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VICTOR ROY;

A Masonic Poem.

BY HARRIETT ANNIE WILKINS.

DEDICATED, BY PERMISSION, TO DANIEL SPRY, ESQ.

GRAND MASTER OF THE GRAND LODGE, A.F. & A.M. OF CANADA.

PREFACE

An anecdote appeared some time ago in the pages of "The Craftsman" which gave rise to the ideas embodied in "Victor Roy." It is not a story of profound depth. Its aim is not to soar to Alpine heights of imagination, or to excavate undiscovered treasures from the mines of thought. It is a very simple story, told in very simple words, of such lives as are around us in our midst. It tells of sorrows that are daily being borne by suffering humanity, and of the faith that gives strength to that suffering humanity to endure "seeing Him, who is invisible." All lives may not see their earth day close in sunshine, but somewhere the sun is shining, and all true cross-bearers shall some day become true crown-wearers. The following pages have some references to that Ancient Order which comes down the centuries, bearing upon its structure the marks of that Grand Master Builder, who gave to the visible universe "the sun to rule the day, the moon and stars to govern the night;" an Order which, like these wondrous orbs, is grand in its mysterious symbolism, calm in its unvarying circles, universal in its beneficence.

We are told of a poor weary traveller who had plucked a flower. The shadows of a grand cathedral lay before him. He entered; its architecture charmed him, its calmness refreshed him. Approaching a shrine he laid his flower upon it, saying: "It is all I can give; it, too, is God's work, although gathered by a feeble, dying hand." A priest standing near looked upon the flower and said: "God bless you, my brother, heaven is nearer to me." So, if by the perusal of "Victor Roy" one ear hears more distinctly the Apostolic declaration, "Pure religion is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction," or if one poor sinking spirit is strengthened, as Longfellow says, to "touch God's right hand in the darkness," the wishes of the Authoress will be fully accomplished.

HARRIETT ANNIE.

Hamilton, August, 1882.

VICTOR ROY.

Victor's Soliloquy.

Heavily rolleth the wintry clouds, And the ceaseless snow is falling, falling, As the frost king's troops in their icy shrouds, Whistle and howl, like lost spirits calling.

But a warm luxuriantly furnished room, Is an antidote to the wild night storm, Lamplight and firelight banish the gloom, No poverty stalks there with cold gaunt form.

Yet there seems a shadow, yes even there, Where all is so peacefully grand and still, No fair young face with its shining hair, No voice of love with its musical thrill.

One reigneth alone in that mansion grand, And his day of life has long past its noon, The wanderer of many a foreign land, Rests, calmly waiting Heaven's final boon.

There are lines on his brow of grief and care, Writ with a quill from Time's feathered wing. There are silver threads in the chesnut hair, The blossoms white of a fair dawning spring.

Yet Victor Roy has a kindly word, And a kindly smile for all he meets; No cry of distress is by him unheard, While many a blessing his pathway greets.

