1880 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



135 



I am a skeptic, because I cannot help it, but want 

 you to keep those Home Papers up. Don't stop. Oh 

 that we could all be true to ourselves, true to one 

 another, true to every thing, and drive away all bit- 

 ter strife, and live to love one another more, and all 

 work in our peculiar ways, harmoniously, to make 

 the world better and wiser! J. Sykes Wilson. 



Sterling, 111., Feb. 3, 1880. 



Go on, brother, for you are near to the 

 kingdom of Heaven. I can not help feeling, 

 in fact, something almost tells me, that very 

 soon you will write, "I am a follower of 

 Christ, because I can not help it." You 

 have got the main and the important point. 

 Hold on to that, and let the skepticism fall 

 away of itself, as it surely will do if let 

 alone. "Heaven and earth may pass away, 

 but my words shall not pass away." 



Two or three years ago, I received a letter 

 from a sister who seemed somewhat dis- 

 couraged in trying to live a Christian life; 

 the letter was by no means as despondent as 

 the one from " M." in last number, but some- 

 thing like this idea was given : she said she 

 had ueen for nine years trying to live as, in 

 her opinion, a Christian should, but that, 

 after looking back, she could hardly see that 

 she had macle any progress at all. I tried to 

 encourage her, and have always watched 

 carefully her letters since, praying that God 

 might help her. It may be well to say that, 

 in the same letter, she gave me a severe but 

 kind reproof for some of my failings, which 

 I have never forgotten. One of her admoni- 

 tions, was, to beware of the love of approba- 

 tion. Now had she not herself fought this 

 ground over, even for nine years, she could 

 by no means have had the power to reach 

 me, as she did. Bear this in mind, while I 

 go on. 



After the February No. had gone out, the 

 first letter I received in regard to it was 

 from this sister. She wanted the address of 

 "M." I involuntarily thanked God as it 

 dawned upon me, that she, above all others, 

 was the one to help " M." God had, in truth, 

 sent her. By some means, the answer was 

 delayed one mail, and then came another 

 letter upbraiding me for being so heartless, 

 as to publish poor " M.'s " confidential letter, 

 just as if I had done so without permission 

 from U M." herself. I was a little vexed, 

 and asked my friend if uncharitableness to 

 her friends was one of her besetting sins. 

 Here is her reply : 



When I wrote that letter I felt like saying a good 

 deal more. Now I am glad I did not. I thought you 

 judged of the feelings of others by your own, and 

 used their communications as you would the expe- 

 riences of your own life. I misjudged, and I made 

 you feel vexed for a few minutes; I wish I had not. 

 As I can not truthfully say "I am very sorry," etc., 

 etc., how will this do for an apology? I enjoyed 

 your "talking back." There was a ring that was 

 genuine in the words. Yes; uncharitableness is one 

 of them, and you cannot mention any thing else that 

 isn't another. 



Now, my friends, while you read the rest 

 of this letter, please bear in mind that it 

 comes from one who said she had tried nine 

 years to overcome her faults, and had made 

 little or no progress. Unless I am mistaken, 



the good which these lines alone will do the 

 readers of Gleanings will be worth more 

 than the labor accomplished in nine years of 

 average human life. It will do to read over 

 and over again. 



I am almost sorry I wrote to "M.," but such a cry 

 from the depths made me feel as if I must try to 

 comfort her. Perhaps it was not best. I think no 

 one can help her permanently. I believe, when one 

 is willing to sacrifice all they naturally hold to most 

 strongly, for the sake of a faith in God, and a con- 

 sciousness of His changeless love,— when they have 

 suffered until they turn towards Him as a tired, 

 troubled child goes to its mother, then, 1 believe, 

 every one receives the help he needs, in this and in 

 every subsequent extremity; that is, when they will 

 yield, and come into right conditions. And then 

 they stand on new ground. They know for them- 

 selves, and the work of reformation begins at the 

 centre,— the work of unmaking and building them- 

 selves over, that so few professors know any thing 

 about. When "M." is ready to receive in meekness, 

 whatever is best for her, God will lift her up. All 

 this suffering may be necessary. Having written, I 

 can only leave the matter as it, now stands. A. 



I presume you will all be interested in 

 hearing from k- W. O." again. God has an- 

 swered, as 1 knew he would, but I did not 

 know how it would come about. He has 

 had such a tlood of orders for ink, that he 

 has been greatly distressed to get bottles, 

 and we have had to ask God to send the 

 bottles, when money in advance seemed to 

 have no effect in getting them. As the 

 price of bottles has advanced greatly, lie has 

 been worrying for fear you would not under- 

 stand the change in prices. 1 told him to 

 make out a list of what he thought right, 

 and we would pay it cheerfully. You will 

 find his advertisement in this number. Just 

 listen to a few extracts from recent letters : 



You have certainly done towards and for me, as a 

 stranger, what I have never experienced from any 

 other person. God in his good providence, in answer 

 to your prayers and kind Christian help, may open a 

 door of material aid, and I cannot find words to ex- 

 press my gratitude for such unselfish Christian 

 sympathy. It is one of the green spots in this 

 selfish world. 



" Tut, tut! " Friend O., the world is not 

 selfish. I have found it a very kind world 

 of late years, and do you not see how very 

 kind it has been to you in the past few 

 weeks? When we get where God intends 

 w r e should be, we shall find it a pleasant 

 world, and full of pleasant, kind people. 



I think more of the world and the people in it, 

 since forming your acquaintance. I have sought 

 aid and help from those who could have helped mo, 

 and been blessed in so doing, but all they said was, 

 "Be ye fed and clothed." 



There you go again, friend O. If you do 

 not stop finding fault with your fellow men, 

 you will go back into darkness again sure. 

 I begin to fear a want of charity is one of 

 your besetting sins too, as well as mine and 

 sister " A's." Now look out. 



I know there is industry, vigilance, care and econ- 

 omy to be well guarded on my part, and may God 

 make, and keep me an humble, faithful laborer in 

 his vineyard. I accept with all cheerfulness tbtf 



