Coming Home at Last. By Will Carleton.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1935, 29 November 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

Coming Home at Last. By Will Carleton.

(On the proposed removal of the remains of John Howard Payne to his native country}) - i. ~ , . I - The banishment was overlong, But it will soon be past : > The man who wrote Home's sweetest song Is coming home at last ! For years his poor abode was seen In foreign lands alone, And waves have thundered loud between This singer and his own. But he will soon be journeying To friends across the sea ; And grander than of any king His welcome here shall be ! n. He cannot come with cheerful brow, And step of conscious pride 5 He will not hear the tributes now That Ml on every side ; And when we tell him how his rich Sad strains our hearts have sought, He cannot tell the price at which The yearning words were bought ! And silently this man must come Unto the waiting throng— Who gave a trumpet voice to Home, And thrilled the world with song t m. He wandered o'er the dreary earth, Forgotten and alone : t He who could teach Home's matchless worth Ne'er had one of his own. 'Neath winter's cloud and summer's sun, - Along the hilly road, He bore his great heart, and had none To help him with the load ; And wheresoever in his round He went with weary tread, His sweet pathetic song he found Had floated on ahead! rv. He heard the melodies it made | Come pealing o'er and o'er, , From royal music bands that played Before the palace door ; He heard its gentle tones of love From many a cottage creep, When tender crooning mothers strove To sing their babes to sleep ; And wheresoe'er true love had birth This thrilling song had flown : ' ' But he who taught Home's matchless worth Had no home of hia own I v. - T-he banishment was over long, But ItJnill soon be past 5 - r The man who wrote Home's sweetest soag\ ' , - /Shall have> homVat ksfrt> „ „ Hf ' l ' : l And heiha^re^whSroifturids wave r '] _ L -e » "And fAgtini^&sos^'wii^j Tf // ' $£*£ ~o*-, ?Hia l j^e(Bii^lkept.Mid*h^ipi;|ld t ',gr^ye' v, ,y