"Yes, that's right Jasper, draw the curtains close, And make the fire burn bright; God help the poor and suffering ones Within this city to-night. Did your wife send food to that sick girl in the market lane to-day? Did you carry coals to the man whose limbs were crushed by the loaded dray? Well, that's all right, what is it you say? you wish that I did but know The comfort I give to hearts that are weak, or erring or low. Have you turned lecturer, Jasper? no; but it makes you sad, To see me lonely and quiet when I'm making others glad. But Jasper, remember that you and I, hold certain things in trust, We must gain some interest on our gold, not let it lie and rust. I am but a steward for the King, till the time of his return, There, that will do, supper at ten; how bright those fresh coals burn." Poor Jasper, he thinks me moping and sad; well, well, I only know I do not wish that he or aught should ever consider me so, It would seem like base ingratitude to the Ruler of my way, Who showers His blessings about and around me every day. But oh, Great Architect, whose hand has carved my destiny, There was a time when in my pride, I owned not Thine nor Thee, Unheeding the Holy Light Divine to man's dark pathway sent, Unheeding the Bible, blessed chart, to storm tossed sailors sent; With a film in my eyes, I would not see the ladder based on earth, Yet reaching to the cloud-crowned height, where the true Light has birth. The beautiful angels passing up, with all our prayers to God, Our tears and moans, our fading flowers, all stained with mire and sod-- And coming down; ah, many a time I have blessed the Lord above, For His pure descending angels, bringing Faith, and Hope, and Love. There was a time when all this wealth of glory was lost on me, And I was like a rudderless ship, far out on the rocking sea, I had a friend, oh that blessed word, we had been parted for years, And I wandered one day to find him, my heart had no cloudy fears. That day stands out in bold relief upon Memory's wreck-strewn shore, Like a beacon light in the lighthouse, undimned by the rush and roar. 'Twas a day in the early June, the clover was red in the field, And the zephyrs garnered the kisses, the gentle violets yield. Birds sang, and the sunshine flickered out and about through the cloud, What had a day like that to do with a pall, a coffin, a shroud? I stood in a flower-decked churchyard, and on the procession came, Why did I ask to be answered back, that his was the sleeper's name, Nearer now to the dark brown earth the band of his brothers turned, And on snowy aprons and collars of blue the merry sunbeams burned, I, like a suddenly petrified stone, stood mid the crowd that day, And with ears which seemed to be leaden, I listened and heard one say:

"Brother, we have met before, Where the Tyler guards the door, We have given the well-known sign, That has blent our souls with thine, Now this eve, thou giv'st no word, Back to our souls deep stired, For the Angel Tylers wait, At thy Lodge Room's mystic gate.

"Brother, thou art taking rest, We must still the wild storm breast, We must build through mist and night, Thou hast seen the quenchless Light, While we hew the shapeless stone, Thou hast bowed before the Throne, While we tread the chequered floor, Thou hast pass'd the golden door.

"Loved Companions, we have given, To the guardianship of Heaven, Our Brother's precious dust, And in memory of the just, Be it ours still to guard, All he loved, with watch and ward, Till like him we reach a shore, Where these sorrows come no more."

