96 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



Feb. 1 



brooder was brought in every night, and 

 placed up on a high work-bench in the wood- 

 shed, doors all closed, of course. Well, this 

 morning, although the basket looked all right 

 on the outside, I found six more mutilated 

 chickens and two more missing entirely; and 

 now we have only seven left of that beautiful 

 flock of over 70". I have written two edi- 

 torials about rats during the past year, and I 

 notice Ernest has another one in our last is- 

 sue, and yet I have been so stupid as to al- 

 low rats to get the most of my poor remnant 

 of chickens. It seems I have abundant use, 

 of late, for my little prayer, "Lord, help me 

 to learn the lessons tnou art trying to teach 

 me." Since I seem called to hunt up and 

 trace out the hindrances to successful poul- 

 try culture I will try to learn by experience, 

 and thank God the experience is sent to me 

 rather than to some one who is less able to 

 bear it. Mrs. Root suggests that my method 

 of feeding invites rats and other vermin to 

 our premises, and thinks we shall have to 

 stop leaving grain all the time right before 

 the fowls. I have been using all summer 

 (in Ohio) a patented feeder and exerciser, 

 warranted to head off rats, English sparrows, 

 and every thing else. It worked all right 

 for a while; but the sparrows soon learned 

 to come in droves and get right down among 

 the fowls, and grab every grain of wheat the 

 chickens rattled down until they were satis- 

 fied; then the chickens could get their fill. 

 I don't see why rats might not do the same. 

 At present a cheap tin can, something like 

 an extractor-can, tall enough so no rat can 

 jump in and out, seems to be the only rem- 

 edy; but in this case some of the hens seem 

 slow to learn where to go for feed, and thus 

 go hungry. After this you may be sure all 

 my small chickens will be kept nights in a 

 box covered with inch poultry-netting. We 

 are just now making a "rat-proof" brooder 

 house 8x14 feet. This will be so made that 

 it can be all closed up frosty mornings, let- 

 ting the sunshine in through windows on the 

 south side. We do have a little frost here 

 sometimes. Two nights during the past week 

 the water froze in a pail out by the pump so 

 it took quite a little push with the finger to 

 break it. This is, however, the coldest 

 weather here for many years — Wesley 

 thinks the coldest since the great freeze of 

 1895. 



* Just think of it (if you have had no similar experi- 

 ence', buying baby-chick food, boiled eggs, and meat 

 from the butcher's, in order to have them "just get up 

 and dust," and then when almost three weeks old, and 

 just fairly past the critical time in a chick's life, to have 

 some greedy "varmint" not only eat up the best of 

 them but kill and wound a great lot he could not eat 

 and had no use for! Never mind; it's a pretty bitter 

 " skule," but we are learning. 



I have been reading GLEANINGS for a few years, and 

 it is packed full of good things from cover to cover. I 

 inclose a clipping that I thought you would like to 

 place before your readers. 



Goflfstown, N. H., Dec. 8. G. W. SANDERS. 



WHO ARE THE GUILTY ONES? 



"Prisoner at the bar,'' said the judge, "have you 

 any thing to say why sentence of death should not be 

 passed upon you? " 



A solemn hush fell over the crowded court-room, 

 and every person waited in almost breathless expecta- 

 tion for the answer to that question. 



The judge waited in dignified silence. Not a whis- 

 per was heard anywhere, and the situation became 

 painfully oppressive. 



Then the prisoner was seen to move. His head was 

 raised, his liands clinched, while the blood rushed to 

 his pale, care-worn face. Suddenly he arose to his 

 feet, and in a low but firm voice said: 



"I have, your honor. You have asked me a ques- 

 tion; and I now ask, as a last favor on earth, that you 

 will not interrupt my answer until I am through. 



"I stand before this bar, convicted of the willful 

 murder of my wife. Truthful witnesses have testified 

 to the fact that I was a loafer, a drunkard, and a 

 wretch; that I returned from one of my prolonged de- 

 bauches and fired the fatal shot which killed the wife 

 I had sworn to love, cherish, and protect. 



