The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-12-14
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I'm THE SWEET-BYE-AND-
BYE"
Its Author Tells an Interesting Story of
Its Composition.

southern boundary line OF Illinois.
lives the author of ''In the Sweet
u Bye-and-Bye. He is practicing
physician, and is under sixty years
of age. The immortal hymn was written
when he was only thirty one, and is the
single song Of his life.
During the civil war wave Of moral
elevation and intellectual activity swept
over the country. In this grand awakening
OF the conscience there was flood OF music
martial. religious, domestic. George F.
Root and Stephen J.. Foster were both
writing songs that lived, and Sunday school
hymns passed out Of the driveling period
into one of elevated simplicity.
Just at this time Samuel Fillmore Ben
nett was graduated from Ann Arbor, Mich
and began newspaper career at Elkhorn,
Wis, on the Independent. J. p. Webster,
the musical composer, was living in the
same town, and it was only few months
collaborating The war interviewed, and
Lieutenant Bennett. Of the Fortieth Wis
consin Volunteers, returned to Elkhorn to
open drug store and resume his verse
writing He and Mrs. Webster began in
1867 to work on Sunday school song
book called THE Signet Ring" which was
afterward published
This period of his life is the most pre-
cous of all his experience to DR.. Bennett
Not long ago he told the whole story to an
interested group of listeners, his eyes fill
ing with tears as be vindicated his friend
from calumnies.
"CurI ency has been given to the shame
full story that Mr.. Webster was drunk
when he wrote the music, and another ac-
count has it that we were both drunk.
am thankful to do justice to one of the
noblest men that ever livcd-a fine sensitive
soul, with the true artistic feeling. Again
it has been said that we were both intidels,
and the song the rihald jest of u carouse.
As to my religion, that is my own affair,
but the hope and longing fevery immortal
soul as expressed in that song was the faith
OF both OF ms. To both creation would
have seemed farce if infinite love and
immortality had not overshadowed us and
promised life bliss beyond the grave.
.'Mr. Webster, like many musicians,
was of an exceedingly nervous and sem
,,,J ouIiaot 20 70 Of lanrnuS-
ion. knew his pecularites well, and
when found him given up to blue devils,
just gave him cheerful song to work on.
One morning he came into the store and
walked to the stove without speaking.
What's up now, Webster l asked.
Its no matter. 1t will be alright by
and by"
"The idea of the hymn came to me like
flash of sunshine. The Sweet Bye and
Bye Everything will be all right then.
why wouldn't that make good hymn
Maybe it would be, replied, hegloomily
Turning to the desk, | wrote as rap
idly as | could. IT. less then half an
hour, think, the song as it stands to day
was written Here it Isl
There's a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar,
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us dwelling place there
In the sweet byand. by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore
In the sweet-by-and-by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
We shall sing on that beautiful shore
The melodious songs Of the blest,
And our spirits shall sorrow no more
Not sigh for the blessing of rest!
Chorus.
To our bountiful Father above
We will offer the tribute Of praise,
For the glorious gift of his love
And the blessings that hallow our days
Chorus.
"In the meantime two friends, n. II
Carswell and S. f. Bright, had come in
handed the verses to Mr.. Webster, 6
little tremulous with emotion. AS hi
read it his eyes kindled. Stepping to the
desk, he began to jot down the notes. Ht
picked up his violin and tried them. Ii
ten minutes we four gentlemen were sing
ing that song. Mr.. X. K. Crosby came il
and with tears in his eyes, said: ''Gentle,
men, that hymn is immortal" We were
all excited, elated. Within two weeks the
children of the town were singing it OF
the street.
''IS6S ''The Signet Ring" was published
the publisher distributing circulars to
advertise it, and on the sheet was "Tht
Sweet Bye-and-Eye. On the strength Of
that one song nearly quarter of a million
copies of the book were sold. The song
was afterward brought out in sheet music
and it has been translated into a number oil
foreign languages,
webster, Crosby and Carswell are all
dead. S. E. Bright, of Fort Atkinson,
Wis, and myself are the only living wit
nesses to the origin Of the song"
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