Library Collections: Document: Full Text

In 1858 I was married to Mr. Alexander Van Alstyne whom I had known as pupil and teacher in the Institution for almost fifteen years. By nature he was endowed with superior musical ability; and, before he graduated from our school, he was said to be one of the most accom-plished students that we ever had there. He continued his education in Union College, where in addition to music he studied classics and theology; and then he taught at Albion, New York, until 1855 when he returned to teach in our school, which he continued to do, with rare skill and sympathy with his pupils for three years.

After our marriage he insisted that my literary name should remain as it had become known to the public in general through my poems. Our tastes were congenial and he composed the music to several of my hymns besides constantly aiding me with kind criticism and advice. At different times he was organist in two of the New York churches; and also taught private classes in both vocal and instrumental music. He was a firm, trustful Christian and a man whose kindly deeds and cheering words will not be forgotten by his many friends. We were happy together many years. His death occurred on July 18, 1902. As early as 1860 the name of William B. Bradbury was familiar to all lovers of music. To the Christian world he was known principally as the author of a large collection of sweet melodies, many of which have found their way into the best collection of hymns. Prior to 1864 I had never met this gifted composer; but I had often fancied that our tastes might be congenial; and; on this account, I was somewhat anxious to make his acquaintance. The opportunity to do so soon came through the Rev. Peter Stryker, the minister of the Dutch Reformed Church in Twenty-third Street, which I frequently attended. In December, 1863, Mr. Stry-ker asked me to write a short poem that could be used as a hymn in the closing services of the year. Early in January he came to me and said,

"Why don't you see Mr. Bradbury? He has told me more than once that he was looking for someone who could write hymns. I think you are the person for whom he has been looking and I will give you a letter of introduction."

In consequence of this arrangement, on February 2, 1864, I presented myself at the office of William B. Bradbury, 425 Broome Street. To my surprise Mr. Bradbury said,

"Fanny, I thank God that we have at last met; for I think you can write hymns; and I have wished for a long time to have a talk with you." At the end of a brief interview I promised to bring him something before the week drew to a close; and three days later I returned with some verses that were soon set to music and published as my first hymn. There were four stanzas; and three of them I will quote here:

"We are going, we are going
To a home beyond the skies,
Where the fields are robed in beauty,
And the sunlight never dies;

"Where the fount of joy is flowing
In the valley green and fair.
We shall dwell in love together;
There shall be no parting there.

"We are going, we are going,
And the music we have heard,
Like the echo of the woodland,
Or the carol of a bird."

The following week Mr. Bradbury sent for me in great haste; and said that he wanted a patriotic song at once. As a title he chose "A Sound Among the Mulberry Trees"; but I timidly suggested that "Forest Trees" would be more euphonious, to which idea he at once assented. The melody that he had composed was somewhat difficult; but, having heard it two or three times, I was able to count the measure, and the words were then easily adapted. On the following morning I carried the song to the office of Mr. Bradbury, but he was not there; and so his bookkeeper, who was also a musical man, played it on the piano, exclaiming, "How in the world did you manage to write that hymn? Nobody ever supposed that you, or any other mortal, could adapt words to that melody."

At this moment Mr. Bradbury entered the office; and after looking over the hymn very carefully, turned to me and exclaimed,

"Fanny, I am surprised beyond measure; and, now, let me say that as long as I have a publishing house, you will always have work." The future verified his promise, for I have been with Mr. Bradbury and his successors, the Biglow and Main Company, more than forty years.

CHAPTER XV
THE LIFE OF A HYMN-WRITER

THE song "There is a Sound Among the Forest Trees" was used during the Civil War; but after that cruel conflict was over I said to Mr. Bradbury,

"What are you going to do with 'Forest Trees'?"

"What can we do with it?" he asked.

"Oh," I replied, "we can write sacred words to the melody; and indeed the subject comes tome now: 'There's A Cry from Macedonia.'" With his permission I com-posed a missionary hymn that was very popular for many years; and thus my life as a writer of gospel hymns began under most favorable circumstances.

Sometimes Mr. Bradbury gave me the titles for hymns to melodies already written; but more often I was allowed to make my own selection; and a part of my duties was to revise poems that Mr. Bradbury had already secured from other authors. During a period of four years we worked side by side, until, at length, in April, 1866, he was taken very ill; and the following winter was obliged to go South for three months. At the end of this period he returned greatly benefited by the change, but all of his associates at the office were reluctantly forced to admit that consumption was slowly wearing his life away. Yet his vitality and heroic resistance were wonderful; and he was able to compose many beau-tiful melodies.