Show SANG RIS HIS SONG jahn john howard payne the author of home sweet home once saved himself and friend from imprisonment by y the singing of his famous song this is is the story substantially as it was related by john ross the indian chief and published recently in the indian arrow printed at tahle tallequah tahlequah quah bah I 1 T when the cherokee indians were being removed from georgia to their reservation west of the mississippi river river payne spent a few weeks at the home of john ross a lifelong life ie long on friend hea head d chief of the tribe several se e prominent cherokees were in prison and that portion of georgia was scoured by armed squads of militia one day as payne and ross were sitting before the fire in a hut the door was opened suddenly and eight militiamen militia men entered ross and his presumed accomplice suspected of influencing the indians to cause trouble were summarily arrested and taken off on horseback rain was falling the journey lasted all night just after midnight in order to keep awake one of the soldiers began singing home sweet home ah said payne sadly 1 I never expected to hear that song under such circumstances as these 1 I guess not his escort answered indifferently but I 1 singing that for you do you know who wrote that song no do you 0 ap pp yes sail said Payne payne 1 I did of course you did laughed his companion with an oath 1 I bet you dont even know the words payne slowly repeated the words of the song reciting the whole of it then he sang it the surroundings naturally heightened effect As the last words of the melody died away the soldier said kindly if you write it you can sing it as the man that did write it he really wrote the son song it s said aid the indian chief that is john J aan howard payne the soldier was skeptical but had I 1 at least been touched by paynes sing singing ing of the song whether you wrote it or not he said you shall shah not go to prison if I 1 can help it and much to the surprise of both ross and payne they were released at milledgeville Milledg eville then the capital of the state next day after a brief examination the soldier was subsequently treated with especial respect and liberty that song the indian chief declared subsequently saved both of us from insult and imprisonment imprison met nor perhaps ven even worse treatment I 1 had heard payne sing it before but never as he sung it that rainy night conour way to prison at milledgeville Milledg eville |