Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-10
HOME, SWEET HOME"
An Occasion When John Howard Payns
Sang the Song Under CompuIsion

Sang the Song Under CompuIsion.
was once acquainted with a Sweds
who had been adopted by the Usage
indians, says q writer in the Detroit
Free Press. He was a friend OF John
boss. the celebrated chief of the Cher
okees and gave his name in the Cher
okee language-it was written J. Q. &
j. q, pronounced -weh-s-koh,
web, and means swamp sparrow. His
brother, Lewis Rozs, was named IT,
tah-te, which means spoon. My in
formant was himself called by the
Chsrokeess Te-kaw- wha-lees- XIV which
signifies The man VINO writes orders
for -four.
John Howard Payne, tho author of
Home, Sweet Home" was a warm.
personal friend OF John Ross. at the
time the CheroSees were removed from
their homes in Georgia to their pres.
ent home west Of the Mississippi river.
Payne was spending a few weeks in
Georgia with Ross who was occupying
miserable cabin, having been forci.
bly, elected from his former home. A
number OF prominent Cherokoes wero
| 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 tho
, 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 sprdlg into the room.
Ross wife was seated on a trunk con-
tanning many valuable papers and a
small amount of money. and at the I'M
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 intrudcrs told Ross that
he and Payne were under arrest and
must prepare to &c ;0Nany the squad
TO Mllledgevllle, where they were To DO
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 howell, rain began falling and con-
tlnued until every man was drenchcd
thoroughly. Towards midnight Payne's
escort in order to keep himself awake
began humming Home. home. sweet.
sweet home when Payne remarked:
Little did l expect to hear that
song under such circumstances and at
such time Do you know the au-
thor?"
mo" said the sol II, do youP"
yes" answered Payne Il com
posed it,
The devil you did! You can tell
that to some otker fellow but not to
me. Look here, you made that song.
you say; if you did-and ] know you
dldn't-you can say ii all without stop
ping. 1t has something about pleasures
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 sono in q 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-
vinced, and who said that the COM
poser of such song should never go
to prison if he could help it. And
when the party reached Milledgeville
they were, after 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 Home,
Sweet Home" 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.