1885 



GLEANlNr;S IN 15EE CULTURE. 



69 



many irons in the fire," to use a common 

 expression. We, by our anxiety to accumu- 

 late wealth and business, cumber our- 

 selves, and we have been working and wor- 

 rying until we have hardly time lor the 

 weekly^ prayer-meetings, for the Sunday- 

 school lesson-helps, tor Bible-reading, and 

 the study of God's word. We have been 

 following ^Martha's plan, and we have not 

 been happy. 



Years ago a little brother stood by my side. 

 He was as bright and as pretty and as funny 

 as Iluber ; and witli the rest of the children 

 I taught him to walk, and laughed at the 

 efforts of his baby-tongue to frame words 

 and sentences. I personally taught him his 

 A B C's, and led his little infant mind 

 through tlie First Header. He did not take 

 naturally to study ; and wlicn lie was tired I 

 used to" take long walks with him in the 

 fields. Sometimes I took him to the neigh- 

 boring grist-mill, and let him see the 

 "wheels go round." Ilajjpy days those 

 were; and since that l)rotlier h;is grown up 

 and gone into business. I often think of him. 

 lie was always industrious and hard work- 

 ing, patient and faithful, and yet I fear his 

 life is not as happy as it was when he was a 

 lisping child, knowing nothing of the cares of 

 this world. One reason why he has had so 

 much care and worry is, because he has 

 tried too many kinds of business. By the 

 time he has become expert and etlicient in 

 one line, he has taken some other, and has 

 had to learn a new trade as it were. Of 

 course, there has been reason for this, and 

 good reason. AVhen his health failed from 

 indoor work, he turned to farming ; but I 

 think he commenced on too huge a farm. 

 Boys, how many of us are doing that same 

 thing? Instead of being content with a 

 little of this world's goods, and that little in 

 sucli good order, and so well cared for. that 

 it does not cmnber us. and make slav( s of 

 us, Ave cripple ourselves by taking upon us 

 too much care and too much worry. I need 

 this little verse, may be. more than any of 

 you, and I am going to try to profit by it. 



There has been (juite a protest of late 

 against crowding children at school, espe- 

 cially while they are young. Our boys and 

 girls often have more studies than they can 

 manage easily. They become l)nrdened and 

 cumbered, and very" often, I fear, the one 

 thing needful is crowded out or passed by 

 for the time being. Now, it is not only the 

 children, but it is men and women in "early 

 life, that are cumbered, cramped, and crip- 

 pled by cares too lieavy for them, and bur- 

 dens too great. ^V few days ago I had a talk 

 with a young man who has commenced late- 

 ly in business. He is bright, active, ingen- 

 ious, honest, and true. Besides all this, his 

 physical health is good, and he is in love 

 with his chosen avocation. I used to look 

 upon him as a model, almost, of a nice busi- 

 ness young man. I felt sure he would win 

 his way in the world, and it seemed to me as 

 though he had the mental and physical abil- 

 ity to rise in the world easily. Itused to be 

 Avorth a good deal to me to" see liim laugh 

 over his work, especially when he met ob- 

 stacles, lie was always cool and quiet and 

 collected -, but for all that, he enjoyed a suc- 



cess and a victory over obstacles as much as 

 anybody. Well, business sort o' fell in his 

 way as it were ; in fact, it tumbled into his 

 hands, as business always tumbles into or 

 on to those who are capable, brave, and true. 

 I saw, or thought I saw, with dismay that 

 he was going to have more than he could 

 well manage. It was business of such a 

 sort, too, that there was no margin to pay 

 for efficient helpers. He came to me for a 

 little advice on some matters connected with 

 his business. I told him how I felt about it. 

 Finally, said I. '• Do you enjoy your work? 

 are you as happy in carrying it bnas you used 

 to be when you had only a little, and that 

 little Avas always nicely done, and easily un- 

 j der your complete control?" 



" No, I do not enjoy it one bit." was his 

 reply. 



He is a Christian, and fully understands 



all these things I liaAc been telling you ; 



but I fear he is getting to be '• cumbered 



Avith much serving." like so many of the 



j rest of us ; and if he is not released from 



I some- part of the Aveight that rests on his 



young shoulders. I fear he may be crippled 



I for life. I do not mean by this that his 



health will break down, but I am afraid his 



' natural fund of courage and energy, and 



I also his rare skill and ingenuity, Avill be 



drowned in drudgery and toil too great for 



' one of his age. I do not fear that he will 



lose his hold on Christ, but I am afraid his 



' life will not be as happy and joyous and as 



; useful in the Avork of tlie Master as it might 



otherwise be. 



I want to enlarge right here on a point 

 that has V)een a long time on my mind, dear 

 friends. It is this matter of taking upon 

 ourselves, or loading upon our children, 

 more than they are ready for or can bear. 

 You know how often I have recommended 

 that beginners in bee culture should take a 

 , few hives— one or two ; and Avhen they be- 

 come i)erfectly able to take charge of more 

 ' withoiit being cum])ered, then let them do 

 I it. It is true in any kind of business ; and I 

 j do not know but it is true in all animated 

 ! nature. IVter Henderson says, if a plant 

 I gets f(>eble. and looks as if it Avere going to 

 I die. do not put on guano or liquid manure: 

 j do not even water it : let it alone. When 

 the soil is so dry that the plant looks rather 

 ! dried up. it will very likely start to put out 

 a leaf. Now, if you make haste to give it a 

 dose it Avill surely die. (iive it a very little 

 Avater. and Avatch the effect. When you find 

 that a little Avater causes it to thrive, in- 

 crease the quantitv a little, and do this so 

 carefully that you will, after a little, discov- 

 er how inuch it will bear. When you begin 

 fiving it fertilizers, Avork in the same way. 

 'irst satisfy yourself what it Avill bear, then 

 feed it just so much as does it good— no 

 more. In due time you can turn on the Ava- 

 ter by the barrelfiil, give it wheelbarroAv 

 loads'of strong manure, pour on your liquid 

 fertilizers Avithout stint, for it h'as become 

 now a great tree, and can manage strong 

 ; food. The plant thrlA'es. and looks happy. 

 You are happy too, because you have learn- 

 ed to imderstand it. The same is true of 

 sick people or sick animals. Wait until you 

 know that Avhat you are giving does good be- 



