Nature and Cidtu7'e 47 



They are friends for a consideration, just as they 

 are among themselves. The bee workers are bee 

 women. Possibly God, who likes to paint in con- 

 trasts, did this to set off a vain, selfish, rapacious 

 woman, and show what a hateful thing she can make 

 of herself. 



But there are true love and friendship in the 

 world, nevertheless. Under ordinary circumstances 

 they are not readily isolated and distinguished. 

 Cut a piece of brass freshly across, and you will not 

 separate it from gold. But apply a drop of acid to 

 it, and instantly the green envy and the poison ver- 

 digris of a base nature appear. Touch a seeming 

 friendship with a drop of adversity, and you have 

 the same result. Apply the acid to the pure quality, 

 and it eats away the grime only, leaving the virtue 

 shining with a purer luster. God's friendship and 

 the bee's friendship are not liable to adulteration 

 and debasement. 



But we must not allow our pride to flatter us 

 that the hands of nature are our servants and our 

 ministers. They will not listen to nor obey a single 

 one of our commands. Neither God nor Nature 

 turns aside for us. We must go with them, not they 

 with us. We must bring ourselves into harmony 

 with them, and not presume that they will conde- 

 scend to humor our whims and caprices. It is a 

 high and heavenly and an enrapturing harmony 

 that we reach in becoming a part of the harmony of 

 God and of Nature. We come into fellowship with 



