Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-08-06
THE I'll E r A Id
The Dream of the Author OF "Home'
Sweet Home"
BYJ. ALEXANDER PATTEN.

John Howard Payne, the author
of that touching and immortal song,
"Home, Sweet Home" was a most
unfortunate man. An incident IN
his career furnishes US with re-
markable dream. He was not only
moor in pocket, but homeless wan
derer. In conversation with afriend
he once gave expression 70 the fol-
lowing sad recital:
chow often,' said he, "have |
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
wanderer from my boyhood Ny
country has turned me ruthlessly
from office, and In my old age | have
to submit to humiliation for bread. "
He had given the most exact and
beautiful expression of the hearts
emotions regarding homo, and yet
personally be was stranger to all
its tender and loving influences. A
wanderer and sometimes q vagabond,
he bad moved the human heart to
It's very depths by his exquisite lines.
Disguised with his treatment in
his own country, and still impetted
by his disposition to roam, his only
wish was to die in foreign land, to
be buried by strangers, and sleep in
obscurity. He obtained an appoint
ment as United States Consul at
Tunie, where he died.
We now return to a period ante
eedent to the composition of his song.
At times he was greatly depressed,
and seemed to feel most acutely his
utter loneliness. One day a friend
called to see him, and on entering,
said
"How are you to-day, Payne 2"
"Down-heartod enough was the
reply "bdt last night [ had one OIL
tho most glorious visions in a dream
that ever met mortal eye"
"Ah, indeed what was it 2"
"Well, l will tell you. | suppose
you think it was scene of vas
wealth, of a palace, or something
else OF that kind that mans desires
are most set upon. 1t was nothing
of the sort. l don't often have
dreams but when | do, they i'm
prssa me greatly. Ia this dream
saw scene OF most trsnscenden
rsrsl psacefalness and beauty. [
wac ell that poet and painter ooul'
imagine. The landscape was com
posed Of gently rolling hills AM
sweet, sill valleys. with mesndering
streams. There were flowers anC
birds, crops, looks and herds. Ii
the midst Of oil this stood vsriou!
hAbitations OF man, where | saw hap
py nsn, wonsA, and children, anc
heard pleasant voices, laughter, music
and song"
"Truly a beautiful picture of hu
man domestic eontentment," said the
friend.
"The lifs-loag imagery OF my
brain" cried shs poet, "of home
sweet home All how my SOU
rsveled in the picture But grad
uAIly it faded from my sight /
WAS transnxed. l strained my Wis
ion to catch its outlines as they grew
fainter and fainter; but at last it
lad faded entirely away. | then
looked mp, and saw . great cloud
gathering, which grew dark and ter
rlDle.
".Ahl' said l, HAst cloud 10 signiG-
cant Of my eva los
IA said these words, saw trac-
cd upon ID in burning letters, those
words Of sAs Almighty 10 another
miserable naa:
"a fugitive and . vdgGbond shall
be IN the earth y
'tIh terror, l recognised my doom
and awoke, to And 10 both . dream
and = reality"
The unhappy Aaa barred his face
in Ais hands, and seemed in the deep
est misery.
"A very wonderful dream" safe
hia companion.
'Well, do you know what intsnC
to do :" said Payne, looking up
'I'll tell you. I've been thinking
great deal over this matter, and
intend to write . song called, anC
about, Home, Sweet Home Th,
picture Of my dream shall be my in
SEPARATION for the task, and my lonely
heart can we'll give TOUCHING pstho'
TO my words"
Not long after, the song of "Home
Sweet Home" was given to the
world by John Howard Payne. The
dream is moro especially recalled By
the closing verse
IAN exile from home. pleasure dszzles In vain
All give me my lowly thatch'd cottage again
Tho birds singing sweety, that came TO my CALI
Give me them, and that peace of mind dearer thai
IIome. syeRt homef