154 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



April 



their hearers, but it had entirely passed over 

 or by me. When the voice of conscience, or 

 whatever you may call it, spoke out, strong 

 and clear, "Obey and you shall be made 

 strong ; trust me and you shall have help 

 you dream not of," I was surprised and 

 astounded. 



I promised to obey, and all my old thoughts 

 and feelings began to fade away, I began to 

 feel the peace and quietness, the kindness 

 and love to every body and every thing, that 

 I had asked for. 



The past years of life began stretching out 

 as in a panorama; and, as I stood at one 

 side and contemplated my actions as an out- 

 sider might, the feeling was one that can not 

 be described. There was at the time, in 

 our town, a series of union meetings going on, 

 and all 1 knew of them was that a girl that 

 lived with us had been attending them night 

 after night, and that I talked to my wife 

 about her folly in wasting much of her time 

 in that way, when she was so poorly -able to 

 afford it. A prayer meeting was, above all 

 things, an abomination to me, and when I 

 thought of people getting up, and asking 

 others to pray for them, the idea was almost 

 exasperating. I used to feel like saying 

 about those who rose for prayers, "You mis- 

 erable, whining, weak specimen of humani- 

 ty, if you cannot pray for yourself , the quick- 

 er you go 'to the dogs' the better", and I 

 used to tell the boys who worked for me, 

 that I hoped they had good sense and 

 strength of mind enough, to keep away from 

 such meetings. Well, all at once, it struck 

 me that, perhaps, it would be my duty to go 

 to prayer meeting. I had got over every thing- 

 else and had begun to see the beauties and 

 joys of a new life: after having been lifted 

 over my greatest failing, I was stumbling at 

 the idea of going to prayer meeting and tel- 

 ling them of my new stand in life. At 

 length, I spoke aloud again. 



"No sir, I won't; if I can't be a Christain 

 without going to prayer meeting and getting 

 up and talking, I beg to be excused." 



Back again trooped the old life; anger and 

 guilt took their places, and contention, 

 strife, jealousy, and revenge, resumed their 

 sway. I wonder if any body else ever felt 

 what it is to be cast from heaven down to 

 the regions of darkness, as I was then. It 

 was too much to bear; down on my knees, I 

 went again, and plead for that better spirit 

 to come back, and promised I would do all 

 or any thing, and never more rebel. 



I presume I have been a better Christian 

 for having had this little tussle, at the out- 

 set, with Satan. How light my heart was 

 that night, as I started for home! on the 

 way, I happened to think that now I should 

 like to read the Bible; and, as soon as I got 

 there, I got it and turned to the beginning 

 of the New Testament. What a wondrous 

 beauty there was now in the words in which 

 I could see no meaning before! How every 

 page seemed to strike heavy blows at the life 

 I had been leading, and to exhort and en- 

 treat to better ways and things. I did not 

 say anything to niy wife then, for I felt a 

 little weak and alone as yet. I was in a new 

 land, and almost afraid to take a single step, 

 for fear it might not be the right one. True, 



I felt the new presence near me, but it 

 seemed then to be guiding in no particular 

 direction. The battle had been fought, and 

 I had promised to obey whatever orders 

 might come, but, as yet, none appeared. I 

 went to bed at 12 o'clock, and my wife was 

 crying again, but I knew that this time, her 

 tears were tears of joy. 



WORK AND WAGES FOR 1879. 



I do not give the following because I am in 

 want of hands; on the contrary, I am be- 

 sieged daily by those wanting places, and 

 have a long list ahead waiting for the first 

 vacancy that offers. But I give it because I 

 wish it known that a manufacturing estab- 

 lishment can be conducted on such a basis. 



BUSINESS AND MORALS. 



1 feel that God has given me this business, that I 

 may do good, in my own native town of Medina, and 

 perhaps in th&country round about. I can do good, 

 by giving employment to those who need it. The 

 money I pay you, comes from all parts of the world, 

 even from across the wide ocean. Now if this mon- 

 ey goes to the support of saloons, billiard halls, dis- 

 tilleries, tobacco shops and places of like nature, or 

 to those who will use it for smoking, drinking, 

 gambling, Sabbath breaking, etc., will it do good? 

 The very work done by boys who use their money 

 in the manner I have mentioned, may often be done 

 by women who have small children to support, or by 

 those struggling to get an education, and who would 

 use every copper of it, for the necessaries of life. 

 Whom shall I employ? those who make a good vise of 

 their money, or those who do not? Have I any right 

 to decide what use you shall make of your money? 

 In one sense I think I have not. Have 1 a right to 

 employ whom I choose? As a general thing, 1 think 

 I have. Have I a right to make conditions with 

 those whom I employ. I think I have; nay more, I 

 feel, my friends and fellow townsmen, that God calls 

 on me, yes, even demands ( f me, that I use every 

 means iii my power, to raise up, and elevate the 

 moral and spiritual condition of those about me. If 

 I do this, and work for him, leaving myself out of 

 the question, he will take care of this business, and 

 not only will it continue to build up during my life, 

 but the same spirit will perpetuate it long after I 

 have ceased to be with you to direct it. 



These are the conditions which 1 feel that God 

 calls on us to subscribe tf>, and under which we 

 shall all of us have plenty to do, so long as we are 

 faithful. 



In consideration of receiving employment in this 

 establishment, I agree — 



First: To respect and reverence God and his laws. 



Secondly; To forbear taking His name in vain. 



Thirdly: To remember the Sabbath day to keep it 

 holy, and that I may do this, I agree to attend some 

 place of public worship twice at least every Sabbath. 

 (A Bible class, Sabbath school, or prayer meeting is 

 considered a place of public worship.) 



Fourthly: To abstain from the use of every drink 

 that will intoxicate, from the use of tobacco in 

 every shape, from card playing and billiards, or at- 

 tendance at public dances; not only that I may 

 shun every appearance of evil, but that I may r not 

 encourage others who may be more harmed than 

 myself, by the force of my example. 



Fifthly: To be courteous, pleasant, and civiltomy 

 shop mates, even though they be uncourteous and 

 uncivil to me. 



Sixthly: Whenever I find myself unable to com- 

 ply with the above requirements, I agree to yield 

 my place pleasantly, to some one else. 



Signed 



Applicants need bring no references or recom- 

 mend. It matters not what your past history may 

 have been, what your age, sex, or condition. The 

 only question is, are you willing to commence a 

 work of reform ? 



A. I. Root, Medina, O., March 22nd, 1879. 



