(58 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Jan. 15. 



Arizona, without even visiting Superstitious 

 Mountain. Hy tlie way. after I left Supersti- 

 tious Mountain a l)and of explorers found a 

 great gojit-inine somewhere near its summit, 

 and speculators iue t.akiiig their victims right 

 into the nu)untains and exhibiting them gold 

 tliat stands riglit out in plain sight — not quite 

 in plain dayligiit. but plain enough so that 

 thousands and tliousands nf dollars are being 

 put into it. Am I sorry I did not stay long 

 enough to help discover the gold? Not at all. 

 God has not called me to develop gold-mines. 

 If they could be separated entirely fi'om the 

 gambling and swindling and robbery that seem 

 to be so invariably an iidjunct, I might lil<e to 

 seethf^m: but ?ui/ lield is the straw bei-rles. the 

 beautiful honey, soft water from artesian wells, 

 and all these things that are awaiting man's 

 touch and skill; and liow we may secure them 

 by our labor is more in the line, I am sure, 

 whereunto / am called. 



He hath flUed tlie liunfrry witli good things.— 

 Luke 1 :5:}. 



The words of our text are taken from that 

 wonderful speech of Mary, the mother of Je- 

 sus; in fact, it is a part of her salutation to 

 Elizabeth. I hardly need explain to our read- 

 ers that this promise means something more 

 than simply satisfying our bodily ai^petites, 

 or that the good things mentioned are simply 

 something to eat. When we are tired out with 

 the cares and worries of the day, and when 

 hunger comes as the result of honest, earnest 

 labor, we enjoy taking our food. But this joy 

 and this satisfaction that we experience would 

 be a very poor feeble thing to live for. It may 

 be that there are people who think more of 

 what they shall eat and drink, and who spend 

 more thought in making provision for good 

 things to eat and good things to drink, than 

 anything else; but I am sure the most of us 

 would pity such a human being. I confess I 

 feel a little ashamed of myself, sometimes, say 

 after having had an enjoyable wheelride, be- 

 cause I take so much comfort in partaking of 

 food and drink. I am glad of one thing. how- 

 ever—I very seldom take either food or drink 

 without first thanking God for it. When I am 

 away from home, a great many times there are 

 no thanks given — that is, at least, no general 

 audible thanks before we take food and drink; 

 and in public places it is not to be expected 

 that all should unite in recognizing the great 

 God above before each meal. 



While I am dictating these words we are 

 only a little way past New Year's day. The 

 words. •' Merry Christmas" and " Happy New 

 Year,"' have scarcely died away from thestreets 

 and in the homes, and wherever we go. They 

 are coming even yet through the letters; but I 

 am afraid our peoples are almost too busy here 

 in our work to remember to return these kind 

 wishes and salutations. lUit we think of it, 

 neverthele.ss. It is this " I wish you a happy 

 New Year" that impressed me to take up this 

 thought. 



A good many times, especially during this 

 year of 18<t.i. I have tried to analyze this '• hap- 

 py New Year" expression. What does it 

 mean '? A great many times the well-wisher 

 adds something about prosperity; but financial 

 prosperity does not make a man happy. If he 

 has been working hard, and the prosperity 



comes as a result of his labor, then I confess- 

 there is a kind of satisfaction and peace in see- 

 ing things come into shape. He has his reward 

 for doing his duly. In my department of the 

 woi'k here I almost always have a great lot of 

 things on my mind. I sotnetimes say to myself, 

 " Oh. dear! this thing must be attended to be- 

 fore the day passes." But the day does pa<s. a 

 great many times, when it is not done. More 

 important things crowd, lint if I keep on 

 trying, and asking God for grace and strength to 

 tackle each new difficulty, by and by I get at 

 least a good many of them done. Then I feel 

 glad. The one who neglects and neglects, and 

 continues to neglect, is not vfry likely to have 

 a happy New Year, nor a happy year of any 

 sort, for that matter. In fact. 1 ilo nut know of 

 any one thing that makes a man more miser- 

 able than to keep neglecting and putting off 

 things he ought to do. 



Now. this expression in our text, "good 

 things," means substantial things. Why,, 

 everybody knows — at least, it seems to me 

 everybody knows — the good things spoken of 

 in the Bible are the most substantially good of 

 any thing there is in the whole world. We are 

 enjoined on every page to "seek first the king- 

 dom of God. and his righteousness." Of course,, 

 it is not worded that way; but we all know 

 the attitude the Bible takes; we all know th& 

 spirit of it. It enjoins us to be unselfish; it en- 

 joins us to find our satisfaction and happiness 

 in working for the general good of humanity — 

 in striving to lift up, to restore faith and cour- 

 age to the faint-hearted or to the weary soul. 

 Man's wisdom— I do not mean manly wisdom 

 (because manly wisdom would be God's wisdom^ 

 but the fashionable worldly wisdom — would be 

 to take notice of the rich and the great, and to 

 seek for their favor, but to (.verlook the down- 

 cast and the discouraged. The mother of Jesus 

 opens her mouth in thanksgiving and praise 

 because (iod has seen fit to send his Son intO' 

 the woild, among the poor and lowly. He has 

 passed by kings and princes; he has disregard- 

 ed the crowned heads and those who sit in 

 palaces; he has sent his greatest gift, the gift 

 of his Son, into the world, to the homes of the 

 poor and lowly, even to the birth in the manger. 

 Now. dear friends, when we say to somebody, 

 "I wish you a happy New Year," what thought 

 have we in mind ? do we wish such a person 

 wordly prosperity that he may wear fine 

 clothes, and be spared from the toil and drudg- 

 ery of every-d ay life? God forbid! There are 

 some overworked fathers and mothers who 

 ought to take a little respite; they ought to 

 have a little more time for the easy-chair, and 

 perhaps lay off some of the soiled clothing used 

 in every-day work. But let us not think of 

 making them happy by going to the other ex- 

 treme and sending them into town to live, with 

 nothing to do but to kill time. Oh, dear! what 

 an expression — killing time— throwing away as 

 valueless one of the most precious gifts that 

 God ever gave! 



I often find happiness by a change of occupa- 

 tion. Sometimes I take a day or two off, and, 

 instoad of going around among the clerks and 

 hunting up things that are wrong. I go off in 

 the country to ride my wheel, and in this way I 

 find recreation, relief from care, and enjoy- 

 ment; and, while I think of it. may he the dear 

 friends at home find a certain kind oi relief also. 

 But I rather think they like to see me around, 

 notwithstanding, especially when the Holy 

 Spirit fills ray heart, and these bright texts ar'fr 

 bubbling forth and shining forth from my 

 every-day life. But. again, how shall we all 

 have a real happy New Year? Will lots of 

 money brine it? Oh! no. no. Will a chance ta 

 ride in the Pullman cars, and plenty of money ta 



