The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-04-27
" Father, Come Home. -

This popular song which has moved so many hearts
In this country, has been received with equal favor
in Europe and the Stationer gives account of the
singing of it in of the music halls Of London.
There stage, with gaudy drop scene orchestra,
&c. After various performances this piece was an
nounced. The account says:
Presently female came in front of the curtain,
amidst great applause, and commenced, Father. dear
Father, etc. Every word was distinct and she sang
the ballad with great feeling In order, however, to
fully describe the which followed each verse; il
il necessary to give little Mary's song:
Father, dear father, come home with me now,
The clock in the steeple strikes one (Gong.) f,
You promised, dear father, that you would come
As soon Is your days work was done:
Our fire has gone out--our home is all dark,
And mothers been watching since tea,
With poor little Benny sick in her arms,
And no one to help her but me. 1879
Hear the sweet voice of the child, wT
who could resist this most plaintive of prayers
- Please father, dear father, come home.
Come home, come home, come home,
f- Please father, dear father, come home. -r@'
At the conclusion of the last line the drop scene
drew up, disclosing the father sitting at the door Of
public house, in drunken, bemuddled state, with
pot and pipe before him. Little Mary trying to
drag him from his seat at the time pointing to
. curtain behind, she took up the refrain from the
lands, and touchingly sang Come home,' etc. This
other curtain was now drawn aside, disclosing
wretched room with the poor mother sitting on tho
ground with sckly looking boy in her lap, and in
the act of feeding him with spoon. simultaneously
with the drawing of the curtain the Ime-light was
brought to bear upon the tableaux, giving them
truly startling effect. After q moment or two the
.act-drop came down, and the lady proceeded: sf,.
Father, dear father, come home with me now,
The clock in the steeple strikes two (Gong,
The night has grown colder, and Benny is worse,
And he has been calling for you. 80
Indeed he is worse-ma says he will die, e' issf
Perhaps before morning shall dawn, ~b j. q --atE
And this is the message she sent me to bring
Come quickly, or he will be gone. &"s
Hear the sweet voice of the child, Tsyo uafsss'
Which the night winds repeat as they moan,
o! who could resist this most plaintve of prayers
Please, father, dear father, come home. ss=-.
!, Come home, come 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, she continues the last two
lines, Come home,' ETC., the other curtain Is drawn
aside, and next the child stretched out the
mothers lap, and it just raises it's little head and
falls back with gasp with the limelight reHecting
strongly upon it, there reality about the whole,
terrible to view. Sobs hea I'd from all parts Of
the hail. coming from the female portion of the audi
ence, while tears trickled down many a male chesk
Even the lady who sang the song was affected, and
could scarcely proceed with the third verse:
Father, dear father, come home with me now,
The clock in the steeple strikes three! tGong,
gong, gonR.) s, ,
The house is 50 lonely the hours so long,
For poor weeping mother and me.
Yes alone-poor Benny is dead, e
And gone with the angels of light
Aud these were the very last words that he said,
81 want to KISS papa-gOOd night ~
Hear the sweet voice of the child,
Which the night winds repeat as they moan.
who could resist this most plaintive of prayers
Please, father, dear father, come home,
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 act of striking her with it, as she sings
Come home, and then the back tain draws aside,
showing the mother praying over chid's coffin.
But now the sobs burst still freely, and two
females were carried out fanting. The scene was
truly narrowing, and gladly turned eyes away.
An additional verse was sung about Poor Benne'
being with the angels above The drop the IA
ther, sober now is weeping the coffin v ith the
mother, and little Mary, on her knees, singing
sHome, home, father, dear fathers home !" At
this moment the curtain is drawn aside, and little
Bennie is suspended over the coffin with wings,
smiling down upon them, and pointing upward. The
father falls forward his face, the act-drop de-
scends, and for few minutes all is hushed the
| sobs OF the females. ..,..s,r....,s
"ThereP' said working-man by side, ~ he
heaved sigh Of relief, "Mr. Spurgeon preach.
ed better sermon than that pan expression to
| which We assented, and then left the hall.
80 49, : ..-~----A----- 49, e 9
s.f