Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1857-03-31
Home. sKeet Home

t.
Though the trite old song, Home, Sweet
Home has been sung within the home circle
of almost every household, yet how few tefs
sons of alliwho have heard It's sweet strains.
know who was the author of those beautiful
words s
Mid pleasures and palaces though NE may roam.
Be 1t ever Sc humble, there's no place like home5
1t perhaps has never occurred to the mind ;,
of any one uaacquainted with the circumstan-
ces, that the writer of a song which has found
an echo in so many hearts, could be other
thanSore who had experienced all the pleass
ures of happy home; but sad as Is the re-
Election, 1t is nevertheless tue, that John How
ard Payne, tue author of )" Home. sweet
Home" though he has contributed to the
happiness of many homes, never had a home
of his own. .I.E.FE5 y
We clip the article Below suggesting that
monument be erected to the memory Of s
Payne, from the Boston Olive Branch,- and
give II place IN our columns, believing that :
1t will find respone in the hearts of our read-
,ers :. assh sHT
The AUTHOR OF sss@EET nosls.l,essAs l.,
sit in my garset hero in Washington, watch
ing tie course of great men, and the destiny
OF party, / meet often ith strange contradic-So
tions in this eventual life. The most lrenaSlSa
asle was that o: John Howard Pqyne, authorE
Gt Sweet Home" i knew him 7pefseaaiiy.;,
He, occupied the rooms under me for some
time, and his conversation was so captivating
that often spent whole daysin his apartments.
He was an applicant for office at the time
consul atTuuis-from which he had been re-.
moved. What a sad thing it was to see the
poet subjected to all the humiliation of office
seeking OF an evening we would waIlS3
along the street. Once in while we would
see some family circle so happy, and forming
SO beautiful group that we would stop. anu
then pass silently on.
On such occasions lie would give history
of his wandering, his trials, and all his care8
incident to his sensitive nature and poyeftysy
How often" said he once, e have been In
the heart of Paris, Berlin, and London, or
some other city, and heard persons singing, er
tue hand-organ playing "Sweet Home" wills
out shilling to buy the next meal, or a place
to lay my head. The world literally sunr,,ny,
song, until every heart is familiar With iis.
melody. Yet have been a wanderer from
my boyhood. My country has turned snls
ruthless from Office; and in old age 1 have to-
submit to humiliation for bread." Thus he,
would complain of his hapless lot. His only,
wish was to die in foreign land, to be buried
by strangers, and sleep in obscurity.
met him one day looking unusually sad.5
'Have you got your consulate ?' said i. gcT
eyes, and leave in week for Tunis; L
shall never return"
The last expression was not apotitical faitlr.
Far from it. Poor Payne his wish was reals
lied; he died at Tunis. Whether his re.
n a rs have been brought to this country,
know not. They should be and if none, 9TH
ers would do it, let the homeless throughout
the world give penny for monument to
Payne knew him, and will give my penny
for an inscription like tie following: -
- HERE LIES
-y..I. HOWARD PAYNE, eg-rs r1r-
TIE GEss.7r of g Sisest Home"
a wanderer in life;s ha. whose songs wers
Sung ia every ton9de Sapd found al
echo in every heart; 81
NEVER HAD A HOME.
he DIED
In a Foreign Land.