Meaning of "about home"

[A.Wright]

Please look at this:

"When my father and sister lay dead in the ashes about home, he laughed at my tears."

What is "ABOUT HOME"?

THANK YOU ALL

A.Wright

[Jamie (K)]

It's an unusual expression, but I understand "about home" here to mean "encircling our house".

[Yankee]

I agree with Jamie's interpretation.

For me, it sounds like there is a word (or words) missing between "about" and "home".

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English