The Shasta courier., 1865-12-09
The Lost Man.
BY JOHN G. WHITTIER,

WV y. my young IrlenOs nave read the
sorrowful story of Enoch Arden" 60
sweetiy told by the great English poets? IL
Is the story OF young man who went to
sea leaving behind him sweet young wife
and little daughter. He was cast away
on desert island, where he remained
several years, when he was discovered and
taken of by passing vessel. Coming back
to bis native town, he found his wife mar.
ried to an old playmate-a good man, rich
and honored. with whom she was livi o
happily. The poor man, unwilling to cause
her pain and perplexity, resolved not to
make himself known to her, and lived and
died alone. Tne poem has reminded me Of
a very similar story of my own New Eng.
land neighborhood, which I have often
heard. and which will try to tell, not in
poetry like Alfred Tennys,n's but in my
own poor prose. l can assure my readers
that In its main particulars it is a true
tale.
One bright summer morning, more than
threescore years ago, David Matson, with
his two healthy, barefooted boys, stood on
the bank of the river near his DWELLING
They waited there for Pelatiah Curtis to
come around the point with his wherry, and
to take the husband and father to the port, q
few miles below. The Lively Turtle was
about to sail Oh voyage to Spain, and
David was to 60 in her as mate. They
stood there in the lovely morning sunshine
talking cheerfully; but had you been near
enough you could have seen the tears in
Anna Matson's blue eyes, for she loved her
husband, and she knew there was always
danger on the sea. And David's bluff
CHEEKY voice trembled little now and then,
for the sailor loved his snug home on the
Merrimac, with the dear wife and pretty
boys. But presently the wherry came
alongside, and David was just stepping into
it, when he turned back to kiss his wife and
children once more.
In with you," said Peatiah Curtis,
" there is no time for kissing and such fool.
cries when the tide serves"
And so they parted. Anna and the boys
went back to their home, and David to the
port whence he sailed in the Lively Turtle.
And months passed; autumn followed the
summer, and winter the autumn, and then
spring came, and anon it was summer on
the river side, and he did not come back. -
And another year passed; and then the old
sailors and fishermen shook their heads
solemnly. and said the Lively Turtle was .
lost ship, and would never come back again.
And poor Anna had her bombazine gown
dyed black. and her straw bonnet trimmed in
mourning ribbons-and henceforth she was
known only AS the Widow Matson.
Now you must know that the Mahomme
dan people of Algiers and Tripoli. Magadore
and Saline, on the Barbary coast. had for .
long time been in the habit of fitting out
galleys and armed boats to sieze upon the
merchant vessels of Christian nations, and
then make slaves of their crews and passen-
gers, Just as men calling themselves Chris
tians in America. were sending vessels 70
Africa to catch black slaves for their pIanta.
tions. The Lively Turtle fell into the
hands of one of these rowing sea robbers and
the crew were taken to Algiers, and sold in
the market place as slaves, poor David Mat
son among the rest.
When a boy he had learned the trade Of
ship carpenter with his father on the Merri
mac and now he was sent to work in the
dock yard. His master, who was natnp4ily
kind man, did not Overwork hiH1 HI
daily had his three loaves Of bread, and
when has clothing was worn out, its place
was supplied by the coarse cloth of wool and
camel's hair woven by the Barbarv women.
Three hours before sunset he was released
from work, and on Friday, which was the
Mohammedan Sabbath, was day of entire
rest. Once year. at season called Rama
dan, he was left at leisure for a whole week.
So time went On-days, weeks, months and
years. His dark hair had become gray
He still dreamed of his own home on the
Merrimac. and of the good Anna and the
boys. He wondered if they still lived. what
they thought of him, and what they were
doing. The hope Of ever seeing them again
grew fainter, and at last nearly died out !;
and he resigned himself to his fate as slave
for live.
But one day handsome, middle aged
gentleman, in the dress of one of his own
counsrymen, attended by the great oi6cer of
the Bay. entered the ship yard, and called
stranger was none other than Joel Barlow,
the Commissioner of the United States to
procure the liberation of slaves belonging to
that Government. He took them BY the
hand as they came up, and told them they
were free. As you may expect the poor
fellows were very grateful; some laughed !;
some wept for joy; some shouted and sang.
and threw up their caps, while others, with
David Mats among them, knelt down n
their chips and thanked God for their great
s.
"This is a very affecting scene,u said
the Commissioner, wiping his eyes. II
must keep the impression of it for my
CoIumbiad," and drawing out his tablet be
proceeded to write an apostrophe to Freedom
which afterwards found place in bis great
epic. David Matson had saved little
money during his captivity, by odd jobs
and working holidays. He got passage
to Halay, where he bought nice shawl
for his wife, and a watch each for the
bows He then went to the quay, where an
American ship was lying, just ready to sail
for Boston.
Almost the first man be saw on board was
Pelatiah Curtis, who had rowed him down
to port seven years before. He found that
his old neighbor did not know him, so
changed was he with his long beard and
Moorish dress without telling his name. he
began to put questions about bis long lost
T., r 4 Il