The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-04-14
David Matson.
DY JOHN G. WHITTIER.

I
! Who Of my young friends hayo read the
sorrowtpl story Of "Enoeh Arden" 90 sweet.
~ and simply told BY. the great English
poot: II IS the story of a man who went 10
sea, leaving behind sweet young wife and
little daughter lie was cast away on o
desert island. where he .renitined several
years, when hc was discovered and taken
off by passing vessel. Coming back to bis
native town, be found his vito married to
an old piaymateA.-a good man, ricb, and
honored, and With whom she vas living
happily The poor mAu, unwilling TO cause
her pain and perpiexity, resolved not to
make himeelf known to ber, aud lived and
died slone. The poem has reminded me Of
very similar story Of my own Now Eup.
land neighborbood. which l have often
beard. and which ! will try to tell, not in
poetry, like Alfred Teunyson's, bat in nv
Own poor prose. ! can assure my readers
that in the Daio, particulars it 10 . true
tale. .......t ..7,.f-...- ., .,,,, III, ta
One bright, summon morning, more than
three.score years ago. David Matson, with
bis young wife and his two healthy, bare.
footed boys, stood on the bank of the river
near their dwelling They we're waiting
there for Pelatiah Curtis to come round tho
point with his wherry. and take the .hus-
band and father to the Port, q fcw miles
below. The Lively Turtle was, about to
sail on voyage to Spain. and David was to
go in ber as mate. They stood there in the
lovely morning sunshine, talking cheerfully,
but, had you boen near enough, you could
have seen tears in Anna Matsous blue eyes,
for she loved her husband, and knew there
was always danger on the sea. And Dsvid's
bluff, CHEEKY voice trembled q little now
and then, for the honest sailor loved bis
home on the Merrimac. with the dear wife
and her pretty boys. But presently the
wherry came alongside. aud David was just
stepping into it, when he turned back to
kiss his wife and children onee more. 81.
I'm with you, man, said Pelaiiah Curtis.
There is no time for kissing aud such fool
cries, when'thc tide serves"
And SO they parted. Anna aud the boys
went back to their home, and David to tho
port whence he sailed of in the Lively
Turtle. And the months passed, and au.
tump followed the summer, and winter the
autumn, and then the springlcame, and
anon 1t was summer on the riverside, and
he did not como back. And another year
passed, and then the old sailors and fisher
mon shook their heads solemnly, and said
that the Lively Turtle was lost ship, and
would never como back to port. And poor
Anna had her bombasin gown dyed black,
and her straw bonnet trimmed in mourning
ribbons, and theuceforth she Was known
only as the widow Matson. r,..,
And how was it all this time with David
himself? ..... ,...
Now you must know that the Mohamme-
dan people of yAlgiers and Tripoli, and
Mogadore and Sallee, on tho Barbary coast
had for q long time beon in the habit of fit.
ting out gaileys and armed boats to seize
upon tho merchant vessels Of Christian ra-
tons, and make slaves of their crews and
passengers, just as men calling themselves
Christians in America were sending vessels
to Africa to catch black slaves for their
plantations. The Lively Turtle fell into the
hands of ono of these rowing sea robbers,
and the crew wore taken to Algiers. and
sold in the market place as slaves. Poor
David was among the rest.
When boy he had learned tho trade of
a ship carpenter, with his father on the
Merrimac; and now he; was set to work in
the dock yards, His master, who ives nat.
urally kind man, did not overwork him.
He bad daily bis three loaves of bread, and
when his clothing was worn out, it's place
was supplied by the cloth of wool and cam.
els hair woven by the Bsrbary women.-
Three hours before sunset he was released
from work, and Friday, which is the Mo.
hammea Sunday, was day of entire rest.
Once year, at the season called Ramaden.
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 Merri-
mac, and OF his good Anna and the boys.