Q88 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Df.c. 15 



1 here are about as many electric buttons and 

 switches. Once in a g'reat while some boy 

 comes to work for us who does not seem to 

 have sense enoug'h, or does not seem to have 

 caught on to present times enough, to keep 

 his restless fingers away from the valves 

 or electric buttons. Well, as I was saying, 

 somebody (we have not been able to find out 

 who), at half-past four in the afternoon, 

 turned a valve. It very soon threw things 

 out of joint. Investigation was started; 

 but as nothing seemed to be out of place 

 anywhere, the matter was dropped till the 

 next morning; then it was found that, had 

 a fire occurred during the night, it would 

 have found us with the water supply cut 

 off. Now, it is not alone the engineers who 

 occupy positions of grave responsibility, 

 but even the small boys have more or less 

 responsibility resting on their shoulders al- 

 most as soon as they enter any big estab- 

 lishment. 



Well, some people seem to have the idea 

 that one can not bear responsibility and 

 keep good-natured. Some time ago we had 

 an engineer in our employ who objected to 

 the increased responsibilities (on account 

 of enlarging our works) that rested on his 

 shoulders. He said the responsibility was 

 getting to be too great for any man; that, 

 if we kept on, it would make a man crazy, 

 and he would have to go to the insane-asy- 

 lum. Well, I have thought since that time 

 there might be a grain of truth in his re- 

 mark. His successor is a verj^ good-natur- 

 ed, active, intelligent man who has studied 

 e'ectricit}', steam, etc., in a technical school. 

 For many months he shouldered his cares 

 and worries with wonderful cheerfulness 

 and good nature; but when that valve I 

 have mentioned was shut, without giving 

 him any notice, or without his authority, he 

 was pretty full of indignation. It ma}- 

 have been righteous indignation, for it was 

 a serious matter. And by the way, it is a 

 very difficult matter indeed to protest 

 against certain kinds of carelessness or 

 thoughtless meddling, and keep in a Chris- 

 tian frame of mind. With all of my talk, 

 and with all my exhortations, I am afraid I 

 cim, in this line, only a poor bungling fol- 

 lower of the Lord Jesus. 



The Bible teaches us that we should be 

 hopeful under all emergencies, and I believe 

 it is possible. 



Our old pastor, Rev. W. S. Ament, who 

 has been for years a missionary in China, 

 gave us a talk last Sunday at our church. 

 He was with the little band at Peking when 

 they were surrounded by Boxers, and ex- 

 pected to lose their lives every minute. He 

 said he was not afraid nor disturbed when 

 he heard the first gunshot that seemed to be 

 the opening of the attack on their little 

 band. He said it gave him a thrill of joy, 

 notwithstanding the danger, for it meant to 

 him the redemption of China from heathen- 

 ism. Now, I hope I should have the same 

 courage if called upon to stand before the 

 cannon's mouth; but I am realh' afraid my 

 courage would not be equal to Bro. Ameut's. 



A good many public servants seem to 

 think it is a part of their business to be 

 overbearing and domineering. When I am 

 traveling on the cars, and have my bicycle 

 along with me, I am always in a hurry to 

 get it from the baggage-car; and in order 

 to save the time of the busy baggage-mas- 

 ter I have been in the habit of taking the 

 check off my wheel and handing both 

 checks to the baggageman. A few days 

 ago I commenced to slip ofi^ the leather 

 strap, when the baggageman yelled out, 

 "Let go of that wheel until I get ready to 

 take the check off myself." I apologized, 

 and assured him I had no thought of taking 

 liberties; that in traveling I often did that 

 way to save the baggageman's time. I was 

 careful to catch his eye and let him see I 

 was not only friendly and good-natured, but 

 not at all appalled by his domineering way. 

 He softened down a little, and said if he 

 should let everybody help themselves to their 

 own baggage the baggage would soon be 

 gone, and he would get "fired" in no time. 

 Now, this man could just as well have en- 

 forced his authority by telling me in a gen- 

 tle way that my proceeding was contrary 

 to the rules. 



Not only should the Christian man or 

 woman be cheerful and pleasant and cour- 

 teous and kind to humanity, w'hether it be 

 high or low, rich or poor, but he should be 

 courteous and kind to domestic animals. I 

 can hardly tell you how I have been pained 

 within the last year by seeing horses scold- 

 ed, whipped, and sworn at, when they were 

 doing their ver}' level best. When a horse 

 comes out of the stable in the morning he 

 thiinks God for having given him a life to 

 live. He is glad, too, at the prospect of go- 

 ing to work and helping along the great 

 machinery of this world. How do I know? 

 Well. I admit he has not told me so in plain 

 words, but I know pretty well how horses 

 feel b}'^ their actions, exactly as I know how 

 bees feel by their actions. The horse en- 

 joys life— that is, if his owner will let him 

 enjoy it. It is fun for him to learn new 

 tricks; to be taught to adapt himself to cir- 

 cumstances; to watch his master and see 

 what is wanted, and to learn to do it in the 

 very best possible manner. Oh how I have 

 longed to see the owner or the driver give 

 his horse a pat on the neck, and hear him 

 tell him, with kind words, that he has done 

 zvell, in order that even the horse may " re- 

 joice and be glad "! 



On our ranch we were pulling stumps 

 and tearing out roots. Sometimes it was a 

 question whether the team could pull the 

 stump or whether they on^s;ht to pull it. 

 The owner said thej^ would pull it if we 

 gave them a little time. When the horses 

 had done their best, and the obstruction did 

 not come, the wise driver would say, as he 

 patted their glossy necks, " Well, girls, 

 you have done pretty well; but I guess we 

 will let you trj- it now in another direction." 

 His team was a big heavy pair of mares. 

 They understood what he meant b}^ pulling 

 off in another way, and they swung around 



