East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1865-06-21

fOnce p year, at the season called
Ramaden, he was left at leisure for a
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 Merrimac, and
Of his good Anna and the boys, He
wondered whether they yet lived, what
they thought of him, and what they
were doing, The hope Of ever seeing
them again grew fainter and fainter,
and at last nearly died out, and he
resigned himself 10 his fate as a slave
FIR l;fa .uglno TO son iHm0arf no >
! Butene day a handsome, middle
aged gentleman, in the dress of one
Of his own ,countryman, attended by
q great officer of the Dey, entered the
ship yard, and called up before him
the American, captives. The stranger
was none other than Joel Barlow,
Commissioner Of the United States TO
procure the liberation of slaves be-
longing to that government, he took
the men by the hand as they came up
and told them they were free. AS
you might expect, the poor fellows
were very grateful; some laughed,
some wept for joy, some shouted and
sung, and threw up their caps, while
Others, with David Matson among
them, knelt down ON the chips, and
thanked God for their great deliver
anoo.T uHnii0U 20 3hnIl dsd0dn 10 Inl
"This is very affecting scene.".
said the commissioner, wiping his
eyes. I" / must keep the impression.
for my Columbiad." 3 And drawing
cut his tablet, no proceeded to write
on the spot an apostrophe to freedom,
which afterwards found place in tho
great epic.J odi Go ilI8noD pa;hnai
} David Matson had saved little
money during his captivity, by odd
jobs and work ON holidays. He got
a passage to Malaga, where he bought
q niceehawl for his wife, and watch
for each Of his boys. He then went
to, the quay, whore an American ship
was lying, just ready to sail for
Boston. ei+Isi. oven. o..
"Almost the first man he saw on
board was Pelatiah Curtis, who had
rowed him down 10 the port seven
years before. He found that his old
neighbor did not know him, so chang
ed was he with his long beard and
Moorish dress, whereupon, without
telling his name, he began TO put
questions about his old home, and
finally asked him if he knew Mrs.
Matson. B ~ rr,L.4r.'
81 rather think 1 do, said Pelatiab,
"she is my wife" aail .r I'll
"Your wifew cried the other
I" She is mine before God, and / am
David Mstson, and she is the mother
of my children" B 5. s., y,I srs1l1
"And mine, too,p said Pelatiah.---'
:" / loft her with one in her arms. If
ys,s ar~ nA~iI M.tsaa ynur ri0ht To
her is outlawed; at any rate, she Is
mine, and 1 am not the man to give,
her up" tr.y-4 o. s,.liuo1 sl n
!" God is greatr said poor David
Matson, unconsciouslyi repeating the
familiar words of Moslem submission.
" His will he done.' 1 love her, but
/ shall never see her, again. Give
these, with my blessings to the good
woman and boys,"i and he handed
over with q sigh, the little bundle
containing the, gifts for his wife and
children. aslai2 baiinJ 8ii 10 tndi eIi
He shook hands with his rival., ID
q" Pelatiah,'' said be, looking back
as he left tho ship ,vrbei kind to ,Anna
and my boys.?sr6s laia8qs emas etT
"Ay, ay, sirl" responded theisailor
in O careless tone. He watched the
poor man passing slowly up the mar
row street until out of sight, -iDguii>i
ats hard case for old David"
he said, helping himself to o fresh
quid Of tobacco, 7" but I'm glad I've
seen the last of him." ,1'.l,os Wo.
When Pelatiah Curtis reached
home, he told Anna the story of her
husband, and laid his gift hin her lap
She did not shrek nor faint for she
was a healthy woman with strong
nerves; bit sho stole away by herself
and wept bitterly. She lived many,
years after, but could never, never be
persuaded to wear tho pretty shawl
which the husband Of her youth had
sent as a farewell gift There, is,
however, a tradition that in accord
ance with her dying wish, it was
wrapped about her poor old shoulders
in tho coffin, and buried with her
The little bulls eye watch, which is
still In the possession Of one Of her
grand children, is now all that re-
mains to tell Of David Matson-the
lost man. ''''' ~