"All he loved," I knew as I stood there, he loved not one of that band As we had loved in our boyhood days, heart to heart and hand to hand, They called us David and Jonathan, for our hearts were knit as one, And now I saw him left alone, in the shades of of the dying sun; Was it his spirit beside me stood; for do not their spirits come, Relieved from all burden of earthly dross, and win us up to their home? Was it his spirit urged me on, to seek for the Orient Light? It seemed that I should be nearer him if one in that mystic rite, Never a Syrian ready to perish, needed more timely aid, Never a pilgrim knocked at the door and found more restful shade, Aye, time has carried me on some way, since the hour I saw the light, And morning has gone, noontide has gone, now soon must draw on the night. I heard the young lads in the office talking about me to-day, I did not mean to play the part of eaves-dropper in their way, They were wondering who in the name of fate, I would find for my heir, Wondering why I never was married, there are some so proud and fair, They knew I could have for the asking, and so they went on with their fun, Till the "Senior Partner" gave a cough, and then all their mirth was done. But I asked from Heaven though I know the way is mingled flower and thorn, That not one from partner to porter may bear all I have borne. So Jasper thinks I am sad; how the wintry winds whistle to-night! Heaven grant no poor woman or children are out in this sleety blight. I cannot read this eve; what ails me? "Chronicle," "Tribune" and "Times," Lie looking coaxingly at me, I heed not their prose or rhymes, Is it thinking so much of Arthur, brings Aimee before me here, Aimee, my idol, my darling, my pet, who always spoke words of cheer, Did I say what brings her near me to-night, she is with me every day. God help me, for Aimee's another man's wife three thousand miles away, Oh how we loved! there's no use in talking, all do not love the same, To some 'tis the bread and breath of life, to some it is only a name. We were going to be married the coming spring, we had planned our nest, Down in the fairest of fairy dells, in sight of the blue sea's breast, When Uncle Roy who had sailed to India, many long years before, Gone from the towers of Edinburgh, and made piles of golden store, Sent for me all in a hurry and ere long he died on my breast, And far from the land of the heather we laid him gently to rest. And then came the fever to me, sick and weak at the point of death, Raving for Aimee--they told me 'twas Aimee at every breath. Weeks passed and I woke again one day to breath as it were new air. The crisis over; now health, life, love and myself a millionaire. But Victor Ellis came back no more, I was changed into Victor Roy. Yes, a king with a crown of gold, but the gold was a broken toy, For a letter lay by me from England, a strange hand-writing to me, Telling me Aimee, my star of hope, was lost in the treacherous sea. A party went boating one eve, and the pleasure boat struck the bar, And before any help could be given, Aimee had floated out far. Every available thing was done, that landsman or sailor could try, So fell the burning shower of words that met my bewildered eye. Oh the night at noon, I have wondered oft how much the heart will bear, As strand after strand of the toughened cord, strains with the weight and wear. I felt I must fly, weak as I was, to where she was lying; perhaps 'Twas a merciful Providence after all, that I took a relapse. Oh, the weary months that crawled slowly by at a tortoise creeping pace, I seeming to hear the dash of the waves, that hid a beloved face. Time passed, and I learnt that the roaring sea was not the treacherous thing. 'Twas not the dumb wave, but a living man that turned to Winter my Spring, And Aimee had married another and sought the Australian shore. She must have thought I was dead, Heaven help me, betwixt us ocean's roar. I have sometimes wondered if gold is ever aught but a curse, No, that's wrong--if honestly gained, no harm in a well filled purse, But I often think of the little home standing there by the sea, For far off merry England, the home planned for Aimee and me. Oh to have toiled for her from dawn till the dews of restful night, Her smile my guerdon, her love my prize, her heart so happy and bright. Often I wonder if peace and love have sheltered her with their wings; Of wealth I suppose they have plenty, and the comforts money brings, For Montrose was the heir to a large amount of money I know, And he certainly was not the kind of man to let his money go. But there must be something warmer than gold to brighten Aimee's sky, And I hav'nt much faith in a man who could win such a prize by a lie. But Heaven is good that I found him not when my soul was passion rife, 'Twould only have brought her grief, for my aim was a life for a life, Well-a-day! come here "Chronicle," let us see if you have a word To calm the current of burning thoughts that down to their depths are stirred, I'll read the first thing I meet with, murders, fires, or kingdoms riven; Oh you are the first on the page, "Vera, to her lover in Heaven."

"My lover why is it this night of storms, My thoughts are ever turning to thee? You who are sheltered from all the blast, Hear the murmuring sounds of the crystal sea.

"My lover; do you remember the day, When last my hands were in yours entwined, And the air was faint with the summer flowers, While a roll of thunder came on the wind.

"My lover; who always spoke words of love, The tone of thy voice is so clear but far, A bridge is between us I cannot cross, But God's will stands at each end of the bar.

"My lover; did you with your mist-cleared eyes, See me when I thought you were far away, Did you bring down Hope from your new-found skies, While my heart was breaking over your clay?

"My lover; how long have the seasons been, Since I tried to spell out the small word 'wait,' And learnt to know that your love and life, Grow ever more strong as the years grow late.

"My lover; in dreams of the night you come, Out of God's goodness sent from afar, He arches the barriers for the best, And Christ's love stands at each end of the bar.

"Some day that arch will widen its breadth, There'll be room for two, you'll not come in vain, And over the darkness of weeping and death, We'll be always together, and happy again."

