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STORIES OF
the pillar to which it is alleged the scholar was tied, and chant the verses whieh he composed in his affliction.
Payne, as far as can be gathered, wrote the words of " Home, Sweet Home" one dreary day in October, 1822, while he was far from home in Paris. John Howard Payne was the son of William Payne, a schoolmaster who was favour-ably known as an elocutionist in New York, where young Payne was born on April 1, 1791. Much against the desire of his father, the future author abandoned commerce, for which he was intended, and took to the precarious profession of actor. He was not without ability, for he made a very successful first appearance at the Park Theatre, New York, in the character of Norval, in " Douglas," in February, 1807. For some years Payne continued to act in various parts of America, and occasionally contributed articles to New York papers and journals. Not satisfied with his success in America, he was anxious to learn the verdict of a British audience. He entered the English metropolis with excellent credentials, having letters of introduction to Lord Byron, John Kemble, Coleridge, and other celebrities of the day. In 1813 he made his bow at Drury Lane Theatre, choosing for his debut his former role of Norval,
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