" While I have no remembrance of committing the 

 fatal deed, I have no right to complain nor to con- 

 demn the verdict of the twelve good men who have 

 acted as jury in this case, for their verdict is in ac- 

 cordance with the evidence which I have heard. 



" But, may it please the court, I wish to show that I 

 am not alone responsible for the murder of my wife." 

 This startling statement created a tremendous sen- 

 sation. The judge leaned over the desk, the lawyers 

 wheeled around and faced the prisoner, while the ju- 

 rors looked at each other in amazement. 



■The prisoner paused a moment, and then continued 

 in the same distinct voice: 



" Yes, I repeat it. I am not the only one guilty of the 

 murder of my wife. The judge on this bench, the ju- 

 ry in the box, the lawyers within this bar, and most of 

 tiie witnesses, including the pastor of the old church, 

 are also guilty, before Almighty God, and will have to 

 stand with me before his judgment throne, where we 

 shall all be righteously judged for all our thoughts, 

 words, and deeds. 



" If there had not been saloons in my town I should 

 not have become a drunkard, my wife would not have 

 been murdered, and I should not be here now, ready 

 to be hurled into eternity. Had it not been for these 

 human traps I should have been a sober man, an in- 

 dustrious workman, a tender father, and a loving hus- 

 band. But to-day my home is destroyed, my little 

 children cast out on to the world, while I am to be 

 hanged by the strong arm of the state. 



" God knows I have tried to reform, and prayed for 

 strength to withstand the /zcenserf temptation; but so 

 long as the open saloon was in my pathway my weak 

 and diseased will power was no match against the 

 fearful, agonizing, consuming appetite for drink. 



" For one year our town was without a saloon. I 

 was one of those who signed the remonstrance against 

 the reopening of saloons in our town. One-half of 

 this jury, the prosecuting attorney on this case, and 

 the judge who sits on this bench, all voted for the sa- 

 loons. By their votes and influence saloons were re- 

 opened, and they have helped to make me what I am.' 

 The impassioned words of the prisoner fell like 

 coals of fire upon the hearts of those present. The 

 judge made a motion as if to stop further speech; but 

 the prisoner hastily said, "Your honor, I am nearly 

 through. Do not close my lips." Then he resumed: 



" I began my downward career at a saloon bar, li- 

 censed and protected by the voters of this town. Had 

 it not been for the license voters, the saloons which 

 have wrecked my life and destroyed my home would 

 not have existed. After the saloons you have estab- 

 lished have made me a drunkard and a murderer I am 

 taken before another bar, the bar of justice, and now 

 the law power will conduct me to the place ef execu- 

 tion, and hasten my soul into eternity. I shall appear 

 before another bar then— the judgment-bar of God. 



" And there you who have licensed the traffic must 

 appear with me. Think you that the great Judge will 

 hold me, the poor weak victim of your saloons, alone 

 responsible for the murder of my wife? Nay! I, in 

 my drunken, frenzied, irresponsible condition, have 

 murdered one; but you have deliberately voted for the 

 saloons which have murdered thousands; and these 

 saloons are in full operation to-day with your consent. 

 "You licensed the saloons which made me a mur- 

 derer. I am the logical product of your own votes, 

 and you are guilty with me, before God and man, for 

 the murder of my wife. 



" I stand here to-day a condemned murderer, only 

 one of a million, the product of licensed-saloon votes. 

 Let your conscience condemn you who have voted for 

 the rum-shops. There is a remedy, and every sensi- 

 ble man knows what it is. I am done, your honor. 

 You will close by asking God's mercy on my soul. I 

 close by asking the Lord to have mercy on his people, 

 and to open their blind eyes that they may cease to 

 give their votes to consent to the running of licensed 

 murder-mills in our country." 



