The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-11-15
Dream of the Author of "IIOme Sweet
Home.

John Howard Payne, the author of
that touching and immortal song,
"Hone, Sweet Home" says the New
York Weekly, was most unfortunate
man. An incident in his career fur
nishes US with remarkable dream.
lie was not only poor in pocket, but
homeless wandcrer. In conversation
with friend he once gave expression
to the following sad recital
elbow oftcn,' said he, "havc been
in the heart of Paris, Berlin and Lon.
don, or some other city. and heard
persons playing sweet Hvmc,' wi,h~
out shilling to buy the next meal,
or place to lay my head. The
world has literally sung my s"ns uaiil
every heart is familiar with IT'S melo-
dy. Yet | have been waudercr
from my boy hood. My country has
turned me ruthlessly from Il flee and
in my old age have to submit to
humiliation for my b,ead.'
He had the most exact and beauti.
full expression Of the hearts emotions
regarding home, aud yet personally he
was a stranger to all its tender and
loving Influences. A wanderer and
and som stimes vagabond, he has
moved the human heart to its very
depths by his exquisite lines.
Disguised with his treatment in
his own country, and still impelled by
his disposition to roam, his only wish
was to die in a foreign land, and to
be buried by strangers, and sleep in
obscurity. He obtained an appoint.
ment AZ United States Consul at
Tunis, whore he died.
We now turn to q period antece-
dent to the composition Of his song.
At times he was greatly depressed,
and seemed to feel >most ucutcly his
utter loneliness. One day friend
called to see hid, and on entering
said :, '..|
GLOW are you Today, Payne Z"
"Down, hearted enough" was the
reply ;"but last night I had one of
the most glorious visions in dream,
that ever met mortal eye"
"Ah, indeed, what was it z"
"Well,I will ,elI you. | suppose
you think it was scene of vast
wealth, Of n palace or something else
of that kind that mans desires are
SGT upon. 1t was nothing OF thc sort.
dou't often have dreams, hut
when'l do they impress NE greatly.
In this dream | saw home of most
transcendent. rural peacefnlness and
beauty. 1t was all that poet and
painter could imagine. The land
soape was composed Of gentle rolling
hills aud sweet, still streams. There
were flowers and birds, crops, lockf
and herds. In tho midst Of all this
stood various habitations of mon, wo
men and children, and I heard pleas
ant voices, : laughter, music and
song" -. ..,...., ..,.
"Truly beautiful picture of bu.
man domestic contentment," said the
friend. ,'---.. t... g.. ''. '5'n| '..
"The lifelong imagery of my
brain," Dried the poet, Of "Homo
Sweet Home." All! how my sou
revealed,in tho picture But. gradual
ly it faded from my sight, l was trans
fixed strained my vjsien to catof
its outlines as they grew fainter and
fainter but at lastit had faded entire
ly away. | thcn looked up and saw (
great olud gathering, which grew dark
and terrible. ,# m. ....-... ..,nu
,"Ah said l that cloud is signif
can't of my own lot. ...I..o'i
,,,"As | said these words, 1 saw trao
ed upon it in burning letters, thes,
words of tho Almighty to anothe,
miserable man D.a .. #
GA fugitive and vsgabond shall
thou be on the earth |"
Gin terror, I recognized my doom
and awoke to find it both q dream
and sad reality"
Tho unhappy man buried his face
in his hands, and for some time SCENE,
in the deepest misery. ii,,,e'