Why did I read these lines, was it only to mock my woe? For less would the burden be and the sin would be less I know, If I knew that my darling was safe and blest where the angels are. Why do I murmur? for God's will stands at each end of the mystic bar. Well, why do I stay here gazing hopelessly into the fire? Watching the coals that glow and burn, then fall away and expire, It seems that out of their flashing light my lost love appears to rise, And another face that has haunted me all day with its wistful eyes As we halted at church to-day; a face, a young girl's face, so sad, Looked out among the crowd that gazed, and her dark eyes made me glad. What strange, queer beings we are, a look, or a song, or a flower, A scent on the air, a sound of the sea, they come with such power, That the long years vanish away, and over death's murky tide Spiritual bodies fearlessly walk, and stand with us side by side. Gone is all distance and time, vanished far is the grave's eclipse. Again sweet voices are in our ears, their breath upon our lips, So, with that poor, strange child to-day, who has never heard Aimee's name, Little she thought that her earnest eyes rekindled a smouldering flame. There was an old familiar look of the happy days once fled, An old familiar look of one that I love as we love the dead. Love her? love Aimee? do I love her less, because since I kissed her last Over my desolate heart the tides of twenty-five years have passed? I am longing to-night to hear her hymn, her sweet "Abide with me," As she sang it, leaning upon my breast the night I put out to sea. I know it was only she I loved, and thought of that eventide; But now I can fully endorse the draft, "O Lord with me abide," And spite of the heavy clouds that hang o'er my life path near and far, I own with Vera that "Christ's love stands at each end of the mystic bar," And so much of the desert life has been travelled by night and day, That the shores of the summer land are not so very far away. And although I know there is one dark sea where black waves heave and toss, I know the Pilot who waits for me will carry me safely across. My path down to that water's edge is one avenue of pines; But though I walk amid shadows dim, o'erhead the bright sun shines.

ROBERT'S DEATH

Heavily rolleth the wintry clouds, And the ceaseless snow is falling, falling, While the frost king's troops in their icy shrouds Whistle and howl like lost spirits calling.

In a scantily furnished tenement room. Through which the same frost troops are sighing, Churlishly gloweth the charcoal flame, While a man lies there in penury dying.

Nothing new on this beautiful earth, Are hunger and nakedness, cold and pain, Over God's sinless creation of love The serpent glides with his poisonous train.

