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GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



July 15 



present frame of mind would not convince 

 him at all. Just quietly keep telling the truth 

 so persistently that nobody will believe what 

 be says." 



1 have sometimes almost wished somebody 

 would call }}ie a liar so that I could demon- 

 strate to those around how easy a thing it is 

 to look pleasant and smiling under such trials, 

 rather than to strike back, or even reply by 

 like unkind words. 



I fear I was getting to be unconsciously 

 proud of the example I was setting in respect 

 to such things. Howard suggested to his 

 mother that may be God punished " grandpa " 

 for boasting. I do not know but the dear 

 Savior has just been punishing me for being 

 self-confident. One evening I had been read- 

 ing until I felt tired and sleepy. I said I 

 would have to go right to bed, for I could 

 hardly hold my eyes open a minute longer ; 

 but in less time than you can think I was so 

 wide-awake that hours passed before I could 

 quiet the tumult that rankled within, enough 

 to even think of sleep. Some little incident 

 occurred. A discussion as to " who was to 

 blame, " sprang up before I knew it. It was 

 a little misunderstanding over a matter of no 

 importance to anybody. It is true, something 

 happened with some of my utensils that I can 

 not understand even yet ; but there was no 

 reason in the world why this trifling displace- 

 ment if some of my property should even 

 start a discussion. It lasted hardly a minute 

 by the clock. During that minute the blood 

 was coursing to my very fingers' ends The 

 warning note of danger, my little prayer, kept 

 sounding louder and louder, but I was sorely 

 tonpied to have out first my say, and listen to 

 the warning afterward. But I had grace 

 enough to stop. But, even though I uttered 

 no word, that did not end it. A fierce conflict 

 was going on in my soul, and that warped my 

 better judgment and drowned out my sense 

 and reason. I prayed for peace and tranquil- 

 lity ; but for some reason or other the dear 

 Savior did not see fit to send it. I dare not 

 put on paper the vicious and evil thoughts 

 that trooped through my mind as I sat at my 

 accustomed desk trying to read the paper be- 

 fore my face. Some of my friends will say 

 that it will hurt me, and perhaps spoil my in- 

 fluence, to make even such a confession as I 

 have made. But, dear friends, I do not be- 

 lieve I shall suffer in the estimation of good 

 people who know what it is to be sorely tempt- 

 ed, even as I am and have been tempted. I 

 knew I was not myself, and for a long time it 

 seemed as if there was little I could do to help 

 matters except to keep still and pra}'. We 

 have a picture in the Bible of the way in 

 which Satan was allowed to persecute and try 

 Job. I have wondered since if it can be true 

 that the Lord permitted Satan to gain just 

 enough access to my heart to give me a glimpse 

 (or a sample) of the machinery he employs 

 in breaking up homes and making the nearest 

 and dearest friends the bitterest enemies. I 

 am sure one of Satan's favorite plans to get 

 a foothold is to start foolish discussions and 

 disputes. I once visited a family where every 

 thing was lovely outside and indoors except 



the habit of contradicting each other. Some- 

 body would make a statement in answer to a 

 question that I innocently asked. Almost be- 

 fore my question was answered, some other 

 member ot the family would say, "It's no 

 such thing." Then a third one would put in, 

 "You are neither of you right. I was there 

 myself yesterday." And thus it kept going 

 until it seemed as if they must come to blows 

 when there were no visitors around. There is 

 an old adage that comes in very pat on such 

 occasions — " Least said, soonest mended." 



We are all of us startled almost every day 

 by the newspaper accounts of how some man 

 shot his wife and then committed suicide. 

 Humanitarians are becoming appalled at the 

 frequency of such tragedies. I have watched 

 all such statements in order to see what start- 

 ed the trouble. A great many times we are 

 told a man and his wife had disagreed a good 

 deal, and had had frequent jangles, but no- 

 body thought it would amount to any thing 

 more than just talk. I have suspected, how- 

 ever, that Satan has learned a new trick. He 

 is always trying to start a fuss between the 

 best friends, even between parties who are 

 united by the nearest and dearest ties of re- 

 lationship God ever formed between two per- 

 sons — man and wife. He gets into the heart 

 of one of them, and suggests a harsh and un- 

 feeling speech. Then quicker than an electric 

 flash he goes into the heart of the other, and 

 suggests an appropriate (?) keen, cutting re- 

 ply. Thus he goes back and forth until good 

 breeding and good sense prompt either one or 

 both parties to stop. A Christian spirit and a 

 love for Christ Jesus in the heart of each one 

 of the two ought to extinguish such sudden 

 flames at the very outset. May God help me, 

 as I utter these words, to practice better what 

 I preach. 



Some kind sympathetic friend will suggest 

 to me right here that I was overworked and 

 worn out. Perhaps my nerves were over- 

 wrought by the hot weather or something of 

 the kind. I am glad to say that such excuses 

 for me have no weight. I never felt stronger 

 or healthier in my life than I do now. I have 

 been for weeks living on a diet mostly of 

 strawberries and bread and butter. My drink 

 has been distilled water, and I am Just as well 

 as can be. I had a good half-hour nap on the 

 afternoon in question, and I was in full pos- 

 session of all of my powers of mind and body. 

 I think, too, I was reasonably filled with love 

 toward Christ Jesus and love toward humani- 

 ty. Satan got into my heart, notwithstand- 

 ing, in just a few brief seconds, and touched 

 hidden springs of my life and my being (that 

 I never knew of before) in that brief time, so 

 that I felt it the next day. Some time last 

 winter the sewage-pipe to our kitchen sink 

 got out of order. I looked at it, and thought 

 I could fix it in about a minute. But when 

 that was done, something else needed fixing, 

 and I kept on pulling it to pieces until I had 

 worked hard for over an hour. Had I known 

 how many repairs were needed, I would have 

 sent for a plumber ; but after I got started I 

 did not like to give up beat on the job. I 

 came out ahead and made it all right ; but I 



