South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-10-09
Home. Sweet HONS.
An Occasion When John Howard
Payne Sang the Song Under
Compulsion.

vas once acquainted With q
owede who had been adopted BY the
Ossge Indians. He was q friend or
John Ross the celebrated chief Of the
Chsrokees. aud gave his name 10 the
lsnguage-it was written j. Q 4 J.
.. pronounced Koh- veh -s-koh. web.
and means swamp sparrow. HE
brother, Lewis Ross, vas named Te.
tab to. which means spoon. NV in.
fJrmant was himself called nv thu
Cherokeee Te-kaw.wha Ices kv which
signifies The man who writes ordera
for four
John Howard Pa, ne. the author Of
Home Sweet Hon. was a warm
personal friend OF John e ,ss. A. the
tune the Cherokees we're remeved
from their homes In Georgia to their
present homo wet Of the MissIsainni
River, Payne was spending = i.v
weeks in Georgia with Ross. who vaa,
occupying a miserable cabin, having
boon forcibly elected from bis for
msr. A number Of prominent Cher
okees were in prison. and that portion
OF Georgia in which the tribe Vas 10.
Gated was secured by armed sauats
OF the Georges militia, who had or
ders to arrest all who relu ed 10 leave
the couLtry.
While Ross and Payne were seataa
before The fire In the hut, the door
was suddenly burst open and six or
eight militia men sprang into tina
room. Ross's wife was seatsd on n
rank containing many valuable "a.
pers ami q email amour, Of money.
and a. the unexpected intrusion she
sprang up and screamed wildiy.-
Ross spoke TO her Ia the Cherokee
language. telling her TO be seated, ss
sue would save the contents of the
truck. She sat down ngsin and the
intruders told R,ss that hs and Payne
we're under arrest and mast rrepars
10 accompany the squad to MilledRes
vile, where they we're to be impris-
oned. The soldiers lost no time in
taking their prisoners away. Ro.s
Was permitted TO ride his own horse
while Payne was mounted on one led
oy soldier. As the little party left
the howell rain began falling and
continued until every man was
drenchei thoroughly. Toward. mid.
night Psyne's escort. 10 order to
Keep himself awake, began hu INNING,
doms home. sweet sweet home =
when Payne remarked:
Little did expect TO hear that
song under such circumstances and
AZ such time. Do you know the
auth)Tf
No, said the soldier, do youe
YES answered Payne, I composed
The devil you did You can tell
that 70 SONS other follow bat not to
me. L'ok herd. you made that song.
you say; u you did and know
you didn't--yon can say IL ali wIths
oot stopping. IL has sonnet hing abous
pleasures and palaces. Now pitch tn
and reel il of, and IL you can't I'Il
bounce you from your horse AnI leai
you Instead OF Il.
Ibe threat vas answered by PayDs
who repeated the song ia q Glow. su :
dued tone, aud then sang il, making
thes,d woois riog with the teussr
melody add pashos OF tue words, Il
touched the heart Of the rough SOL
der, who was not only captlvsted
bat convinced. aud who said the CON.
poser Of such q song should never no
to prison il he sould help Il. A1d
when The party reached MlnedQev,lla
they ware. after preliminary exsm.
iaation, discharged, much to th..r
surprise. Payne insisted that Il wac
becIu4e the leader Of the squsd bad
been under the magnetic 'niusnce OF
Ross conversation snd Ross insist
ed that they bad been saved
from insult and imp 'isoE ment by the
power OF Home, Sweet Home sunx
a. only those who caa feel can s,ne
u.
The friendship exis ed between
Ross and Payne no,I the srsve
close over tae aoftal reu441s III Tia