The Brookhaven leader., 1889-07-11
HOME, SWEET HOME.
The True story of the Immortal Song
Told for the First Time.

The True story of the Immortal Song
Told for the First Time
Some things there arc which by
common instinct mankind holds sacred.
Among these are the scenes OF heroic
deeds. the precincts of patriot graves.
and the birthplace of sublime thought,
in proof of which need only be mem
toned such names as Lexington, Mount
Vernon and Independence Hall. And
within the District of Columbia there
is spot which the American people.
if familiar with its associations, would
not deem unworthy of mention in con-
nection with those named.
Half a century ago George w. Tall
burtt, then a young man and unmar-
ried, was the owner by inheritance
of a plantation of two hundred and
thirty-one acres, lying just across
the east branch OF the Potomac from
Washington, his fee simple domain
touching the river at a point OPP
posite the navy-yard. Here he elived
in elegant leisure, having about hun.
dred slaves, and, to digress for mo-
ment. the visitor may still see near his
home row of graves, from which arc
pointed out the particular resting
places OF some more distinguished than
their companions for humble virtues.
One is remembered as the "cOlored
nanny" of a person since raised to
eminence. while another is revered for
an intimacy with several family gener-
ations. This young man, possessed
Of ease and affluence, was boon COM
panion of John Howard Payne, whose
dust has since become SO sacred. The
old home still stands, as it then stood,
in an Eden bower on the bank of the
river, and here, under venerable chest
nut tree, sitting on a rustic seat that en-
circled its trunk, Payne and Talburtt
used to drink their mint julep, sing
their merry songs, and talk of tho
lives they were to lead. Talburtt had
promised Payne that whenever he
wanted home it should be built on
the plantation, and they would spend
their bachelor lives together. Much
VI lliC OLu plCtuldllOl 10 liOh NlbLiAu JbC
modern suburban village of Anacosta,
and on an elevation that commands a
view of the National Capitol and its
surroundings. which quite ravishes the
eye with its beauty, stands the house,
now owned and occupied by Mr.. III. A.
Griswold, built in fulfillment of this
promise. The sight was selected by
Payne himself before departing on
his foreign mission, but he never
returned to enjoy the home of which
he sang; and thus absOlved from his
VOW of celibacy Mr.. Talburtt after
ward married and himself occupied
the new house, in which children were
born to him, one of whom, still res
ident of the village. is the mother OF
j. Harry Shannon, widely known az
the juvenile orator. But the chief
point of interest is yet to be told, TO;
notwithstanding the claim that Home,
Sweet Home" was written in Tunis or
in London garnet, the original man.
uscript. in the handwriting of the
illustriOus author himself, and bearing
possession of the family-Mr Talburtt
having died in 1365-aud it was on
the rustic seat under the chestnut
tree. on the bank OF the east
branch of the Potomac, so near
the mouth as to be practically on the
main river. and a little more than 4
mile east of south from the Capitol
building. that Jonn Howard Payne,
with his own inspired genius and an
aide-de-camp of mint julep, drafted
this immortal composition. The rustic
seat, held as a precious heirloom, is
preserved in the attic of the old home;
and the chestnut tree, now partly
dead, with its top cut away and much
of its bark clipped off as mementos.
still marks the birthplace of this song,
that will live while the English tongue
is spoken Or matched roof covers the
head of humble inhabitant of the
earth. Star.