"Where is Aimee?" here I lie all alone in this wretched hole, I who was reared as a gentleman's son, an aristocrat to the soul, Could drink more wine at my father's board than the best man out of a score; Rode with the hounds at ten years old, and played high in a few years more. A man can live without love, but he can't get along without gold, And a woman and child sadly hamper a fellow that's poor or old. How can a gentleman work and toil year after year like a slave? For when you've worked your life away you're asked, "Why did not you save?" Not that I would reproach my wife, I daresay she has done her best; But women can earn such a trifle, and grow weak if they lose their rest. Not that Aimee has ever grumbled, and I am not to be blamed, If she choose to work and stitch away from morn till the sunset flamed; And just the course of my crooked luck, that if but one child we had, The boy must go and the girl must stay; that boy was a likely lad, Would have been nineteen if he'd lived, might be earning a good sum now, For Willie was something like me, wide awake, had a sensible brow; But Ethel, poor child, her mother again lives in a world of her own, Sees faces in flowers, hears voices in winds, reads poems from chiselled stone. I certainly havn't had the best of luck, I've tried in different lands, And, as I said, it's a drag to have others upon your hands. 'Twas a most disappointing thing, of course, when that old aunt died at Ayr, And only one hundred pounds was left to Aimee, her rightful heir; Not that I married Aimee for wealth, but I thought it just as sure, That grand estate, to think of it all, and I lying here so poor. Ah, I want some brandy! I must have something to make me feel more strong. Brandy! it is money, and life, and health; what makes Aimee stay so long? Oh, here you are, make up more fire; I should think you're warm enough Walking about, let me have that shawl, to-night will be wild and rough. I must have some more spirit to keep me up, not that I heed the lie, The doctor told you this morning that before very long I must die. I expect, if I had some of the gold your old aunt used to keep, He would manage to raise me up all right--you think I had better sleep, You think me ungrateful, perhaps; reach some brandy and then you'll see How more than grateful I am, what a pattern of patience I'll be. No money, no means, the last thing's gone, and Ethel and you in need! Well, you must have managed badly enough with only two mouths to feed, For you can't count me as much, the little support I take, A little stimulant now and then, swallowed only for your sake. Aimee, I must have some now--nothing left? what is that glittering thing? Aimee, you dear one, dispose of that; of what use is our wedding ring? Don't be cross for the sake of the child, you say, why you angel dear, Who would ever doubt you, so good, so true, you have nothing to fear. And then you're always trusting in God, and surely he would approve Of your selling your wedding ring for him that you've sworn to love? I wish that wind would stop howling, it says such queer things to me, Wake up, little Ethel, and send her before it's too dark to see If that old fraud of a pawnbroker gives her the change all right. Aimee, send quickly, I feel so strange; oh, I dread this coming night. I never murdered that man out there, away on the western plains; And yet there are spots of blood on the floor, they can't wash out the stains. What is it the lawyers call it? "Accessory to the fact?" Ha! ha! old boy, I was wide awake; they could not catch me in the act, So we put that poor young fool of a lad, just out from the motherland, Made him just drunk enough to fight when we needed a helping hand; A helping hand with a bowie knife and a corpse to be stowed away, We were sober enough not to be on hand when called upon next day. Who's that? Who are you? Stop! stop! coming whispering into my ear, "There are other judges, other law courts, and I have cause to fear." How the ship struggles and reels--all right--is this the Australian shore? No, sandbars and reefs; will they never stop those confounded breaker's roar? Aimee, what is it? Take that stuff? I will if 'twill make me sleep. I cannot rest; shall I never be quiet; hark how the wild winds sweep. No, Victor, no; you got the money, and that was enough for you. Did you think I was fool enough, man, to let you have Aimee too? Aimee, come here and whisper to me; what does the judgment mean? Judgment and conscience.--Look, look, there's Victor grinning behind the screen! Victor in heaven this many a year? I tell you it is no such thing. Aimee, you were dead once--were drowned--did you hear the mermaids sing? I say you were drowned one night, when the pleasure boat struck the bar, And before any help could come you had floated out deep and far. Every available thing was done that sailor or landsman could try; But you could not be found--I guess not--so of course you had to die. Hav'nt I a remarkable memory? these were the words I wrote: "Every available thing was done by sailor or landsman afloat." So Victor knows all about it--there! there he is coming again; No! no! we are'nt here, we're away on the southern Indian main. Who calls me? Who wants me? I cannot go into that wild dark land. Somebody, help! Is this death? Don't touch me with that cold hand. Aimee, don't leave me; oh say, have the officers found me at last? Tell me--I think it's the medicine I took that makes me dream of the past-- Oh, will they believe me up there, in the clear bright rays of the sun, That shows all the by-gone years of a life, the crimes a man has done? Will nobody stop that horrid wind? it creeps right into my heart, It seems to mutter, and groan and shriek: "Come, it is time to depart. There's a broad dark sea before me; help, Aimee, the waters are deep! I want a pilot--I cannot steer--I am sinking--let--me--sleep."

Bloweth the storm more cheerlessly still, And the setting sun has a sickly hue, As if he foresaw the falling tears, As if all the sorrows of earth he knew.

Heavily stealeth an hour or two, And mid the noise of the city's din, No one noticed the tenement room "As two passed out where but one went in."

For, lieth a dead man behind the door, Closed between him and the outer strife, And a weeping woman and clinging girl Look upon death, and look out upon life.

Almost fainting with suffering and grief; Alone, unknown, in a stranger land, Mother and daughter have knelt to pray As men pray wrecked on a rocky strand.

Churlishly gloweth the charcoal flame, Mother and child with hearts almost broke, Clasped in each other's embrace of love, Checking her sorrow, sweet Ethel spoke:

To whom has God sent aid? To the lone widow's home the prophet came, For a few frightened men the wild sea slept, For one poor servant flashed the glowing flame, Where angels in their martial glory stepped Out from the shade.

