Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-03-21
EVER OF THEE"

was Ever of Thee"
It is not untrue to state that no song
ever had such sale, and certainly Bo 9th
er publisher ever reaped so much profit
from d song as did Mr.. Tarner from the
publication of Ever of Thee" But there
is romance attached to it which until
now has has not been written.
1t happened in this way. On cold
day in January, 1850, the door of Mr.. Tur
ner's music shop in the Poultry, London,
was nervously opened, and a most uncleau
and ragged specimen Of humanity dragged
himself in He looked as though he hadn't
been washed for months. His beard wa;
unkempt, and dirty, and matted For
boots lie wore some folds of filthy rags, and
in all he was specimen of the most de
graded class of that community.
One of the clerks said TO him, Get ont
of here
The two ladies Who happened TO be i'll
the shop noticed his woe begOne look, and
We're about to offer him some money when
seeing the poor fellow shivering with cold
and apparently hungry, pitied him and
brought him into the workshop go that he
might have warm up by the stove. A
few minutes after Mr.. Turner, the proprie
tor came in, and seeing the ragged indi
vidual asked him what he wanted and
''W no allow I'd him III.
Il did" said Mr.. t, the po or fellow
looked So cold and miserable | couldn' I
send him out in this piercing wind without
giving him warm, and, besides, he says,
he has some business with you"
Business with mel
Yes, sir / have song 1 should like
you to listen to-"
Turner eyed him from head to foot aud
then laughed outright.
The miserable looking object at the stove
began 10 grow uneasy, and begged 10 be
allowed to play the air of his song, which
lie then unearthed from his rags and hand
ed to the music Publisher TGrner looked
at it and suij
Who wrote th.f'
Il did, sir" came from the rags.
"Youl Well, I'll haze it played over aud
hits any good III give you something for
it,"
II beg your pardon, sit; Ia prefer to
play it for myself
What you playf Well bring him up
10 the piano room when he gets warm, and
well hum0r 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 Lawson
His listeners were elec trified when they
heard this dilapidated looking tramp make
The piano almost speak. Ills touch was
simply marvellous, and his very soul seem
I'd to be at his finger tips. When he had
finished, he turned to his little audience
and said:
''Pd like to sing for you, but / have
terrible cold. | haven't been in bed for
i've nights. I'm hungry, sir, aud feel l
Gould not do it Justice"
Turner was almost dumb with amaze
nent. The air would take; he knew it
would be u success, and he decided that
his man had history which, perhaps,
night advertise the song So he deter.
mined to cultivate him, and in hattery, Gas
le thoughD pressed him to sing "Just one
5tanza" Lawson protested, but finally
agreed, and, if Turner was amazed when he
leard him play; he was positively enrap-
ured when he heard that hungry voice,
hungry with love, hungry hysically, pour
ID out in the best of tenOrs the first stanza
If the song in which his soul lived. 1t was
he story Of lost love, but he cherished it,
md as he sang, it was easy to see that
le had lived and breathed only for that
owe.
Ever of Thee has never bo so sung
nce. But that trial verse made its sue.
'eas, and to the experienced publisher, Mr.
Turner, it was decidedly apparent that he
lad secured a great song.
Addressing Mr.. t, he said: "Mr. t,
AXE this man along; get him bath,
have, some decent clothes; in fact ii K him
lp like "a gentleman, and bring him here,
md We shall see about this song"
T. "tGok him along" He took him To
. bath, and while the unclean was being
made clean he bought for him shirt,
,air of shoes, Somc socks, collars, cuffs and
underwear. Then no had him sh aved
Then they hied to clothier's and having
the raga, Lawson was quickly
Had in fine ramont. The change was be-
ginning to tell. Already the tramp seem
ID to DO the guide aud treasurer. lie was
| splendid looking fellow, aud had quite a
appearance. But the hat
vas still there, and mirror like chimney
pot was purchased to complete the make
lp. T. laughed when all was finished
He was in his working clothes and this
unfortunate looked like duke. The good
clothes fitted him, aud they suited him and
his appearance much too well to allow Of
he assumption that ,Mr. Lawson was a
tramp. lie was gentleman all over, aud
he looked il. t said TO him
"Mr. Lawson, | wish you would go into
-he shop before me They won't know
you, and it will be guch joke"
Il don't mind that, Mr.. T. but won't
you let me have u drink
t refused to stand the drink; he told
Mr. Lawson that if he wanted y dinner b.
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 following story;
IL was once rich, Mr.. r. You know
what | am now. YOu were astonished TO
lcar me play 30 well. That little song has
Iccn the only companion from whom /
yained any comfort for the past twelve
months. II brought back to me the days
when l was rich, loved, looked up to ana
iappy. OF course il has its sad side for
ne. But the memory of what il recalls is
he dearest thing in my existence"
r interrupted him at this point and
Indicated that it was growing late.
please bear with me" rejoined his com
,anion. "Let me tell you how and WHY ]
the little song. Two years ago
met girl in Brighton. If God ever
.llowed one Of HIS angels to come on earth
he was that one. ! adored her. escort
ID her everywhere was at her call morn,
,oon and night, and IL was currently be-
ieved that Miss Blank and | were en-