Stories of Famous Songs, Vol 2

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FAMOUS SONGS
to its eternal home. The air fixed itself in the mother's memory, and was thus preserved for ever.
There is a tender interest attached to the old air of " Dros yr Afon," as being one to which Mrs. Mary Robinson, " Perdita" Robinson, the actress who had the misfortune to attract the attention of the Prince of Wales, after-wards George IV., wrote some very touching words, called "The Sorrows of Memory." She was a lovely and clever woman, whose beauty and talents were only equalled by her sorrows.
"The Old Sibyl," or " Winifreda," with Eng-lish words by George Withers, is still a popular song in Wales, at any rate. Winifreda, as Foulkes relates, was the daughter of Thewith, a gentleman of great wealth and influence, who was the owner of the locality on which Holy-well stands. Her mother's name was Wenlo, she was descended from an ancient family in Montgomeryshire, and was sister to Saint Beuno. Tradition tells how Saint Beuno restored his niece Winifreda to life after she had been cruelly murdered. The story runs as follows: " Beuno, in the course of his wanderings came to the banks of the Dee, and there he met with The-with, and Thewith gave unto Beuno land on
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