The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-05-22

ging money with which to bury her
dead child. It was a pitiful story and
turned to. the proprietor and sug-
gested that he give me $25 for Mol
lie Darling I played it over for,
him and he agreed. I passed the
money over, to the old woman and she
showered blessings upon me and said
she hoped the song would be under the
special patronage Of all the saints.
"The song, was published and it
lay upon the shelf till came the
next year. The publisher remarked
that had sold him something like a
gold brick. This touched my pride. I
knew the song had merit and resolv-
cd that my judgment should be vim
dicated. A famous minstrel was play
ing at one Of the theatres. He had
sung some Of my songs and we were
good friends. / asked him as a spec
ial favor to sing 'Mollie Darling He
did so and I led the orchestra.
Within week the entire edition
had been sold and there were so many
orders for it that it was put on the
press again. Everybody on the street
was whistling it. Since then millions
Of copies have been sold and the pub
Usher made a fortune out Of the one
song. I did not get cent out of it.
"l also wrote, keep in de Middle
OBJ de Road on the impulse Of the mo-
mcnt l was walking along country
road down in the mountains Of Ken
tucky one day when I saw an old ne
gro woman with switch in her hand
driving her husband along before her.
| The road was steep on each side and
he was staggering drunkcnly. Every
time he staggered over toward the
cmbankmcnt the old woman would
hit him with the switch and shout,
'Kccp in de middle oh de road; don't
you look to dc right, don't you look
to dc left, but keep in de middle Of
dc road.'
"When ! got back TO my hotel l
sat down and wrote the song. In all
little country towns You always find
an organ in the parlor at the hotel,
and I sat down and played the song
there for the first time. IT passed out
into the world and ncttcd me $40.
81 had been down to the lcvcc one
night in Louisville, Ky. and was on
my way back to the office when
heard a woman's weary voice IN 1t
window above me say plaintivcly, o.,
Shamus O'Bricn, why don't We come
home: you don't know how happy I'd
be- Those words rang in my ears all
the way up Fifth street. which was
settled by Irish families, and when I
reached my little den [ got out my
Banjo and composed the words and
music to one of the most popular
Irish songs that was ever written. 1t
made pronounced hit from the start.
Anerwarl | heard it sung i'll Ireland
br II hog trottcr. mora O'Ncil' came
from the same locality. There was
Nora OH Fifth street, and ii was her
love story Of which | sang.
"In the far south the darkics still
sing 'Roll Out am lIcavc Dat Cot
toni was nj the Louisville wharf
me day when Robert F.. Lee was load
ing and | heard the darkics yelling:
De Captain s in II hurry
An | knows whut he means;
lie wants ter beat de Natchcz,
Way down ter Moo Awlcans.
$50 | went back and wrote the
song and the roustcrs are singing it
yet. Sometimes they substitute 9th
or names for the boats but it is the
same old song.
81 had taken pleasure party Of
my friends down the river to look at
the flood during a time the Ohio was
out on a rampage in June. We land
ed at country town in kentucky and
took walk. There were many ladies
in the party and they spent the most
IF their time at hot-house that be-
lnn%cd to one of the most prominent
residents Of the place. The owner
provided them with cut flowers that
were rare and costly. But l wandered
away from them and stopped in front
of Il house Of an old ncgress. In her
'front.' yard was a big, old fashioned
roscbush. She cut me bunch Of the
roses and was delighted at my praise