River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-06-19

II happened IN this WaT: Tn a cold day
in the January Of 1850 the door OF Mr..
Turner's music-shOp. in the Poultry,
London. vas nervously opened, and a
most unclesh, ragged specimen Of hui
mainly dragged himself in.
He looked as il he hadn't been washed
for months His beard was unkempt,
and dirty and matted. For boots he
wore some folds of dirty rags, and in all
he was a specimen of the most degraded
class Of that community.
One OF the clerks said TO him: you
get out Of here
The two ladies who happened 70 be in
the shop noticed his wOe-begOne look,
and were about to offer him some money,
when Mr.. T Ia clerk in the estab-
lishment), seeing the poor fellow shiy-
ering with cold and apparently hungry.
pitied him and brought him into the
workshop so that he might have a
''warm-up- by the stove. A few min
utes after. Mr.. Turner. the proprietor.
came in. and seeing the ragged individ-
ual asked what he wanted and who
allowed him imp
II did said Mr.. T; ''the poor
fellow looked so cold and miserable
couldn't send him out in the piercing
wind without giving him warm, and.
besides, he says he has sore business
with you"
Business with me-"
''Yes, sir, have song l should like
you 70 listen to-"
Turner eyed him from head TO foot,
and then laughed outright
The misunderstanding object at the
stove began 10 grow uneasy. and begged
90 be allowed to play the air OF his song,
which he then unearthed from his rags,
and handed to the music publisher.
Turner looked at il and said:
''Who wrote this?"
81 did. sir" came from the rags.
"Youl Well, I'll have it played over.
and il it's any good I'll give you some
thing for it"
Il beg your pardon, sir, prefer to
play il myself"
What! you play? Well. bring him
mp 70 the piano room when he gets
warm. and well 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 its composer, James Law
son
His listeners we're electrified when
they heard the Hooking
tramp make the piano almost speak.
His touch was simply marvellous. and
his very soul seemed tO be at his finger
tips. When he had finished he turned
70 mis- little audience and said;
I'D like TO sing for you, but have
terrible cold / haven't been in bed
for five nights. I'm hungry, sir, and /
feel could not do il Justice"
Turner was almost dumb with amaze
ment The air would take: he knew it
would be success and he decide ed that
this man had a history which. perhaps,
might advertise the song. 80 he deter
mined to cultivate him. and in fiattery
(as he thoughtl. pressed him TO sing
''just one stanza-"
Lawson protested. but finally agreed,
and il Turner was amazed when he
heard him play, he was positively en-
raptured with that hungry voice, hungry
with love, hungry physically, pouring
out in the sweetest of tenOrs the first
stsnza of the song in which his soul
lived
II was the story of lost love. but he
cherished il. and as he sang il 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 pub
Usher. Mr.. Turner, il was decidedly APP
parent that he had secured great song.
Addressing Mr.. T. he said: Mr.
T. take this man along; get him a
bath, shave, some decent clothes; in
fact fix him up like a gentleman and
bring him here, and We shall see about
this song"
T took him along He took him
20 bath, and while the unclean was
being made clean he bought for him a
shirt. q pair Of shoes, some socks, col
lars. cuffs and underwear. Then he had
him shaved. Then they hied to a
clOthier's. and. having removed the
rags Lawson was quickly clad in fine
raiment
The change was beginning to tell.
Already the tramp seemed to be the
guide and treasurer. He was splendid
looking fellow and had quite a distingue
appearance. But the hat was still there,
and mirror-like chimney pot was pur-
GuAStu 10 u4pAELG the NAAhe-Nh -
laughed when all was finished.
Tie was in his working clothes. and
this unfortunate looked like a duke.
The good clothes fitted him, and they
suited him and his appearance much too
we'll TO continue the assumption that
Mr.. Lawson was tramp lie was a
gentleman all over. and he looked it.
T said to him:
Mr.. Lawson. I wish you would go
into the shop before me. They won't
know you, and il will be such joke
II don't mind that. Mr.. T, but
won't you let me have a drink? l want
it-please let me have drink"
T refused 20 stand the drink; he
told Mr.. Lawson that if he wanted a
dinner he could have il. but drink he
could not have Finally. the two went
into the Ship and Turtle dining-rOOms.
and over chocolate and sirlOin steak. the
author Of Ever of Thee told the fol-
lowing story:
II was once rich. Mr.. T. You
know what l am now. You were as
Eonished 10 hear me play the piano so
we'll That little song has been the
only companion from which l gained
1t brought back 20 me the days when
was rich. loved, looked up to and happy.
OF course, il has its sad side for me.
But the memory Of what il recalls is the
dearest thing in my existence"
T interrupted him at this point.
and indicated that it was growing late.
Please bear with me" rejOined his
companion LET me tell you how and
Why ] composed the little song Two
years ago met girl in Brighton. II
God ever allowed one o. His angels to
come on earth she was that one.
adOred her. She seemed &c return the
Affection ! escorted her everywhere,
Was st her beck and call morn. noon
and night aud it was currently be-
iisySd tAst Mss Blank and were en-