Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-12-28
nHOME, SWEET HOME,
RsmIpIscenses of the Autho,


From the Home Journal.l
1t was in the winter Of l842-'43, when
| had rooms in the tower of the New
York University, facing Washington
Square, that met John Howard Payne.
the author OF Home, Sweet Home"
He had lodging on or near Fifth avenue,
further out; and in the morning, on his
way down town, he would almost in
variably call between 10 and III a. m. /,
talk awhile, and then together we moved
on slowly toward the center of the city;
he stopping to see every curiosity in the
windows as we passed, as highly elated
as a grown boy from the country would
be at every new surprise, though at that
time he had been traveller over most of
the world, bad seen every variety of life,
and was in the meridian of his manhood.
His temper and uniform outward mood
was as smooth and gentle as a summer s
lake at eve, not even like it., disturbed by
the gentle zephyrs.
We have not met since l84l, when
was one OF the managers of the Ameri-
can Institute. | CHANGED to be intro
duced to him quite accidentally at the
old City Hotel, a very handsome brick
building of that day, standing on the
right hand side of Broadway going down,
just this side of Trinity church, at the
head Of Wall street, kept by Jennings
4 Willard, the latter of famous memory,
long since dead, believe. We're we to
pass by bis hotel, Willard would proba
bly, shake hands and exclaim: "Oh, yes
recollect-reoollect you very we'll.
You we're here with Payne and your
cratic brother. You took julep about
- o'clock, and Payne wanted his made
of plain brandy, very weak. had just
bought half ton of the best loaf sugar
to be found in the market" None of
your readers, who 20 back to those days,
thirty years ago, who Feoollect the pro-
nrietora, famous the world over, of the
old City Hotel. but will pardon this di-
gression.
In the spring of ls43, as ! commenced
to say, John Howard Payne gave me an
account OF his adventure in Georgia
among the whites, bordering on their
settlements alongside the Choctaw and
Cherokee Indians.
Payne; like many Of our litlerati of
SIN all letters, had strong sympathy for
the red mans rights and home, and
without thought of exciting anger, ex..
pressed his kindly feelings to any and
every one. j.
IL was the time when the people Of
Georgia, OF the Indian country, had suf-
fered by massacres and night fires and
murder, till they could endure the out
RACES no longer, and President Jack
son was faYoring the removal of the
tribes to the west of the Mississippi.
Travelling alone as Payne was, with
out much baggage, so simple and out
spoken in his manner, it was not long
before be excited suspscion as an Indian
SPY, and when they reached the next
place it was whispered about
that he was an enemy in sympathy with
the Indians who had so often committed
such terrible outrages upon the white
population as TO exasperate every one to
bitter enmity to them and all their
friends.
Not dreaming Of the cause, they took
Payne and tied his hands behind him,
the most girlish man in the world, and
him off between two strong,
fully armed men.
He saw his position, and began to
.remble and beg and protest and explain
who be was, but to no effect On they
for perhaps halfa mile through
thickets and fields, passing toward an
unusually lighted and respectable.ap-
pearing log cabin. 1t was quite late |
ia the night; still the inmates seemed to |
be moving, and as the party approached |
nearer they heard singing finally Payne
could distinctly recognize the music OF
Home, Sweet Home.'f FEa
He protested and tried to break loose |
and get to the house. They held him
back. One Of the guard went to the |
house, in compassion for the prisoner,
% get some water, for be had tainted.
Meeting an officer from the house
which proved to be the headquarters Of /
ZONE OF the United States soldiers not |
ong there-he said they had brought /
,ne of the spies OF the Indians, who
claims to have written some song about
Home, which j never heard on. .a.
The officers curiosity was excited, who
hearing the song at the same time, vent
with the guard TO see the
prisoner, whom he found stretched upon
be ground.
"what is your nameg' asked the Ofi-
,er.
John Howard Payne" said the pris-
,ner, but only a little above 4 whisper.
Good heavensl is il possible2' said /
he officer. "Unbind him Immediately /
md bring water AZ once, OF I'll blow the
I'd brains out Of every one Of yei'
Here, Payne, take some OF this"
ianding him stude camp flask, while he