A Century Of Ballads 1810-1910, Their Composers & Singers

With Some Introductory Chapters On Old Ballads And Ballad Makers - online book.

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	THE SONGS OF HENRY RUSSELL 135
	young ladies in question became more and more distressed, until at last they could contain them­selves no longer, but burst out into loud sobs, bringing the song to an untimely conclusion. Other songs of Henry Russell's which deserve a passing mention are his setting of Eliza Cook's "The Old Arm-chair," first published under the title of "The Favourite Chair," a song quite in accordance with the style of sentiment then in vogue, and "The Ivy Green," the words of which were by Charles Dickens. In those days such a thing as a royalty was hardly known, and Russell sold all his songs outright. "Woodman, spare that tree" brought him a couple of dollars, as we have seen, and though that constituted a record in prices, it was run very close by "The Ivy Green," which fetched ten shillings! Russell's other songs fared very little better, as the following list will show :—
	" Cheer, boys, cheer " . £3 " There's a good time coming " 2 " The Ship on Fire " 1 " The Maniac" 1 " The Gambler's Wife" . 1 "The Slave Ship" . 1
	But if Henry Russell received very little return from the sale of his songs, he made a good deal of money by his singing of them. When on