East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1865-06-21
DAVID MATsOr.
BY JOHN @. WHITTIER.

Who of my young friends have
read the sorrowful story of Enoch
Arden," SO sweetly and simply told
by the great English poet? 1t is a
story Of man who went to sea, leav-
ing sweet young wife and a little
daughter. He was cast away on q
desert island, where ho remained sew
eral years, ,awben he was discovered
and taken off by n passing vessel. -
Coming back to his native town, he
found his wife married to an old play
mate-a good man, rich and honored,
and with whom she was living happi-
ly. The poor man, unwilling to cause
her any pain or perplexity, resolved
not to make himself known toiher,
and lived and died alone. The, poem
has r-r,iuded me OF a vor, -sinaiiess
story Of my own New England neigh
borhood, which often heard, and
which L will try to tell, not in poetry,
like Alfred Tennyson's, but in my
own poor prose. can assure my
readers that in its main particulars it
is true tale.
One bright summer morning, more
than three, score years ago, David
Matson, with his young wife and
healthy, 'barefooted boys, stood on the
bank of the river near their dwelling.
They were waiting there for Pelatiah
Curtis to come around the point with
his wherry, and take the husband and
father to tho port, few miles below.
The Lively Turtle was about TO sail
On voyage to Spain, and David was
TO go in her as mate. They, stood
there in the. lovely morning sunshine,
talking oheerfully, but had you been
near, you could have seen tears in
Anna Matson's blue eyes, for she
loved her husband, and knew there
was always danger on the sea. And
Dayid's blufg cheery voice trcmbled q
little now and then, for the honest
sailor loved his snug home 1onthe
Merrimac, with the dear wife and her
pretty boys but presently the wherry
came alongside, and he turnedzback
to kiss wife and children once more.
.scIn9with you, man." said Pelatiah
Curtis. There's no time for kissing
and such, fpoleries when the tide
serves. ~ yVei ia q. .ItI - rssrdvoaql
And so they parted. Anna and the
boys went back to their home, and
David tothe Port, whence he sailed
off in tho 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, then
the old sailors and fishermen 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 ibombazine dyed
black, and her straw bonnet trimmed
in mourning ribbon, and thenceforth
she was known only as the Widow
Matson. 80. ''. ~ hl- ...','
And how was it all this time with
David himselfp 1T 'foery
Now you must know that the no.
hammedan people of iAlgiers sand
Tripoli, and Mogadore, and Salee, or
the Barbary coast, had for long time
been in the habit of fitting out galleyi
and armed boats to seize upon mer.
chant vessels of Christian nations, and
make slaves of their crews and pas.
sengers, 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 one o.
those rowing sea robbers, and the
crew were taken to Algiers, and SOLD
in the market place as slaves pool
David Matson among the rest. 80, y.
When q boy, he had learned th'
trade Of a ship-carpenter with hi
father on the Merrimao, and now b,
was set at work in the dock yards
His meaer, who was. naturally g,lpnt
man, did not over-work him, He haf
daily his three loaves Of bread ant
when his clothing was worn out, !
was supplied by tho coarse cloth o
wool aid cahsl's hair, ! WoSens by tn
Berber women. Three hours befor
sunset be Was released from wofl
and Friday, which is tho MohRmfhedsi
tef isl yf1 rsria.s