Not for proud Miriam's king Rolled back the billows of the deep Red sea; For helpless women, children, unarmed men, The 'Fourth Man' walked to shield the flame-girt three; For one, St. Michael, paced the lion's den, God's help to bring.

Mother, is He not near, Who had not where to rest His tired head? Who, in the dreary wilderness alone, Hungry and faint, had none to give Him bread; Listening t' the damp wind's low and sullen moan O'er nature's bier."

"My child, my comforter, in this dark hour of love Thy faith and trust in God is like the pole star's glow To some benighted sailor; yes, e'en now a thought Has come to me like light from dawning sunbeam brought. My father, Ethel, was a Mason; ere he died He called me to him, and kneeling at his side, Gave me a jewel, charged me with his dying breath Never to give it up except for life or death, For when at last he died we were almost alone, And stranger's ears were those which heard his dying moan, The hands of strangers robed him for the grave, The feet of strangers laid him where the cedars wave. Weary, he had left England for the balmy breath Of summer climes he found fierce pain and death. I was his joy, his all on earth, for the dark hour That gave me breath took home his purest flower. And I have never known what means that place of rest, The sweeetest home on earth, a living mother's breast. All the night long, in which my father died, He kept me close beside him, oft he vainly tried To tell me about something, ever and anon He'd speak about his brothers--I knew he had none-- Then in faint accents he would say, 'When I am cold Tell them I left a lamb outside the fold.' 'Tell whom?' I cried. 'My brothers.' Then he'd fall asleep, And I supposed him wandering and would weep. A year or so before we spent a happy time On bonnie Scotland's hills of heather and wild thyme, And oft we watched the shepherd tending flocks of sheep In the soft grassy vales, or up the mountain steep, And sweet were the life lessons that I often took From that unsullied page of nature's open book. There came to me through that fair, hallowed summer scene, Bright glowing visions of the fadeless pastures green, And clearer views of One I trust my soul will keep, That sinless, Holy Shepherd of the helpless sheep. And so I thought when father moaned amid his pain, 'I leave an orphan lamb;' he had gone back again Through the fierce fevers, annihilating flight, To valley of the blue bell, or the heath crowned height. But, suddenly there came one quick and conscious gleam Of light with its belongings; that transforming beam Lit up the past a moment, then its God-sent light Flashed up the path he travelled. No more tears, no night Was there for him, he said, only love is shining day, And calling on his young wife's name he passed away. Ethel, I've been so hungry often, and so chill, And what is ten times worse, have seen you faint and ill, And never yet have I foresworn my pledge; but now Our duty to the dead must plead my broken vow. Ethel, if my loved Father is with us to-night, Will he not stamp forgiveness on this dead as right? Perhaps in the morning light this howling storm will stay Its fury, and God please to open up our way. So we can lay our dead in quiet rest at last, Then we, my child, go forth and dare the world's cold blast."

"Mother, oh let me tell Something I saw to-day: I went for bread; But when I came to pass the church, my way Was stopped by a procession, a neighbor said It was St. John's loved Festival, a day Masons keep well.

And while we were delayed She spoke of one who had kind words for all, She said his name was Roy, told me his home; He could'nt have heard her, yet he looked at me So strangely, yet so kindly, that my thoughts will roam To him for aid.

Yes, mother; yes, to-night, Trust me with that Masonic jewel, I Will keep it safe; perhaps this very man May know of some one who would like to buy, At least he'll let me know its worth, I can But do the right.

Mother, deny me not, I'll go as "Esther went unto the king, God will protect me if the night is wild; Perhaps some bright ray of sunshine I may bring, Pray that good angels may surround your child, And guard her lot."

Ethel's Mission.

Out in the blinding and pitiless sleet, The young girl goes on her errand blest; She starts at each sound on the lonely street, As she longs for, but dares not dream of rest.

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