Firth, Pond & Co. deposited Stephen C. Foster’s “The Wife” for copyright on February 9, 1860. The first edition was published with the incorrect copyright date of 1868 on the first page. The publisher’s manuscript is dated August 1, 1859.

According to Evelyn Foster Morneweck’s The Chronicles of Stephen Foster’s Family:

Before leaving for New York, he sent to Firth, Pond in 1860, “Poor Drooping Maiden,” “None Shall Weep a Tear for Me,” “The Wife; or He’ll Come Home,” “Under the Willow She’s Sleeping,” probably “Cora Dean,” and one good song, “The Glendy Burk,” composed in his best old-time manner.