Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-03-25

years ago still remains the favorte
hymn Of the young. It's author, Albert
Midlane, a hale, benign sunny old man
who celebrated his eightieth birthday
few weeks ago lives at Newport, Isle
Of Wight where he has dwelt and la
bored all his days. He has written for
me\a verse OF the famous hymn.-a, fac
smile OF which Is here reproduced
and has given me some details OF his
life, which will be read with interest
In America. where though every sun
day school Is familiar with the song lit
tie is known about the singer.
NEARLY COST HIS LIFE.
lie was % when he wrote 1t, and tho
occasion was a memorable one, for II
nenrly cost him his life. All day the
words had been haunting him as he
labored at his trade, that OF a tinplate
worker but II was not until late, after
the household had retired for the
night, that he found time 20 write them
down. He was not then In good health;
his work had been particularly hard
that day ana physically he was com
plotely exhausted when he set about hls
task, In hia weakened state tina ner-
yous strain Of composition taxed him
severely but the hymn had taken such
a grip upon him that he felt he could
not stop until he had hammered It
out ana given II permanent form on pa
per As he finished the last words he
collapsed utterly. lie was found by
his Wife unconscious. HIS head resting
ON the feebly written page, Efforts to
revive him proved futile for a time.
and it was feared that he was beyond
recall, bu, he rallied at length and
gradually bis strength was restored
BE hnd no idoa that the simple song
which had been produced I'm such tra-
vail WIS masterpiece ~ lis kind. IL
was FIRST published In q local Sunday
school paper Good News for the lit
te ones" There Il attracted the at
tention uf n London publisher. who OBJ
tln7d permission % include It IN A col
lection OF hymns he was issuing. IL
was set 90 music by Michel Watson It's
popularity was instantaneous, and has
proved abiding
CALLED TO REPEAT IT.
Long years afterwards, when Mr..
Nidlauc was an ola man, he CHANGED 10
attend % service ut tho City Temple.
London, whose pulpit was nllcd by the
late Rev. Dr Parker then considered
the most eloquent preacher iu the me-
tropolis. A member o. the choir sang
ms q SOLO There's 50 Friend for Little
children" with such touching eftec-
tyenoss that she was twice entreated
~ repeat 49, The LARGE gathering was
totally unaware that its author was
present After the close W tine sermon
Mr. MldIaue scrubbed @ note which an
attendant took 90 Or. Parker, ana n
meeting between them followed "T
would rather Dee the author of that
hymn" said the famous divine. "than
he the preacher or the most eloquent
sermon My sermon would simply pen
citrate the hearts OF n few, but your
hymn goes an over the world"
HAS WRITTEN EIGHT HUNDRED.
II "a only one Of something like 500
me has written, many og which are still
general favorites Most OF them are
for the young Ills personality reveals
his success In writing them. AT four
score his heart Is SIN that of little
child No doubts have ever disturbed
his faith Modern scaptlclsm and the
higher criticism have never shaken his
Implicit belief IN the simple creed %
tho Quaker. lie is q PLACID, eontsnted,