Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-08-02
HOME. SWEET HOME"
Something Of the Grand Old Song
Its Author and Its Origin.

John II. Payne, the outhor of that
touching and immortal song, "Home
Sweet Home" was not only poor
in pocket, but a homeless wanderer.
In conversation with a friend, he
once gave expression to the follow
ing recital:
"How often,'' said he, shave I
been in the heart of Paris, Berlin,
and London, or some other city,
and heard persons playing Sweet
Home,' without shilling to buy
the next meal, or place to lay my
head. The world has literally sung
my song until every heart is familiar
with it's melody. Yet l have been
a poor wanderer from my boyhood.
My country has ruthlessly turned
me from office, and in my old age 1
have to submit to humiliation for
my daily brcad.'
He had the most exact and beauti-
fnl expression of the hearts emotion
regarding home, and yet personally
he was stranger to all its tender,
loving influences. A wanderer,
and sometimes 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 foreign land,
and to be buried by strangers, and
sleep in obscurity. He obtained
an appointment as United States
Counsel at Tunis, where he died.
We now turn to a period anteced-
ent to the composition of his song.
At times he was greatly depressed,
and seemed to feel most acutely his
utter loneliness. One day friend
called to see him, and on entering
said: ...,.
"How are you to-day, Payne?"
"Down-hearted enough; but last
night | had one Of the most glorious
visions in a dream that ever met
a mortal cye."
"Ah, indeed; what was it?"
"Well, 1 will tell you. l suppose
you think it a scene of vast wealth,
of a palace, or something else of
that kind that mans desires are set
upon. 1t was nothing of the kind.
I don't often have dreams, but when
I do they impress me greatly. In
this dream was in home of most
transcendent rural beauty 1t was
all that poet and painter could
imagine. The landscape was CON-
posed of gentle rolling hills, and
sweet, still valleys, with mean
dering streams. There were flowers
and birds, crops, flocks and herds.
In the midst of this stood various
habitations of men, women and
childrcn,a and 1 heard pleasant voices
laughter, music and song"
"Truly, a beautiful picture Of
human contcntment," said the
friend.
"Thc lifelong imagery of my
BRAIN" cried the poet, ''of home,
sweet homc.' All! how my soul
revcled in the picture! But gradually
it faded from my sight. l was trans
fixed. / strained my eyes to catch
its outlines as they grew fainter and
fainter; but at last it had faded. l
then looked up and saw dark
cloud gathering, which grew dark
and terrible.
"'Ahr said I, 'that cloud is
significant of my own lot
GAS l said these words, l saw
traced upon it in burning letters
these words of the Almighty to
another miserable man:
"A fugitive and yagabond
shalt thou be on EARTH
"In terror I recognized my doom,
and awoke to find it both dream
and n sad reality"
The unhappy man buried his
face in his hands, and for some
time he seemed to be in the deepest
misery. s.'t
ga very wonderful DREAM" said
his companion.
"Well, do you know what 1 am
going to do?" said Payne, looking
up. "I'll tell you. I've been think:
ing great deal over the matter,
and intend to write a song called
Home, Sweet Home The picture
Of my dream shall benny inspiration
for the task, and my lonely heart
will give touching pathos to my
words"
Not long after, the song of''Home,
Sweet Home" was given to the
world by John Howard Payne.
The dream is more specially re-
callod by the closing verse:
An exile from home, pleasure dazzles in vain!
All, give me my lOwly, matched cottage again,
The birds singing sweetly, that came at my call
Give me then that peace Of mind, dearer than all.
Hama CwAnt Hnm0