Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-09-14
MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME.
UNcI.E NEp.

Little readers, il may interest many OF
you to know something of the origin of
this famous old song. Perhaps you win
enjoy it the more somewhat i'm a roman
tic shape. Federal Hill h situated not
far from Bardstown, Kentucky. Ii was
here that this most touching and famous
old song was composed and sung. One
beautiful morning while ere darkies were
at work in the cornfield and the sun
shone with mighty splendor upon the
waving grain-iirst giving IL color of
light red, then changing it to golden
hue-there. was seated upon an old bench
in front Of a historic mansion 1.-THE home
of Judge John Rowan two young peo-
pie, brother and sister. High up in n
tree top was a mocking bird warbling
its sweet notes. Over In the hidden re-
cesses of small bush the thrush's mel
low cong could be heard; number Of
small darkies We're playing near the
not far away cabin door. The air
was refreshing, just one Of those May
mornings when all nature seems so beau
tiful and the feelings Of everyone SO COM
Portable. The young man was Of medi-
um size, with a strong and pleasant face
Beside him was seated young girl of
great beauty. Her hair hung over her
shoulders in long golden tresses. Her
form was symmetrical and her face was
unusually beautiful. When the brother
had finished the first verse the girl took
the paper from his hand and and sang in
a soft, sweet voice-"The sun shines
bright on my old Kentucky home" &c.
On finishing the first verse the mocking
bird descended to a lower bough. The
ieathery songster drew his head to one
side and appeared to be completely en-
raptured at the wonderful voice Of the
young singer. When thelast sweet notes
had died away upon the air her brother,
| who had just finished the chorus, sang
in a deep bass voice, Weep no more, my
lady; ., weep no more today" &c. The
darkies had laid down the hoe and the
rake, the little tots had placed themselves
behind the large, sheltering trees, while
the old black women were peeping around
the corner Of the mansion. The faithful
old house dog, which lay basking In the
sun, never took his eye on the young
singers. Everything was still, not even
the stirring of the leaves seemed to break
the wonderful silence. Again the broth
er and sister took hold of the remaining
notes, and both sang in sweet accents
another verse: They hunt no more for
the 'possum and the COON" &c. As the
singers finished, tears flowed down the
old darkies' cheeks. The very little chill.
dren emerged from their hiding place with
broad smiles upon their faces. The mock
ing bird and the thrush took wings to
their homes, while the old coon dog
still lay basking in the sum at the feet
of the beautiful young maiden. The
young people were Stephen Collins Eos
ter and Eliza G. Foster. Both were resi-
dents of Pennsylvania. but upon this oc
casion had come to Kentucky upon the
pressing invitation of Judge Rowan to
pay him an extended visit. Foster wa,
the composer of many beautiful songs
but none of them, it is thought, the equa
of my Old Kentucky Home. The com
poser was born on July 4, 1926, and
died il New York thirty eight years later
He taught himself music and studied
with great assiduity. Ii is said that hi,
compositions include over 16O songs
As a rule he wrote both the words and
music of his songs. A beautiful monu
ment erected to his memory stands in
Highland Park, Pittsburg, Pa, monu
ment well deserved. No man whose lii,
was of such short duration ever contrib
uted more to the pleasures and entertain
ment of his fellow-man. He was one o
the chosen few who knew how to plac,
together the simple words and sentences
that immortalized his name.