The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1882-09-27
HOME, SWEET iLOh z. y
rur MAGIC OF Music ILLUSTE ATED By
A REMINI-C: nee IF JOHN
hOWARD PAYNE.

J0nn ftOWaTu w Nv WIS IL WIZ III
personal friend Of john Ross, who
will be remembered u celebrated
chef Of the Chc,"kcc.. At the
time the Cherokccs were remove
from their homes in C. or.ia o their
present possessions, west Of the
Mississippi river, Payne was spend
ing few weeks in Georgia " itn Ross,
sSho was occup, Ing mi+' rah'e c"h'n
having been elected from his former
home. A number Of rominent
Cberokees were in prison, AM that
portion Of Georgia in which the tribe
was located was secured BIZ armed
squads Of the Georgia militia, who
had orders 10 arrest all Wbo refused
TO serve the country. i
While Ross and Payne were seatrd
before the fire IN .he hut, the door
was suddenly burst open, ami SIX or
eight militia meit oprang into thcI
room. Ross wife was seated on a
trunk containing many valuable pa
uers and small amount of money,
and at the unexpected intrusion, she
sprang up and screamed wildly.
Ross spoke to her IN the Cherokee
language, telling her to be seated as
she wonld thus save the contents of
the trunk, anil, as she sat down
again, the intruders told Ross that
both he and Payne were under arrest,
and must prepare TO accompany the
squad to aii!ledgcvi|Ic, where they
would be imprisoned. The soldiers
10 no time in taking their prisoners
away. Ross was permitted TO ride
on his own horse, while Payne was
mounted on one let by soldier. As
the little party left the howell rain
began falling, and continued until
every man was drcnchel thoroughly.
The journey lated all night. 10.
ward midnight Payne's escort, in or
der TO- keep. hims.'If awake, began
humming, Home, home--sweet--
sseet home, when Payne remarked:
Little did / expect to hear thai,
song under such circumstances and
at such time. Do you know the
author%
No. said the soldier; do youY
Yes, Payne answcteI; | compos
ed it,
The deuce you did! You can
tell that to some other fellows, but
not to me. Look here, you made
that song, you say. If you dii-and
1 know you fidn't-you can say it
all without stopping. 1t has some
thing in it about pleasures and pal
aces. Now, pitch in and reel it of,
and, If you can't, I'll bounce you
from your horse, and lead you in
stead of it, .El.
This threat was answered by
Payne, who repeated the song in
slow, subdued tone, and then sang it
making the old woods ring with the
tender melody anil pathos of the
words. 1t touched the heart of the
rough soldier, who was not only
captivated but convinced and who
said that the composer of such should
never go to prison, if he could help
1t; and when the party reached
Milledgeyille they were, after a pre-
llminary examination, discharged,
much to their surprise. Payne in
sisted it was because the leader of
the squad had been under the mag
Detic influence. of Ross conversation,
and Ross insisted that they had been
saved from insult and Imprisonment
by the power of Home, Sweet
Home, sung as only those who feel
can sing it. Lhe friendship exist.
ing between Ross and Payne endured
until the grave closed over the NOR
tails remains of the latter. = Elk
change.