The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-11-02

There is something exceedingly plain
tive in the following sketch, which we
fud in the Washington htcliigeHcer /:
AS | sit in my garnet, here, lin Wash
ington) watching the course Of great
men, and the destiny of party, | meet
often with strange contradictions in this
eventful life The most remarkable is
that of J. Howard Paine, author of
Sweet Home knew him personally
lie occupied the rooms uuder me for
some time. and his conversation was 80
captivating that | have often spent whole
days in his apartment. lie vas an ap-
picant for office at the time-Consul at
Tuuis--from which he ha been removed
What sad thing il was too see that
poor man subjected to the modification
of Office seeking OF evenings We would
walk along the streets, looking into the
lighted parlors a. We passed Once in
awhile hc would see some family circle
50 happy, and forming so beautiful a
group, that we would both stop, and then
pass silently on. On such occasions he
would give me a history Of his wander
inc.. his trials. and all the cares Incl
deut to his sensitive nature and poverty
How often said he once. have beeu in
the heart of Paris, Berlin, London, or
soae other city, and heard persons sing
ing or the hand-organ playing Sweet
Home without place to put my head
or a shilling to buy my heXt meal The
world has literally sung my song until
every heart s familiar with its melody
Yet | have been a waudorer from my
boyhood Ny country has turned me
ruthlcssly from Office and in my old age,
[ have to submit to humiliation for my
bread Thus he would complain Of his
helpless lot-llis only wish was to die
in foreign lsnd to be buried by
strangers aud sleep in obscurity.
met him one day looking unusually
sad.
Have you got your consulate 2
said l.
yes, and leave in week for Tunis; ;
| shall never return
The last expression was not a politl-
cal faith. Far from it, Poor Payne
his wish was realised lie died at Tu-
MS Whether his remains have been
brought to his native country know
not. They should he, and, if none 9th
r. will do it, let the homeless through
out the world give penny for n monu-
mcnt to Payne. | knew him, and will
give my penny and for an inscription
tie following:
'IIEag LIES J. lTowARD PAINE,
The author of Sweet Home,
| 4 wanderer in life-he whose song was sung
in every tongue,
| And found An echo in every head,
| 'NkvrR HAD IiomE
| 'IIe died in Foreign Land
1t is singular fact that very few
persons in America know that the au
thor of Sweet Home va. an American
If you ask nine persons out Of ten, ever
among those who have any knowledc o
musical history, they will tell you Si
Henry Bishop or some such person mus
have the credit The truth is, this i
almost the only thing Payne ever dic
which is entitled to remembrance. Th
author was a maker Of melo-dramas, an'
musical plays. Home, Sweet Home
was a song in one of them Payne di'
not remain long in the country to &c
the piece performed, and the first tim
he ever heard his own song sung was ii
the streets of great European city
Its pathetic appeal to a sentiment whc
exists in every human bosom, gives
an immediate echo over the whole worlC
which has not nor ever will die away