The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-27
WHAT MY LOVER SAID.
A Charming Poem with an Inter
eating History.

This poem first came 10 the writer's no
tice In November of 1850 II then appeared
in the Democratic Waterman. old and
leading weekly newspaper published al
Belefonte. Pa. as a clipping from the
Philadelphia Times. The poem had been
sent to the Times with brief history OF
It's supposed origin by that papers New
York correspondent, then one by the name
of Ross Raymond.
On account OF It's supposed authorship.
which was then attributed 10 Horace Gree
ley. the distinguished journalist and found
or OF the New York Tribune, rather than
for its literary merits. which l learned to
appreciate later. ! cut Il out and placed II
In my scrapbook. Early In October OF 1883
IL appeared In the Pittsburg Dispatch
"a poem attributed TO many different au-
thors." That paper, however, accredited
its authorship 10 Col. Richard Realf an
Engiish-American poet, who was born IN
England In 1884 and came 10 America in
1854. residing for time at Pittsburg. While
visiting AZ Honesdale, Pa. during the sum-
mer of 1SsS. / learned that Mr. Homer
Greene. lawyer of that place ana popu-
lar writer of serial stories for the Youths
Companion. was the real author OF What
Ny Lover Said
When observed the publication OF the
poem in the Pittseurg Dispatch, and noted,
also. what the editor OF that paper said in
regard to its production, to be certain OF
my Information and when certain, with
the view Of eniightening the editor. which
I afterwards interested myself sufficiently
TO do, addressed letter TO Mr. Greene. to
which he very kindly replied as follows:
'.Honesdale. Pa. ocs &c. 1855
Mr E T Dear Sir; am pleased
to reply TO your recent letter OF inquiry
concerning What My Lover Said I wrote
the poem in the fan Of 1875 and sent II 10
the New York Evening Post for publica-
an I at r. to-
a. Union college. The titlc Of the poem
! sent IL was What Her Lover Said and |
had my full name signed to II.
the hands OF Mr.. Francis +. Leupp. who
was at that time connected with the paper.
and be changed tho word her in the title
tails. II. u The verses were then pub
l'shed IN the daily issue OF November la,
1875 ard IN The semi weekly issue % No
v.aber .. 1875. The history Of the poem
has been varied aud interesting II came
10 he so commonly credited 70 Horace
Greeley that IN $50 | myself had letter
ley's memory from the charge. This letter
was i'm ;he weekly Issue OF December &.
This was the only time ! have made or
authorized any published statement Mr.
Richard J Hinton has done the same serv-
ice Ger Cot. Reaf that I dif for MIR Gree
] ley. lie Is Col. Realcs literary executor
phlc OF October - isss. ne d<cIasfns for
/ ReaH the authorship Of the poem IN ques-
t.on by the way, II you are not familiar
VITA Reairs poems you Will find among
them some of the most exquisite lyrics IN
the language. For fMe recent claims r5a.fa
by and on behalf of living persons ! care
nothing; they anluse rather than annoy
me. am always entertained nv tne
/ Of Tits kind I. Sincerely yours.
\ nj. Sincerely yours
''lEoMER OR EENE"
! The tender and DELICATE phrasinS % me
7 -. IL
! poem IS unsurpassed. l. IS ne only one 81
( Mr. Gyeeae's Productions that appears IN
! TIE Library o. sse Worls:'s Rest I.stera-
tgFs." edited - Charles Dudley Warner.
( though re has written many things ~ hlgh
( ana Acknowledged merit. Amoag The n he
/ ing rcer's ans stories for which handsome
/ psIses we're paid ny tire Youths Cosrasnsan
/ aaa ether periodicals Of superior literary
standing
/ This Is the poem;
/ By ,ne usrest chance. in she twilight
/ IA ;he ereAara path ne n,ei ne
I In tie al ~et sVasS wiiA Is faint per-
/ Ara / tfle1 20 pass bu, he made no room.
oa, tried tug he ~aujd nos lex n.
/ 50 stood ana flushed al the grass sTew
! WITH my face bent down above g.
| While Ae ;oos ny han3. as hs whispering
said
/ na~ ire clover lnsa each plak. s~ee,
Arsi
/ IT, listen - az Stat rsy lover sNha,
Oh the clover IA blaSw~-g love ~
/ Ia The h,gh wet grass went tie rasa 70
( hh&e
/ Ard tAe law ws& leaves hunE ovsv
( ssNs SS&33 G0t pass 90 eLirHs side.
| FoT soDE1 :uy se.E. when vAl1.y gras2
/ II re arms 90 my sEea ifaks t2xsr
An: he held sas there ansi aa sa4ses rzsy
Ass3