The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-08-06
HOME, SWEET HOME"

q + r . Z
An Occasion When John Howard Paype
Sang the Song Under Compulsion.
/ was once acquainted with a Swede
who had been adopted by the Usage
Indians, says writer in the Detroit
Free Press. He was friend Of John
Ross, the celebrated chief of the Cher
okees, and gave his name in the Cher
okee language was written j, @. e.
j. O., pronounced Koh-weh-s-koh-
web, and means swamp sparrow. His
brother, Lewis Ross, was named Te-
tah-te, which means spoon. My in
formant was himself called by the
Chsrokeess Te-kaw- wharlees-ky, which
signifies 'sThe man who writes orders
for -four"
John Howard Payne, the author of
tHome Sweet Home" was a warm,
personal friend of John Ross at the
time the Cherokees were removed from
their homes in Georgia to their pres
emit home west of the Mississippi river,
Payne was spending few weeks in
Georgia with Ross. who was occupying
a miserable cabin, having been forci-
bly elected from his former home. A
number OF prominent Cherokees were
In prison, and that portion of Georgia
In which the tribe was located was
secured by armed squads of the
Georgia militia, who had orders to
arrest all who refused to leave the
country.
While Ross and Payne were seated
before the fire in the hut, the door was
suddenly burst open and six or eight
militia men sprang into the room.
Ross wife was seated on trunk con-
tanning many valuable papers and a.
small amount of money, and at the un-
expected intrusion she sprang up and
screamed wildly. Ross spoke to her
In the Cherokee language, telling her
to be seated, as she would save the
contents of the trunk She sat down
again and the intruders told Ross that
he and Payne were under arrest and
must prepare to accompany the squad
to Milledgeville where they were to be
imprisoned. The soldiers lost no time
in taking their prisoners away. Ross
was permitted to ride his own horse,
While Payne was mounted on one led
by soldier AS the little party left
the hovel, rain began falling and con-
tinued until every man was drenched
thoroughly. Towards midnight Payne's
escort, in order to keep himself awake,
began humming ''Home, home, sweet
sweet home" when Payne remarked:
sLlttle did l expect to hear that
song under such circumstances and at
such time. Do you know the au-
thor?"
mo" said the soldier, "do you?n
eyes" answered Payne, Il COM
posed it,
The devil you did! You can tell
that to some other fellow but not to
me- Look here, you made that song,
you say; if you did-and I know you
dldn't-you can say it all without stop
ping. 1t has something about pleasures
and palaces. Now pitch in, and reel
1t OIL, and it 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 low, sub
dued tone, and then sang it, making
the old woods ring with the tender
melody and pathos of the words. 1t
touched the heart of the rough soldier,
who was not only captivated but con-
WINGED, and who said that the COM
poser OF such a song should never 90
to prison if he could help it. And
when the party reached Milledgeville
they were, after. a preliminary exam
nation, discharged, much to their sur
prise. Payne insisted that it was be-
cause the leader of the squad had been
under the magnetic influence of Ross
conversation, and Ross insisted that
they had been saved from insult and
Imprisonment by the power of s.Home,
Sweet Home, y sung as only those who
can feel can sing it.
The friendship existed between Ross
and Payne until the grave closed over
the mortal remains of the latter.