Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-04-17
David MatSon.
BY JOHN C. WHITTIER.

English poet? 1t Is the story of man
who went to sea. leaving behind a sweet
young wife and little daughter He
was cast away on a desert island, where
he remained several years, when be was
discovered and taken off by q passing
vessel. Coming back to his native town,
he found his wife married to an old
playmate good man, nch and honor
ed, 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 reminded
me Of very similar story Of nv own
New England neighborhood, which /
will try to tell, not in poetry, like Al
fred lennyson' but in my own poor
prose. ! can assure my readers that. In
Its main particulars, 1t Is a true tale.
One bright summer morning. more
than three score years ago. David Mat
son, with his young wife, and his two
healthy, bare-footed 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 few miles below The
Lively Turtle was about to sail on q
voyage TO Spain, and David was going
as her mate. They stood there in the
lovely morning sunshine talking cheer
fully, but had you been near enough you
F 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 little now and then, for the
honest sailor loved his snug home Oh the
Merrimac, with the dear wife and her
pretty boys. But presently the wherry
came along, and David was just stepping
into 1t, when he turned back to kiss his
wife and children once more.
in with you. man, said Pelatiah
Curtis. There's no time for kissing and
such fooleries, when the tide serves
And 50 they parted. Anna and the
boys went back to their home, and Da-
vid to the port whence he sailed in the
Lively Turtle" And months passed ;
autumn followed summer, and winter
the autumn and then spring came, anon,
1t 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 a lost
ship. and would never come back to port
And poor Anna had her bombazine gOwr
/: dyed in black, and her straw bonnet
trimmed in mourning ribbons, anC
henceforth she was only known as tn,
Widow Watson.
And how was it all this time witt
: David himself?
: Now you must know that the Moham
medan people of Algiers or TripOli, an,
: Magadore and Sallee, on the Barbar,
coast, had for long time been in tn
- habit of fitting out galleys and arme,
: boats to seize upon merchant vessels Q
Christian nations, and make slaves Q
I their crews and passengers. The Live
IL Turtle" fell into the hands Of one Q
= these rowing sea-rObbers, and the cre1
: were taken TO Algiers. and sold in th
market place as slaves, poor David Mat
IS son with the rest.
e When boy he had learned the trad
>, Of ship-carpenter with his father, Oh til
Il Merrimae, and now he was set at wor
IT ID the dOekyards His master, who va
p" naturally kind man, did not overwOr
re him. He had daily his three loaves
ie bread, and when his clothing was wor
out. Its place was supplied by the cOari
% cloth Of wool and eamel's hair, wOve
= by the Barbary women. Three hou
before sunset be was released from worl
N and Friday, which is the Mohammt
se Sabbath, is day Of entire rest
= Once a year. at the season called r
n MAIDEN, he was left at leisure for who
We week So time went on-days, week
ly months and years. His dark hair b
came grey. He still dreamed Of his 0
ne home on the Merrimac and Of his 90
: Anna and the boys. He wondered whet
he er they yet lived, and what they We
Of dong. The hope Of ever seeing the
ne again grew fainter and fainter, and
ue last nearly died out and he resign
:; himself 70 his fate as a slave for life
n. But one day handsome, middle-ag
gentleman, ID the dress Of one Of
tie Owl couDtrymen. attended by a great
tie heer Of the Law. entered the sbipyai
~ and called up before him the Americ
= captives. The stranger was none Oti
Us than Joel Barlow, commissioner Of
by United States to procure the hberati
ION ol Of the slaves belonging TO that COVE
Iil' 81 meut He took the men by the ha
i" as they came up. and told them Il
ted we're free. As you might expect
INV poor fellows were very grateful; so
lms laughed, some wept for JOY. some shO
an ed and sang and threw up their ca
d while others. with David Mstson amt