University of Virginia Library

5. CHAPTER V.

Vexed, cross, discomfitted and sullen, our hero arrived
at the tavern he had left in the morning with such high
hopes, nay, with such certainty of success in the application,
the fate of which is recorded in the last chapter.

Think not, reader, that I am admitting any thing derogatory
to the talents of my hero by describing his failure, or
rather want of success, in his attempt to get employed by
a paltry school committee. By no means. Who is to say
that it was not a fit of sheer caprice in these conceited
wights of village greatness, that led to his rejection? Again,
as “it requires wit to find out wit,” who shall decide that
it was not their ignorance instead of his that produced
that hapless result? But, admit that it was not,—admit
that they were right in considering Timothy not well calculated
for the business of instruction, does it follow that
this must necessarily go in disparagement of his abilities—
of his genius—of his heroic qualities? Why, Marlborough,
whose military achievements constitute so bright an era
in England's glory—even the great Marlborough, could
never have made a school-master. And Newton,—think
you Newton could have ever become a Garrick in theatrics—a
Sheridan in eloquence, or a Burns in poesy? Greatness
does not consist in being great or excellent in every
thing, nor does talent, to be of the highest order, require
that its possessor should excel in all he may happen to undertake.
The farmer, the mechanic, or even the horse-jockey,
who displays uncommon dexterity or superior management
in the business of his occupation, may be said to
be a man of talents.

Having now disposed of this point to my own satisfaction,
and to yours also, I presume, gentle reader, I will
proceed with my narrative.

No sooner had Timothy entered the bar-room of the inn
above mentioned, than he was hailed by the landlord, who

was called Captain Joslin. “Well, friend,” said he, “what
luck? Have you got the place, and come back to practice
at the school-master's walk, &c. awhile before you appear
among your scholars?” Timothy at first felt a little disinclined
to relate the result of his journey to the village, but
finding his host kindly anxious to know what had befallen
him to cause such dejection in his looks, he at length
frankly related the whole proceeding, attributing his failure
to a cause which few, I think, who rightly appreciate
his capacities, will doubt to be the true one, viz: the inability
of the committee to comprehend the depth and bearing
of his answers and observations, adding that he had
become so perfectly disgusted with school committee-men
that he doubted whether he could ever again bring his
mind to make another application of the kind. “Ah,”
said the Captain, “I was rather fearful when you went
from here that you would not be able to do much with the
big-bugs there in the village; besides, people are mighty
particular in these parts about their school-masters: It
an't here as it is in Massachusetts and York State. Why,
they turned off our master last winter only because my boy,
Jock, who was fourteen last sugarin'-time, treed him in a
sum in Double Position—though to be sure we don't often
get taken in so.—But as to yourself, what do you propose
to drive at now for a living?”

This question brought matters to the point on which Timothy
had determined to consult the landlord: He therefore
candidly told his host his exact situation, and asked
his advice on the subject.

“I thought likely,” observed the landlord, “that this
might be the case with you; and I have been thinking,
friend, as you appear to be a kind of honest, free-spoken
fellow, besides being stout and able-bodied for business,
that you are about such a chap as I should like myself to
employ a few months—say till after next harvesting. I
have a farm and keep a team, as you see. Now what say
you to hiring out to me for about ten dollars a month or so,

to work mostly on the farm, but tend bar when I am absent,
or at other times, perhaps, when business is not very pressing?”

This kind proposal, although not quite a fair equivalent
for a salaried professorship, or the gubernatorial chair of
Vermont, came nevertheless at this dark hour of his prospects,
as the sun of light and comfort to the soul of our
hero; and with that facility, with which great minds always
conform to circumstances, he cheerfully acceded to
the proposition of Captain Joslin. All the articles of the
compact were then discussed and ratified on the spot; and
both parties appeared well satisfied with the bargain. It
is unnecessary, perhaps, to detail the events of the few first
days in which Timothy was introduced into the business
of his employer; suffice it to say, that after becoming an
inmate in the Captain's family, he soon began to feel cheerful
and contented, and such was his alacrity in business,
and his sprightliness and buoyancy in companionship, that
he shortly became a favorite, not only in his employer's
family, but in all the immediate neighborhood. But capacities
like his could not long remain concealed by the obscurity
of such employment. In this situation he had lived
about a month, when one day he received an invitation
to go to the raising of a large barn frame in an adjoining
town. He accordingly attended the raising; and during
the performance, often attracted the attention of the company
by his activity in handling the light timbers, as well
as by the free good will with which he put his shoulder to
the broad-side. After the raising of the building was completed,
and the bottle had several times circulated, the company
broke from the drinking circle, and gathering into
small clubs about in different places, commenced telling
stories, singing songs, cracking jokes, and discussing various
subjects according to the age and tastes of the parties.
Our hero happening to be passing one of these little collections,
heard them discussing the subject of Freemasonry—some
ridiculing it as a “great big nothing,” as they
were pleased to term it—others denouncing it as a dangerous

institution, and yet others defending it. This was
enough to arrest his attention, and arouse his feelings; for
he was born, it may be said, with an innate sympathy for
that noble institution; and he immediately pushed his way
into the circle, and so earnestly took up the cudgels in defence
of the slandered order, that he soon triumphantly
vanquished his opponents, and was left master of the field.
Having, by this time, drawn a considerable crowd about
him, and being still full of the subject on which he had
now become thoroughly excited, his natural inclination for
spouting came upon him too strong to be resisted; and
mounting a bunch of new shingles that lay near him, he
elevated his fine form, and after pitching his voice by the
usual h-e-ms and h-a-ms, thus addressed the listening
crowd around him:

