Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-09-11
David nasien, the Lost Nan.
BY JOHN G.. WHITTIER.

| ~ otNiJ vi iIuOCh AEucL
so sweetly and simply told by the gres
English poet? 1t is the story of ma
who went 10 sea, leaving behind
sweet young wife and little daughter
lie was cast away ell desert island
where he remained several years, whel
he was discovered, and taken of by
passing.
Coming back to his natiye town, h.
found his wife married to an old play
mate-a good man, rich and honored,
with whom she was living happily. The
poer man, unwilling to cause her pair
andperplexlty, resolved not to make
himself known TO her, and lived ant
died alono. The poem has reminded
me Of a very similar stsry Of my Owl
New England nelghborhood, which
haye often heard, and which will tr,
to tell, not in poetry, like Alfred Tenny
sons, but in my own poor prose.
can assure my readers that, in its mar
particulars, it is a true tale.
One bright Summer morning, NOR,
than three score years ago, David Mat
son, with his young wife and two healthy
barsfooted boys, stood on the bank o
the rive, near their dwelling. They
were waiting there for Pciatlah Curtis
to come round the point with hi
wherry, to take the husband and father
to the port few miles below. The
Lively Turtle was about TO sail on {
voyage to Spain, and David was to 90
in her as mate. They stood there in
the level morning sunshine, talking
cheerfully; but had been near enough
you could have seen tears in Anna
Matson's blue eyes, for she loved heI
husband, aud knew there Wa. alwa;
danger on the sea.
And Dayid's bluff, CHEEKY voice
trembled a little now and then, for the
honest sailor loved his snug home OIL
the Merrimac, with the dear wife anC
her pretty boys. But presently The
wherry came alongside, and David was
just stepping in it, when he turned back
to kiss his wife and boys.
In with you, man. SAID Pelatial
Curtis There's no time for kissing and
such fooleries when the tide serves
And so they parted. Anna aud hel
boys went back to their home, and
David to the port from whence hs
sailed of in the Lively Turtle. And
months passed; autumn followed the
summer, and winter the autumn anG
then spring came; anon it was summer
on the river side, and he did not come
back. And another year passed, and
then old sailors and fishermen shook
their heads solemnly, and said the
Lively Turtle was lost ship, and
would never come back to port. And
poor Anna had her bombazine gown
dyed black, and her straw bonnie t
trimmed in mourning ribbons, and
thenceforth was known only as the
Widow Maston.
And how was it all this time with
David himself!
Now, you must kuw that the Mo-
hammedan people of Alyiers and
Tripoli, Mogadcre and Salee, and the
Barbary coast, had for long time been
in the habit Of fitting out galleys aud
armed boats to seize upon merchan t
vessels Of Christian nations, and makes
slaves of their crews and passengers,
just as men calling themselves Chris
tians in America were sending vessels
to Africa to catch black slaves for their
plantations. 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 .MatSon among
the rest.
When boy, he learned the trade of
ship carpenter with his father, On the
Merrimac, and he was setat work
in the dockyards. His master, who was
naturally kind man, did not oyerwork
him. He had daily his three loaves Of
bread, and when his clothing was worn
out, its place was supplied by the
coarse cloth ofwool and camsl's hair,
woven by the Berber women. Three
hours before sunset he was released
from work, and Friday, which is the
Mohammedan Sabbath, was day Of
entire rest. Once year at the season
called Ramcan, he was lett at leisure
for a whole week.
Some time went on-days, weeks,
months, and years. His dark hair
became gray. He still dreamed of his
cid home on the Merrimac, and of his
good Anna and her boys. He wondered
whether they were yet living, what they
thought Of him. and what they were
loing. The hope of ever seeing them
again grew fainter and fainter, and at
asst nearly died out ; and he resigned
limselfto his fate as a slave for life.
But one day a handsome middle
lged gentleman, in the dress Of one Of
lis own countrymen, attended by the
,reat officer of the Dey, entered the
and called up before him the |
American captlves. The stranger was
lone other than Joel Barlow, Com
missioner eff the United States to pre-
ure the liberation of slaves belonging
o that Government. He took the men !
y the hand, as they came up and they
we're free. AS you might expect, the
'eor fellow were very grateful some