March 14, 1901. 



AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL 



171 



Mr. E.J. Baxter and his Home Apiary, of Hancock Co., III. — See page /^>j. 



Journal. It will be my earnest hope and determined effort 

 to bring into it something each week that may happily 

 quicken joy and lessen grief. May I not hope to have the 

 aid of all our readers in making this department something 

 that will be lookt forward to, week by week, as precious to 

 those who even may not longer have interest in the apiary ? 



A. J. Cook. 



MAXIMS FOR THE HOME CIRCLE. 



I copy the following from the " Intelligencer." I know 

 nothing of this paper, its editor, or whereabouts, but I do 

 know that if it has much like the following it is certainly 

 rightly named. As I read over the following, " How to 

 Make Happy Homes," the methodist in me (and I claim to 

 have not a little) gave forth a most hearty " Amen." As I 

 read it laterabout the " home circle," I found the " Amens" 

 came twice-repeated. 



1st. — " Learn to govern yourselves and to be gentle 

 and patient." 



What could we covet more wisely for our children than 

 that they follow this maxim ? The best way to secure this 

 is to follow it ourselves. A man who kicks or strikes his 

 cow is bequeathing to his children a very questionable heri- 

 tage. I know a man who once moved, I think, as many as 

 twenty times during a milking, and every time with a 

 gentle " So, boss," and a more gentle press of the teat. 

 The poor cow had a deep sore on the nipple. To have 

 whipt and scolded would have been rank cruelty. Such an 

 exhibition before a child would have been a grievous blun- 

 der. I know of a father who lived to be 85 years old. He 

 was a fine example of physicial energy and had an impetu- 

 ous spirit, and yet tho I knew him very intimately, I never 

 heard him utter a word that favored in the least of harsh- 

 ness to the dear, loving companion who was indeed a true 

 helpmeet. I know a boy, tho hardly now a boy, for he is 

 on the 30 side of the 20's, who tho he has the same spirit 

 and temperament of the man just mentioned, yet I never 

 knew him to lose his temper or show impatience. His par- 

 ents told him as soon as he could understand that it was 

 manly to govern one's self. They acted their teachings as 

 far as possible. Need I say that the result has made glad 

 hearts ? 



2d — "Guard j'our tempers, especially in seasons of ill 

 health, irritation, and trouble, and soften them by prayer 

 and a sense of your own shortcomings and errors. Remem- 

 ber that valuable as is the gift of speech, silence is often 

 more valuable." 



That is good advice. A home where such counsel pre- 

 vails is a glad presence in any neighborhood. Who of us 

 has not regretted with anguish of heart the angry word, or 

 the irritated demeanor ? How gladsome in the home is the 

 temper that is ever controlled. How fortunate the one who 

 can lay hold of silence when to speak is to wound. Even 

 the bees resent the nervous, irritating mein. 



3d. — " Do not expect too much from others, but remem- 

 ber that all have an evil nature whose development we 



must expect, and that we 

 should forbear and forgive, 

 as we often desire forbear- 

 ance and forgiveness our- 

 selves." 



I will only add to this 

 Christ's incomparable 

 words — "Father, forgive 

 them for they know not 

 what they do." 



4th. — " Never retort a 

 sharp or angry word. It is 

 the second word that makes 

 thequarrels." This is hard- 

 ly more than the 1st and 

 2d. Government of self and 

 temper controlled, will al- 

 ways stay the angry word. 

 The quarrel is never man- 

 ly, and we do well to re- 

 member that it always 

 takes two to make one. 



5th. — "Beware of the 

 first disagreement." 



What betteradvice than 

 this could be given the 

 twain who are just form- 

 ing the home circle ? 

 I 6th — "Learn to speak in a gentle tone of voice." We 



can hardly understand how much seeming trifles like the 

 ! voice-tone have to do with character. The description of 

 i Cordelia in Lear— " Her voice was gentle, soft, and low— 

 an excellent thing in woman," is suggestive. A low tone, 

 even in times of excitement, will generally effect more 

 than bluster. Nervous and excitable children, especially, 

 should be urged to gentle speech for it will surely bear fruit 

 in character. 



7th. — "Learn to say kind and pleasant things when- 

 ever opportunity offers." In other words, " Blessed are 

 the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of 

 God." 



8th.— Study the character of each and sympathize with 

 all in their troubles, however small. 



We may couple with this, " Inasmuch as ye have done 

 it to one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me." 



9th.—" Do not neglect little things if they can affect 

 the comfort of others in the smallest degree." 



Who has not seen homes that were constantly all aglow 

 with little, thoughtful acts ? 



10th.— "Avoid moods and pets and fits of sulkiness." 

 If anything would convert us to the theory of the brute 

 ancestry of man, it vs-ould be to see him in the sulks. 

 11th. — " Learn to deny yourself and prefer others." 

 This was the very essence of Christ's whole life and 

 teachings. 



12th. — " Beware of meddlers and tale-bearers." 

 I would add. Let us be very careful that we do not 

 join their gruesome company. 



13th.—" Never conceive a bad motive if a good one is 

 conceivable." 



Could we do otherwise if we obey the Golden Rule? 

 14th. — "Be gentle and firm with children." 

 I will add that if anything will keep a child in the 

 right way it is that sacred thing— the mother-love. God 

 pity the child who is bereft of it. 



15th.—" Do not allow your children to be away from 

 home at night without knowing where they are." 



Is it not wise, also, to be with them ourselves ? Their 

 fullest confidence will prevent much mischief. 



16th.— "Do not allow the children to go where they 

 please on Sunday." 



I know from a blessed experience that a home that is 

 made to hold the children on Sunday will ever have their 

 reverent gratitude. The home circle ought to keep the 

 children at night and on Sunday. 



17th— "Don't furnish them with much spending money." 

 I have known many college boys ruined by a plethory 

 of greenbacks. I have known many to be made magnifi- 

 cent men by the stringency of hard fortune. To the man 

 who hands out money in fullest measure to his son, I would 

 simply say, " Don't." 



HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS REQUESTED. 



I shall welcome hints for the home, recipes for table 

 articles, and any other helpful suggestions. 



