The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1869-01-03
'FArnKR, coxn HoME.'-Music has drawn

FATHER, coxE HoME.'-Music has drawn
many heart back from yie'e' tempt
alton it was upon The po 2, and
binds the world togelae, bonds
OF brotherhood than anytss =
iziHg teHdencls But how l. s,s5lr II :
fectiye when aided by little dramatic ct-
feet. A London correspondent gives M af-
f.cting description Of the singing of the
pathetic ballad of Father, come Home, =
IN one Of the London theatres. which left
but few dry eyes in the house and must have
neryed to stronger resolution any present
who were In the habit OF giving away TO the
j weakness Of indulging in Intoxicating drinks
to excess. This correspondent describing
i the scene, says that the lady came in front
OF the curtain, amidst great applause, and
commenced. Father, dear father,' &c.
Every word was distinct, and she sang the
ballad with great feeling. In order, howev-
er, to describe the scene which followed
each verse. 1t Is necessary to give little
Nays Song:
''Father. dear father, come home with me now
The clock in the sterrle strikss oneI tgong)
You promised dear father, that you would come
home.
As soon As your days work was done
Our fire has gone out-our house Ia all dark,
And mother has been watching since tea.
With poor little Benny sick in her arms,
And no one to help her but me
Come b me, come home, come home.
Please, father, dear fxther. come home. =
At the conclusion of the last line the drop
scene drew up, disclosing the father sitting
at the door OF public house, In drunken,
bemuddIed state, with pipe and pot before
him. Little Mary was trying to drag him
from his seat, at the same time pointing to
\ curtain behind, as she took up the refrain
from the lady, and touchingly sang, Come
home,'' &c,
The other curtain was now drawn aside,
disclosing a wretched room, with the poor
mother sitting on the ground with sickly-
looking boy in her lap, and in the act Of
feeding him with a spoon. Simultaneously
with thu drawing OF the Gme-ight was
brought to bear upon the tableaux, giving
them truly startling effect. After mo-
nsent or two the act-drop came down, and
the lady proceeded:
The clock in the steeple strikes two gong gong,)
The night has grown colder and Benny Is worse.
But he has been calling for you.
Indeed be 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 come, home home, come home,
Please. father, dear father, come home
The act-drop 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 home,o
&C., the other curtain is drawn aside, and
We ucAl. SEQ lliC CiliIu 6tIclCucu OUT III It's
mothers lap. and II just raises its little head
and falls back with gasp, with the lime
light rejecting strongly upon it, there was
reality about the whole terrible TO view. Sobs
were heared from all parts Of the hail. COM
Ing from the female portion of the audi
ence, while tears trickled down many
male cheek. Even the lady who sang the
song was affected, and could scarcely pro-
ceed with the third verse;
Father, dear father, come home with me now
The clock in the steeple strikes three gong, gong
gong,D
For poor weeping mother and me.
Yes, we are alone-poor Benny is dead,
And gone with the angel Of lght
i want TO kiss papa-iood nightI'
Come home, come home, come home.
Please, father, dear father, come home,
Again the drop rose, and disclosed little
Mary on her knees appealing to her father,
who, with pot elevated, is in the act Of
striking her with it, when she sings 'sCome
home, y and then the back curtain draws
aside shows mother praying over child's
coffin. But now the sobs burst out more
freely and two females were carried out
fainting The scene was truly narrowing.
An additional verse was sung about Poor
Benny being with the angels above. The
drop rose; the father sober now, is weep
ing over the coffin with little Mary. on her |
knees, singing, Home, home, father,
the curtain is drawn aside, and little Benny
is suspended over the coffin with wings,
smiling down upon them and pointing up
wards. The father falls forward on his face |
the act-drop desends, and for minute
all is hushed save the sobs of the audi
ence.