Just out of curiosity, I looked up "hard times" at the Lester Levy site. There were several songs that came up along those, including, of course, Fosters. It's always been such a sad song. I really love it, but I was also pleased to see this listed:

Title: Better Times Are Coming Bye and Bye. A Song of the Times for the People. A Successor to the Famous Old Ballad Hard Times Come Again No More. Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Words and Music by Will C. Carleton.

A little more upbeat. It is Box No. 140, Item No. 041.

There is also one by Foster in the DT called "Better Times Are Coming," but the words are different than the above by Carleton.

Interesting thread,

kat