  A Noted Character and Pioneer in the Eastern Part of Essex County, Big Mike was a giant Canadian Who never was known to do A mean or unmanly action; His great heart was kind and true. He loved with a steadfast devotion The friends of his early youth; And he fearlessly did his duty, And as fearlessly spoke the truth. He was a terror to evil-doers, But a friend to the poor and old: Big Mike had a home of plenty, And a heart as good as gold. He was one of nature’s noblemen, One of Canada’s pioneers; A specimen grand of true manhood, Honored by fulness of years. He hewed him a home from the forest— Who has heard not of Big Mike’s fame As an axeman and famous hunter Of the red deer and savage game? Yet his was a kindly nature, Tender and void of guile; His friends and neighbors all loved him, And sought his approving smile. He loved “this Canada of ours,” And the grand old “Union Jack;” And traitors did well to keep shady When Big Mike located their track. With an ever unswerving purpose, He never was known to fail; In pursuit of a worthy object He never relinquished the trail. When rebellion was in our borders, Prepared for the coming fray, He shouldered his trusty rifle, And to the frontier marched away. And bravely he did his duty With his manly breast to the foe; He was every inch a soldier In those days that tried men so. Big Mike heard voices in nature That appealed to his thoughtful soul— The sounds of the winds in the night-time, And the thunder’s mighty roll; The drip of the rain, and the sunshine, And the shadows that fall between The golden sunset and twilight hours, And the beauty of night serene. The songs of birds, the humming of bees, The flowers that bloom by the way, And the awesome tones of the forest, Through the distance dim and gray. The rill, the streamlet, and river, That murmuringly onward flow; The hills, and the towering mountains, Cloud-capped in eternal snow. The splendor of the starry ways, And the awful solitude, The frightful voids and the spaces vast, The mystery of infinitude! And all things that God hath created, From the sea to the tiniest flower, Were a source of proof and assurance Of divine and mighty power. Being wedded to one he loved dearly, Time’s changes could never destroy Their mutual love for each other; And ’twas ever a source of joy. But the years that are swiftly going Bear man’s joys and sorrows away, And his youth and his manhood’s vigor, Remorselessly to decay. The summer to autumn was merging When the wife took ill and died; As by a tempest he was shaken, Uncontrollably the strong man cried. Somehow Big Mike was never the same From that irreparable day; And he strangely weary and silent grew, And his look was far away. Over the fields, by the nooks and ways That had blest his early life so, As in a dream with her so loved, He silently went to and fro. Sometimes with his trusty rifle He sought for the lurking game; But, lost forever the incentive, The hunting was never the same. And all aimlessly he wandered Through the forest gray and dim, Through the stately and awesome forest, That was ever so dear to him. The old friends, concerned for his welfare, Said, “Why don’t you get wedded again?” But Big Mike raised his stately head, And a look as of nameless pain Spread over his grand and honest face, As he said (with voice full of tears), “I loved my wife when she was but a child— I have loved her all these years— Aye, and I love her supremely still— And far more precious to me Is the grass that grows on her quiet grave Than another can ever be. “My heart is laid in her lonesome tomb, And there will be no change in me; Faithful in life and faithful in death, And through all eternity.” And there came a day when Big Mike sat By the shore of the soundless sea; There calmly waiting to launch away Into endless eternity. Then they laid him by his dear one’s side, Where above them the grass doth grow; And the sighing winds, and the sobbing rain, And the seasons that come and go Are all unheeded by Big Mike now. Ah! ’tis seldom his like is seen; Put a fadeless wreath on his silent brow, Keep his mem’ry ever green. |
|
