The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-12-23
Father Come Home.

Music has drawn many heart back from yielding to-
temptation it was upon the point Of doing, and binds
the world together in stronger bonds OF brotherhood
than anything else Of humanizng tendency. But how
much more effective when aided by little dramatic
effect. A London correspondent gives an affecting
description CT the singing of the pathetic ballad OF
Father Come Home" in one Of the London theatres,
which left but few dry eyes in the honse, and must
have nerved the stronger resolution of any present
who were in the habit of giving away to the weakness
OF INDUCING in Intoxicating drinks to excess This
correspondent describing the scene says that the lady
singer came III front Of the curtain amidst great ap
plause, and commenced "Father, dear father" &c.
Every word distinct, and she sang the ballad with
great feeling. In order, however, to fully describe
the scene ch followed each verse, is necessary to
give little Marv's song
"Fathcr, dear father come home with me now,
The clock in the steeple strikes one gong
You promised, dear father, that you would come
home
AS soon us your days work was done.
Our fire has gone out--our house is all dark,
And mothers been out watching since tea,
With poor little Benny so sick in her arms,
And no one to help her but me.
Come home, co ne home, come home,
Please, father, dear father, come home"
At the conclusion of the last line the drop scene
drew np disclosing the father sitting the door Of
public house in drunken bemuddled state with pipe
and pot before him. Little Mary trying to drag
him from his seat, at the time pointing to
tain behind, she took up the refrain from the lady,
and tOuchingly sang, Come hone.n &c. This other
curtain was drawn aside, disclosing wrctched
ROOM with the poor mother sitting on the ground with
sickly looking hoy in her lap and in the act of feed
ing him with spoon. simultaneously with the draw
ing of the curtain the melight brought to bear
upon the taheaux, giving them truly startling effect
After moment or two the act-drop came down, and
the lady proceeded:
Father, dear father come home with me now
The clock in the steeple strikes two (gong, gong,)
The night las grown colder, aud Benny is worse,
But he has been calling for you.
Indeed he is worse mother says he will die,
Perhaps before morning shall dawn,
And this was the message she sent me to bring
Come quickly, or he will be gone
Come home, come home, come home,
Please father, dear father, come home"
The actdrop rises again, and now the child has hold
of the pewter pot trying to take it from the drunken
parent and as she continues the last two lines, Come
homr' &C. the other curtain is drawn aside and
the child stretched its mothers lap and
it just raises its little head and falls back with
gasp, with the limeight rejecting strongly upon it.
there WAS reality about the whole terrible to view.
Sobs were heard from all parts Of the hall, coming
from the female portion Of the audience, while
trickled down many male cheek Even the lady who
the song affected and could scarcely proceed
with the third verse:
FEATHER, dear father come home with me now
The clock in the sreepIe strikes three! (gong,
gong, gong,)
The house is so lonely, the hours so long,
For poor weeping mother and me.
Yes, I'VE alone-poor Benny is dead,
And gone with the angels of light.
And these the very last words that he said
4 want to kiss papa-good night'
Come home, come home come home
Please, father, dear father, come home"
Again the drop rose. disclosing little Mary on her
knees appealing to her father, who with pot elevated
is in the of striking her with it, AS she sings 'Come
Home and then the back curtain draws aside show
ing the mother praying over chd's coffin But now
the SobS burst out still freely and females
we're carried out tauting. The scene was truly har-
rowing.
An additional verse was sung about Poor Benny"
being 18th The angels above The drop rose the father
sober now, is weeping over the coffin with the mother,
and little Mary, on her knees, singing, " Home home
father dear fathers come home I" At this moment
the curtain is drawn aside, and little Benny is
pended over the coffin 18th wings, and smiling down
upon them and pointing upwards. The father falling
forward bis face, the actdrop descends, and for
minute all is hu>hed save the sobs of the audience.