Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-09-05
DAVID MATSON.
ny JOHN @. WHITTIER.

ny JOHN @. WHITTIER.
Who of my young friends hav
read the sorrOwful story of "Enocl
Arden" so sweetly and simply tolt
by the great English poet 7 1t il
The story of a man who went to set.
leaving behind sweet young wifi
and little daughter. He was cas-
away on II desert island, where h,
remained several years, when ht
was discovered, and taken off by 4
passing vessel. Coming back to his
native town he found his wife mar
ried to an old playmate-a good
man, rich and honOred, with whom
she was living happily. The poor
man, unwilling to cause her pain
and perplexity resolved not to make
himself known to her, and lived and
died alone. The poem has remind
ed me ola very similar story of my
own New England neighborhood,
which l will try to tell, not in poe
try, like Alfred Tennyson's, but in
my own poor prose. l can assure
my readers that in its main partic-
ulars it is u true tale.
One bright summer morning
more then three score years ago,
David Matson with his young wife
and his two healthy barefooted boys,
stood on the bank of the river near
their dwelling. They were waiting
there for Pelatiah Curtis to come
round the point with his wherry.
and take the husband and father to
the port, a few miles below. The
Lively Turtle was about to sail on a
voyage to Spain, and David was to
go in her as mate. They stood there
in the lovely morning sunshine talk
ing cheerfulIy; but, had you been
near enough, 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 David's bluff CHEEKY voice
trembled a little now and then, for
The honest sailor loved his snug lit
Tie home on the Merrimacll, with
the dear wife and her pretty boys.
But presently the wherry came
and David was just step
ping into it, when he turned back to
Kiss his wife and children once more.
'In with you, man." said Pelatiah
Curtis, "There's no time for kiss
ne and such fOOleres when the. tide
'erves."
And so they parted. Anna and
he boys went back to their home,
md David to the port, whence he
allied off in the Lively Turtle. And
months passed, autumn followed
he summer; and then spring came,
nd anon it was summer on the riv-
rside, and he did not come back.
md another year passed, and then
he old sailors and fishermen shook
heir heads solemnIy, and said the ,
lively Turtle was lost ship, and
'Ould never come back to port.
md poor Anna had her bombazine :
own dyed black, and her straw +,
onnet trimmed with mourning rib
ons, and thenceforth she was known
My as the widow Matson.
And how was it all this time with
'avid himself?
Now you must know that the
[ohammedan people of Algiersand |,
ripoli, and Mogadore and Sallee, e
A the Barbary coast, had for long II
me been in the habit of fitting out q
alleys and armed boats to sieze q
pom merchant vessels of Christian +.
atoms, and make slaves of their O.
'ew and passengers, just as men,
llling themselves Christians in h
merica, were sending vessels to h
frica to catch black slaves for l.,
cir plantations. The Lively Tur- f,
} fell into the hands of one of s,
ese rowing sea robbers, and the al
ew were taken to Algiers and sold V,
the market-place as slaves, poor s,
avid Matson among the rest. "
When a boy he had learned the Sc
ade of ship carpenter, with his h,
ther on the Merrimack; and now q,
was set at work in the dOck.yard. W
is master, who was naturally a kind in
an, did not Over-work him. He
ID daily his three loaves of bread. w
d when his clothing was worn h,
t, it's place was supplied by the to