Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-12-05
my OLD KENTUCKY HOME"
The Pathetic Story Of the Famous Song.

The Weekly Record OF Bardstown,
KY, gives this history OF the beautiful
old song, my Old Kentucky Home"
The song was written by Stephen
Collins Foster, a resident of Pennsyl-
vania, while he and his sister were on
visit to Judge John Rowan, a short
distance east of Bardstown. One
beautiful morning, while the darkies
were at work in the cornfelds and the
sun was shining with mighty splen-
dor on the waving grass, first giving it
color of light red, then changing it
to . golden hue-there was seated
upon bench in front Of the Rowan
homestead two young people, broth.
or and sister. High up in the top OF
tree was a mocking bird warbling its
sweet notes. Over in the hidden re-
cesses of a small bush the thrush's
mellow song could be heard. A num-
Der of small negro children were play.
ing not far away. When Foster had
finished the first verse of the song his
sister took it from his hand and sang
in a sweet mellow voice:
The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home;
It's summer, the darkies are gay:
The corn tops ripe and the meadows in the
bloom,
While the birds make music all the day.
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor,
All merry, all happy. all bright;
BY by hard times comes 'knockin' at the
door
Then my old Kentucky home, good night.
On her finishing the first verse the
mocking bird descended to a lower
bough. The feathery songster drew
his head to one side and appeared to
be completely enraptured at the won
darful voice of the young singer.
When the last sweet note had died
away upon the air, her fond brother
sang in deep bass voice:
Weep no more. my lady; oh, weep no more to.
Well sing one song for the old Kentucky home,
For our old Kentucky home far away
The darkies had laid down their hoe
and rake; the little tots had placed
themselves behind the large, shelter
ing trees, while the old black women
were peeping around the corner of the
house. The faithful old house dog
never took his eyes off the young sing
ers. Everything was still; not even
the stirring OF the leaves seemed to
break the wonderful silence. Again
the brother and sister took hold of the
remaining notes and sang in sweet &C.
cents:
They hunt no more for the possum and the coon
On the meadow. the hill and the shore;
They sing no more by the glimmer Of the moon
On the bench BY de old cabin door.
The day goes by like shadow o,er the heart,
With sorrow where all was delight;
The time has come when the darkies have to
Then my old Kentucky home. good night
The head must bow and the back will have to
bend
Wherever the darkies may 60;
A few more days and the trouble all will end
In the fields where the sugar canes grow.
few more days to tote" the weary load
No matter, 1t will never be light;
few more days till we totter on the road
Then my old Kentucky home, good night.
As the song was finished tears flowed
down the old darkies' cheeks; the
children crept from their hiding
places behind the trees, their faces
wreathed in smiles; the mocking bird
and the thrush sought their homes in
the thicket, while the old dog still lay
basking in the sun.