Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-04-04

John Howard Payne. The suther O
'sHone, Sweet Home. made an extended
tour OF the Southern country when Il va.
very hazardous proceeding for "a man
from the North to attempt the sAiu.
without some written papers in his posses.
sion ike "frse pass" Wen, PAYNE
was stres' ed as IN abolition enissary, and
. the locality was SOME miles from an,
Justice Of the Peace. he w4s piaccd OF. :
horse. his hands were tied behind him
aud his feet made fast together under the
horse. He was then committed TO the
charge OF q Yahoo. TO whom q paper wa.
given. containing the name II The prison
cf, snd stating the offence Of which he wa.
suspected. and his custodian had orders b
conduct him to the nearest Justice of the
Peace for examination. while the witnes,
should start soon after. and proceeded BY
another route. ~.
On the way to the seat Of Justice, the
journey being tedious one. Payue's con-
ductcr began to sing "Ilcme, Swee,
Home" and said to Payne That's where
l want to be. stranger but it's over ,
hundred miles Of. and I reckon T won
get there Tonight That ar song gives
me some comfort. though anyhow. You We
hear'n that song. der say, stranger and
mebbe you know 1t As we'll as do"
YES. my friend" said Payne. IL knew
it before any man on earth ever heard i,
sung"
"What ycu don't mean to say that you
made it-ttat you actcrly writ 1t ycrself,
do yer. stranger I've got the book that
it's printed in, right in my pocket, and
the name is thar right over the song"
"Well." said Payne. '.bcfare you open
the book. just look at the paper YOU have
in your pocket. and read the nane under
which ] have been made prisoner.
The conductor did so; and then he
opened the book Of songs at a well.wnrn
place and read aloud. Home. Sweet
Home. by John Howard Payne"
"Thar's no mistake about it, stranger =
said the conductor. "you are the mau and
you tell the truth"
He then dismounted and drew a bowie
and, approaching Payne, said: "Stran.
ger, mebbe you dom. know what l in swine
to do. but you shall see" Tharcupon he
cut the cords that bound his hands and
feet, and told Payne to dismount ana take
his ease-walk along As he pleased. and
mount when he saw 6t. Poor PAYNE. who
was suffering severely from his fetters,
thanked him with all his heart, and pledc-
cd his honor that he would not attempt to
escape.
II knew that stranger" said the con-
dUe:og; ":sc a.2n .'ta' writ that ar song
is fit to be trusted as q man of honor,
and. stranger. I'm, yer fas, friend, which
If you should swear to it on . stack o BIZ
bles as big as house. yer wouldn't COM
nit perjury. You'll sec bimeby"
So they logged along the road in pleas
ant conversation until they reached the
Justices Court. when the examination
took place and Payne was honorably ac-
quilted, the most important witness in his
behalf being the conductor. who testified
that there was nothing against him. tha,
some fools had arrested him on suspicion.
and pu. him in his charge. and that there
would be trouble 10 the village if any bod =
undertook to harm him. Then Payne soon
became lion. and that night the tavern
and many other houses in the village rang
with the vocal music Of ..Home, Sweet
Homer"