“Friends, Countrymen, and Fellow Barn-Raisers:

“In all my longitudinal meanderings from the town
of Mugwump, the place of my native developement, to
the territorial summits of the Green-Mountain wilderness,
I have never heard such scandalous exasperations and calumniated
opinions protruded against the magnificent marvelosity
of Masonry. Having been instilled from the earliest
days of my juvenile infancy to look upon that celestial
transportation of Masonry with the most copious veneration,
is it any wonderful emergency that I am filled with
the most excruciating indignation in hearing these traducities
against an institution of such amphibious principles
and concocted antiquity? And here I exalt my prophecy
that unless you expunge such disgusting sentimentalities,
and put down such illiterate falsifications, they will hetrodox
the whole popular expansion, till they entirely stop the
velocity of civilization: For there is no other preparative
that can exalt a people from their heathenish perplexities,
and confer rank and distinguishment like the luminous invention
of Freemasonry. Then again, behold its useful
commodity! Look at that compendious barn-frame! Was
it not conglemerated by the square and compass? and are
not these emblements extracted from the intelligence of

Masonry? Let me then concentrate my propensities to
warn you to lay aside your reprobate infringements, lest
you, and all your cotemporary posterity, be deprived of the
civilized embellishments and incomprehensible advantages
of that superfluous fraternity.”

He ceased, and his speech was followed with bursts of
applauding laughter by many, by exclamations of admiration
by some, and by expressions of wonder and surprise
by all. It will be said, perhaps, by those astute antimasonic
carpers, who, in these degenerate days, scruple not to
condemn the choicest specimens of masonic composition
because they are often wholly incapable of comprehending
them,—it will be said, perhaps, by such, that this impassioned
little burst of eloquence is not original in my hero;
that it is borrowed from some masonic orator. This I wholly
deny; but while I claim entire originality for this impromptu
effort, I am free to confess the resemblance which
might lead to such a conclusion; and, indeed, not a little
proud should our hero feel of a performance which, by its
similarity of style, diction, and lucid and conclusive manner
of argumentation, is liable to be mistaken for one of
those monuments of extraordinary eloquence that, in the
shape of twenty-fourth of June orations, have thrown such
a halo of light and glory around the mystic temple.

But the temporary applause which Timothy received on
this occasion, was of little consequence compared with the
subsequent honors of which this little performance seemed
to be the moving cause. Scarcely had he descended from
his rustic rostrum when he was eagerly seized by the hand
by a person who heartily congratulated him on his speech.
Timothy having before seen the man, whose name was
Jenks, at Joslin's, and become somewhat acquainted, soon
fell into a low, confidential sort of conversation with him
on the subject of the speech, when the latter observed, that
from a certain circumstance (not returning the grip probably)
he concluded that Timothy was not a Mason; and,
on being told that such was the case, enquired why he did
not join the lodge, at the same time adding that he had

never before met with a person who, he thought, would
make a brighter Mason. Timothy then asked Jenks if he
should advise any one to join. “Why,” replied the latter,
“we never advise any body to join us; but I can tell you
that you little dream of what you will lose if you don't.”
To this Timothy replied that he had long been determined
on becoming a Mason as soon as his circumstances would
admit, but at present he had no money to spare for the purpose,
besides he had certain objections to appearing in the
village where he supposed he should have to go if he joined
at this time. Jenks however removed all these objections
by informing Timothy that they had a lodge in that
town, and that a note would answer as well as money for
the initiation fee. On hearing this, our hero at once accepted
the offer that the other now made, to propose him
at the next lodge meeting, which was that very night.
Jenks then went and procured pen, ink and paper, and
writing a note of the required sum, and an application in
due form, brought them to Timothy to sign, at the same
time explaining the necessity of this measure. These being
signed, it was arranged that Timothy should come in
just four weeks, and calling on Jenks at his residence, they
should both proceed together to the place at which the
proposed initiation was to take place. When this interesting
negociation was concluded, our hero proceeded homewards
with a bosom swelling with pride and expectation.
His step was lighter, his head was held higher, and a new
impulse seemed to have been given to his whole energies;
for he felt conscious that the coming occasion was to constitute
a new era in his destinies.

How slowly to our hero the tedious days of the next
month rolled away! It seemed to him that the eventful day
that was to unfold to his view the mighty mysteries of Masonry,
would never arrive. Long before the time came he
had procured the sum requisite for his initiation, and being
now fully prepared for that important event, he ardently
longed to see the hour at hand. His whole soul became
engrossed in the overwhelming subject by day, and by

night it was the burden of his dreamy imaginings. Once,
in particular, his dream became a vision of striking distinctness,
and prophetic import. He saw a vast throne in
the clouds, on each side of which extended a broad vapory
parapet. A mighty King sat upon the throne, with a shining
mitre, covered with mystic symbols, on his head, while
an innumerable host of aproned worshippers stood around
him ready to do his bidding. While our hero gazed on the
splendid spectacle, a ladder was let down to his feet; and
he mounted it step by step, till he reached the very seat of
the Great Puissant, there enthroned in light and glory ineflable.
When the King, taking the crown from his own
head, placed it on the head of our hero and descended,
exclaiming, “Hail, O Grand King! High and mighty art
thou among our followers on earth! Let the faithful worship
thee! So mote it be—So mote it be, forever amen,
amen!” While the last word was canght up by the multitude
of surrounding worshippers, till the long echoes, reverberating
through the welkin in peals of vocal thunder,
returned to the ears of our enthroned dreamer, and dispelled
the magnificent vision from his enraptured senses.