Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-06-08
"uoME,i SWEET HOME"
DREAM OF THE AUTHOR.

John Payne, the author of that touch
ing and immortal song, "Heme, Sweet
Home, was not only poor in pocket, but
homeless wanderer. In conversation
with a friend, he once gave expression
to the following recital:
"How often, said he, shave | been
in the heart of Paris, Berlin and London,
or some other city, 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
its melody Yet J have been poor
wandeler from my boyhood. Ny com-
try has turned me ruthlessly from Office,
and in my old age have to. submit 10
humiliation for my daily bred.
he had the most exact and 'eantiful
expression of the hearts emotion re-
earding 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.
Disgustod with this treatment in his
own country, and still impelled by his
disposition to roam, his only wish MAS to
die in foreign land, and to be buried
by strangers, and sleep in obscurity.
lie obtained an appointment as United
States Consul at TuniS, where he died.
We now turn to period aBtecedent
TO the composition of his song. At times
he was greatly dcprcssed,and seemed to
feel most acutely his utter loneliness.
One day friend called to see him, and
i, on entering said
GLOW are You to day, Payne 2
Down hearted enough" was the re-
ply, "but last night | had one Of tho
most glorious visions in a dream that
ever met mortal eye
"Ah, indeed, what was il
"Wcll, | will tell YOU. lsuppose You
think it is q scene of vast wealth, OF
palace, or something else OF that kind
that mans desires are set upon. 1t was
nothing of the kind. ! don't oftenhayc
dreams but when ! do they impress
me greatly. In this dream, | was in
home of most transccndant rural peace
fulncSs and beauty. 1t was all that
poet and painter could imagine. The
landscape was composed Of gentle roll
ing hills, and sweet, still valleys with
meandcring streams There were flow
ers and birds, crops, hocks and herds.
In the midst Of this stood various habi-
tations of men, women and children, and
| heard pleasant voices, laughter, music
and song.
Truly, beautiful picture of human
contentmcnt,' said the friend
"The lifelong imagery of my brain,
cried the poet, "of home, sweet home.
| All, how my soul reveled in the picture!
But gradually it faded from my sight.
was transiixed. | strained my vision
to catch its outlines as they grew faint
err and fainter but at last it had faded
away. / then looked up and saw adark
cloud gathering, which grew dark and
terrible. -'''
"Ah !" said |, that cloud is signlil-
cant of my own lot.
GAS ] said these words ] saw traced
upon it in burning letters these words
Of the Almighty TO another miserable
man
"A fugitive and vagabond shalt thou
be on earth
"lr terror recognized my doom,and
awoke TO find it both dream and sad
reality"
The unhappy man buried his face in
his hands, and for some time he seemed
in The deepest misery.
"a very wonderful dream, said his
companion.
"WelI, do you know what / am go
ing to do 2" said Payne, looking up.
'Ill tell you. I've been thinking
great deal over the matter, and intend
TO write a song called "lIome, Sweet
Home" The picture of my dream shall
be my inspiration 'or the task, and. my
lonely heart will give a touching pathos
to my words. f-H
Not long after the song Of Home,
Sweet Home" was given to the worldly
John Howard Payne. The dream is
more specially recalled by the closing
verse
"An exile from home pleasure dszzles n vain;
Ah, give me my lowly, baiched cottage ag'io'
The birds singing ,wecuy, tbat come at my
call -
Give inc them, aud that peace of mind, desrer
than all.
Home, Sweet Home :