The Russellville Democrat., 1882-04-27
Something New About the Au- thor of "HOme. Sweet Home.,,

| thor of Home, Sweet Home.''
 Little Rock Special to the Chicago Times. | From a gentleman who just reach ed this city from the Indian Terri tory, the Times correspondent learn. ed of new and interesting chapter In the history of the life of John Howard Payne, author of Home, Sweet Home" Payne was warm personal friend of John Ross, who will be remembered as celebrated chief of the Cherokees. At the time the Cherokces were removed from their homes in Georgia to their present possessions, west of the Mississippi River Payne was spend ing few weeks in Georgia with Ross, who was occupying misera- ble cabin, having been forcibly ejected from his former home. A number of prominent Cherokees were in prison, and that portion of Georgia in which the tribe was To cated was secured by armed squads of the Georgla militia, who had or ders to arrest all who refused to leave the country.
 While Ross and Payne were seat. ed before the fire in the hut, the door was suddenly burst open and six or eight militlamen sprang into the room. Ross wife was seated on trunk containing many valua ble papers and a small amount of money, and at the unexpected in truslon she spraDg up and screamed wildly. Ross spoke to her in the Cherokee language. telling her to be seated, as she would thus save the contents of the trunk, and, 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 Mllledge- vile, where they would be impris- oned. The soldiers lost no time in taking thelr prisoners away. Ross was permitted to ride his own horse, while Payne was mounted on one led by a soldier. As the little party left the hoyel rain began failing and continued until every man was drenched thoroughly The journey lasted all night. Toward midnight Payne's escort, in order to keep himself awake, began humming: "Home-home--sweet-home" when Payne remarked: Little did I ex. pect to hear that song under such circumstances and at such time. Do you know the authorY
 "No," sad the soldler, do vouY'
 "Yes," Payne answered; q com posed it."
 "The devil you did! You can tell that to some fellows, but not to me. Look here, you made that song, you say; ifyou did-apd 1 know you didh't-you can say it all without stopping. It has something in it about pleasure and palaces. Now pitch in and reel it off; and if you can't, I'll bounce you from your horse and lead you instead of it."
 The threat was answered by Payne, who repeated the song in al low, subdued tone, and then sang it, making the old woods ring with the tender melody and pathos of the words. It touched the heart of the rough soldier, who was not only cap tivated but convinced, and who said the composer of such song should never go to prison if he could help it. And when the party reached Milledgeville they were, al- ter preliminary examination, dis charged, much to their surprise. Payne insisted it was because the leader of the squad had been under the magnetic influence of Ross con versatlon, and Ross insisted that they had been saved from insult and Imprisonment by tine power of "Home, Sweet Home," sung as only those who feel can slng it. The friendship between Ross and Payne endured until the grave closed over the mortal remains of the latter.