Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-02-25
MISCELLANEOUS
THE LOST MAN.
A SKETCH FROM REAL LIFE.
BY JOHN g. WHITTIER.

Who of my friends have read the
sorrowful story Of " Enoch Arden. -
SO swectly and simply told by the
great English poet? 1t is the story
of man who went to sea, leaving
behind a sweet young wife and a
little daughter. He was cast away
on desert island, where he remained
several years, when he was discov-
cred and taken off by u passing ves-
sci. Coming back to his native town,
he found his wife married 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, re-
solved not to make himself known
to her, and lived and died alone,
The poem has reminded me of a
very similar story of my own New
England neighbOrhOod, which have
often heard, and which l will try to
tell, not in poetry, like Alfred Ten
nyson's, but in my own poor prose.
l can assure my readers that i'm its
main particulars it is true tale.
One bright summer morning, more
than threescore years ago, David
ldatson, 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 whercy, and take
the husband and father to the port,
Il few miles below. The Lively Tur-
tie 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
cheerfully; but, had you been near
enough, you could have seen tears in
Anna MatsOD's blue eyes, for she
lOyed her husband, and know 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 on the
Merrimac, with the dear wife and her
pretty boys. But presently the
wherry came alongside, and David
was just stepping into it when he
turned back to kiss his wife and chill
dren once more.
"ln with you, man." said Pele-
tiah Curtis. "There's no time for
kissing and such fooleries when the
tide serves"
And 40 they parted. Anna end
the boys went back TO their home,
and David TO the port whence he
sailed off i'm the Lively Turtle. And
months passed, autumn followed the
sum mer, and winter the autumn, and
then spring came, and anon it was
summer on the riverside, 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 los!
ship and would never come back to
port. And poor Anna had her BON.
baZine dress dyed black and her
straw bonnet trimmed in mourning
ribbons, and thenceforth she was
known only as the Widow Matson.
And how was it all this time with
David himself?
Now YOU must know that the Mo
hammedan people Of Algiers and
Tripoli, and Magadore and Sallee,
on the Barbary coast, had for long
time been in the habit Of lifting Out
galleys and armed boats to seize
upon merchant vessels of Christian
nations and make slaves of theil
crews and passengers, just as mer
calling themselves Christians ir
America were sending vessels to AT
rica to catch black slaves for theil
plantations. The Lively Turtle tel
into the hands of one of these rowing
sea-robbers, aud the crew was taker
to Algiers and sold in the market
place as slaves, poor David Matsor
among the rest.
When a boy he had learned th'
trade of ship. carpenter with hi
father on the Merrimac and now HI
was set at work in the dockyards.-
His master, who was naturally kint
man, did not overwork him. III
had daily his three loaves of bread
and wnen his clothing was worn out