Thirteen Log Cabins

There are different accounts of Stephen Foster’s death, but the one most widely accepted is this: January 1864 the song writer was weak with fever in his hotel in lower Manhattan. He fell, cutting himself, and had lost a lot of blood by the time his writing partner found him. Foster died in hospital three days later. The author of “Camptown Races,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair,” and “Beautiful Dreamer” was only 37. At the time of his death a scrap of paper was found in Foster’s pocket with the words, "dear friends and gentle hearts.” It’s always been assumed these were words in a song he never finished. Eighty-five years later those words inspired Sammy Fain and Bob Hilliard to write “Dear Hearts and Gentle People.” Their song describes folks “who live in my home town,” friendly neighbors who “read the good book” and “smile and say hello.” I think Stephen Foster would be proud.