him a shirt, pair of
shoes, some socks, collars, cuffs and under.
wear. Then he had him shaved. Then
they hied to clother's, and having removed
the rags, Lawson was quickly clad in fine raj
ment. rhe change was beginning to tell.
Already the tramp seemed to b. the guide
and treasurer He was splendid looking
fellow and had quite distingue appearance.
But the hat was still there, and mirror like
chimney pot was purchased 10 complete the
make up. T-laughed when all was fin
ished. He was in his working clothes, and
this unfortunate looked like a duke The
good clothes fit, him, and they suited him
and his appearance much too well to continue
the assumption that Mr.. Lawson was a
tramp. He was gentleman all over, and
he looked it. T-said TO him:
"Mr. Lawson, wish you would go into
the shop before me. They won't know you,
and it will be such joke"
II don't mind that, Mr.. T, but won't
you let me have drink Iwant it-please
let me have drink"
T-refused to stand the drink be told
Mr. Lawson that if he wanted a dinner he
could have it, but drink he could not have.
Finally the two went into the Ship and Tur-
| tie dining room, and over chocolate and sir
loin steak the author of Ever of Thee" told
the following story:
~ was once rich, Mr.. T. You know
what am now. You were astonished to
bear me play the piano so well. That little
song has been the only companion from
which gained any comfort for the past
twelve months. 1t brought back to me the
days when was rich, loved, looked up to
happy. OF course it has its sad side for me
But the memory OF what 1t recalls is the dear
est thing in my existence"
interrupted him at this point and in.
dictated that it was growing late.
please bear with me, rejoined his compan
ion. LET me tell you how and why com
posed the little song. Two years agoI mel
a girl in Brighton. If God ever allowed one
of his angels to come on earth she was thai
one. | adored her. She seemed to return
the affection. | escorted her everywhere
was at her beck and call morn, noon ant
night and it was currently believed that Misi
Blank and were engaged. l had to return
to London on business, and when wen
back to Brighton she was gone.
"Three months after l met her at ball
She had just finished waltz with tall
good looking man, and was promenading tn,
hall on his arm. She recognized me. Blu
when said, How do you do, Miss Blank
she quickly replied:
=="Im well, Mr.. Lawson, but am surprised
to hear you call me Miss Blank. When 20,
left Brighton 80 suddenly thought should
never see you again. You left no address
never called again, and-well, am married
"'To whomY l gasped
"'To Mr.. Prize she replied, pointing a
the same time to the gentleman with whom
she had been dancing.
"That ended my life. My Marie, m,
dream, was gone. l left the hall went to
low gambling place, and in drink and gamb