The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-03-03

daily his three loaves of bread, and
when his clothing was worn out, its
place was supplied 10y the coarse
cloth Of wool and cnmers hair woven
by the Barbary women. Three hours
before sunset he was released from
work, and Friday, which was the Mo-
hammedan Sabbath, was dav of
entire rest. Once year, ut the sea
son called Ramadan, he was left at
leisure for whole week. So time
went on--days, weeks, months and
years His dark hair became gray.
He still dreamed of his old home on
the Mcrrimac, and of his good Anna
and the boys He wondered wheth.
er they yet lived, what they thought
of him, and what they were doing -
The hope of ever seeing them grew
fainter and fainter, and at last nearly
died out and he resigned himself 10
his fate as slave for life.
But one day handsome, middle.
aged gentleman, in the dress of one
of his own countrymen, attended by
n great officer Of the Dey, entered the
ship-yaid, and called up before him
the American eaptives. The stran9
er was none other than Joel Barlow,
! Commissioner Of the United States 10
/ pl ocure the liberation of slaves be-
longing to that government. He took
the men by the hand as they came mp,
and told them they were free. As
you might expect, the poor fellows
were very grateful, some laughed
some wcpt for joy, some shouted and
sang, aud threw mp their caps, while
others, with David Matson among
them, linclt down on the chips, ano
thanked God for the great deliver
ance
This is very affecting scene,
said the Commissioner, wipIng his
eyes. 81 must keep the impression
OF il for my Columbiad;' and drawing
out bis tablet, he proceeded to write
on the spot nm apostrophe to Freedom
which arterward found 4 place in his
great epic.
David Matson had saved littl,
money during his captivity, by ode
jobs and work on holidays. He go
II passage to Malaga, where he bough
a nice shawl for his wife and watcl
for each of his boys He then wen
to the quay. where an American shiI
was lying, just ready 10 sail for Bos
ton
Almost the first man lie saw OIL
board was Pclatiah Curtis, who haC
rowed him down TO the port sever
years before. He found that his ole
neighbor did not know him, so chang
!. ell was he with his long beard ant
Moorisl dress, whereupon, withou
telling his name, he began TO pu
questions about his cid home. aIt
! finally asked him if lie knew n Mrs
MnteAE.
81 rather think do," said Pelatiall
"she's my wife.
Your wife!" cried the other
"She is mine before God and man.
am David Maison, and she is TIL
mother Of my children"
,, "And mine too y said Pclatiah. -
Il left her with baby in her arms
If YOU arc David Matson, your rigll
to her is ontlawed at any rate she
mine, AMI am not tie man TO Civ
her up"
God is greatp said poor Davi
MatSon, unconsciously repeating tn
familiar words of Mosiem submission
ellis will be done. | loved her, bu
; shall never see her again. Civ
Z these, with my blessings to the goo
woman and the boys" and he handle
: over, with a sigh, the little bundl
! containing the glfts for his wife an
children.
: He shook hands with his rival. =
4 "Pelatiah," he said, looking back Q
y as he left the ship, "be kind To Ann
!, and my boys"
: GAY, ay, sir !" responded the sailc
! in careless tone. He watched I'll
!, poor man passing slowly up the ma
row street until out of sight. Its
. hard case for David" he said, hell
ING himself to q fresh cud Of tobacco
"bul In glad I've seen the last
u him."
). When Pelatiah Curtis reached hNm
u he told Anna the story Of her husban
and laid his gifts in her lap. She di
u not shrek nor faint, for she was
. healthy woman with strong nerves
: but she stole away by herself an
u wept bitterly! She lived many yea
{ after, but could never be persuade
!, t0 wear the pretty shawl which IL
husband of her youth had sent as h
{ farewell gift. There, however, tr
y dition that, in accordance with h
> dying wish, il was wrapped about h
poor shoulders in the coffin, and bu
: led with her,
e The little old bulls eye watc
y y which is still in the possession Of OF
y Of her grand children. is all that r.
= = mains to tell Of David Matson--tl
~ lost man.
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n A Rock MOnatain Zephyr.
The Virginia City (Neyada) Unio