Gl^EANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



ing that " prevention is better than cure." 

 Let us now go back to that bad taste in my 

 moutli. 



I think I have mentioned that, in eating 

 my apples, I greatly enjoy a little bit of 

 cheese — say half an ounce. Well, when I 

 had that severe spell of indigestion, each 

 iiiorning when I awoke I could still taste 

 the cheese in my mouth. I told Mrs. Root 

 that I believed this had something to do 

 with my spells of indigestion, and that I 

 would try dropping off the cheese and eat 

 only apples. Well, it did stop the "clieesj-" 

 taste; but there was still a bad taste in my 

 mouth that I knew was not right. Now, 

 what do you think? When I ate the^cheese, 

 even though I chewed it until it was almost 

 liquid, it got between my teeth and remain- 

 ed there all night, and, of course, it result- 

 ed in a bad cheesy taste in the morning. I 

 hope you will excuse me, dear readers, for 

 going over this matter so much in detail; 

 but my " great discovery " comes in right 

 here. I went to the druggist and got the 

 best up-to-date tooth-brush he had. Then 

 I got the very best tooth-paste, and follow- 

 ed directions. I ate cheese, all I wanted, 

 with my Red Astrakhan apples — seven or 

 eight good big-sized ones — and I can hon- 

 estly say I never enjoyed any food more in 

 my life. I never enjoyed the most elaborate 

 dinner more than T did those Red Astra- 

 khans and Yellow Transparent apples. Be- 

 fore I Avent to bed I scrubbed my teeth and 

 mouth most thoroughly. The next morning 

 there was no bad taste whatever, and my 

 digestion now is just ]ierfect. I can eat 

 raw tomatoes with sugar, pepper, and vin- 

 egar, or with sugar and cream for dinner, 

 and they do not trouble me a bit. I eat 

 ])eas and beans in moderation, and green 

 corn; and I am satisfied that at least a 

 great part of the improvement has come 

 fi'om thoroughly cleansing my teeth and 

 mouth, finishing up with plenty of pure 

 soft water. 



May God be praised for our dentists and 

 ]ihysicians who are not only able but will- 

 ing to speak the plain truth when caring 

 for these bodies of ours. 



Let us not be weary in well doing ; for in due 

 time we shall reap if we faint not. — Gal. 6:9. 



I have been reading the Home papers with great 

 interest this past year; and as I need some advice 

 I thought perhaps you could help me. 



My father was a beeman in Barry Co., Mich., 

 and took Gleanings as long as I can remember, 

 and I used to read the stories written by " Rambler," 

 with great interest when a small lad. 



When I was twenty I started for myself and hired 

 out to work on a farm for a neighbor, for, like most 

 boys, I thought my own father's business was not 

 as good as that of some one else. I had no bad hab- 

 its ; and as I got good wages I soon saved enough 



to make a first payment on a little farm, and soon 

 had some stock, chickens, and bees. I was thrifty, 

 and every thing turned into money that I took hold 

 of; but I was very discontented in living alone; and 

 as every one kept telling me I ought to get a wife 

 I soon grew to think so myself. I gave my heart to 

 God, and have tried to serve him in my everyday 

 life, and I don't know that I am doing right in 

 writing this, as he has never failed me ; and as I 

 have never yet gone hungry I have no proof that I 

 ever shall. 



But to go on with what I started to tell you. I 

 had almost paid for my little farm when a cousin 

 came to visit me from the East, and wanted me to 

 go back East with him and see some of the world; 

 so, as I had a chance to exchange my farm for a 

 cheaper one that would put me out of debt, and 

 give me a little to the good, I made the deal, sold all 

 ray personal property, and went to New York. I 

 liked the East, and decided to buy a cheap farm in 

 New York; but when I came to sell the farm I had 

 in Michigan I found that the title was not good; 

 and as the party who gave me the deed had been 

 dead for some time I had no redress and lost one 

 thousand hard-earned dollars. I then had left only 

 about two hundred dollars, and I decided to hire out 

 to a dairy farmer, as they pay the best wages in the 

 East. I think I overworked a little, for by the mid- 

 dle of September I was sick in bed under the doc- 

 tor's care; and when I got out the doctor said I 

 must not work at hard work for some time. This 

 took all my liard-earned summer wages, and I was 

 not in sliape to work at dairying any more. I al- 

 ways thought I should like the jeweler's trade, so I 

 began to repair clocks and watches. In the mean 

 time I met and married my wife; and after buying 

 our furniture I had very little left out of a declin- 

 ing bank account. 



Last August there came twin boys to our house; 

 and through the expense of sickness I have used all 

 the small bank account, and have to get along on 

 what I make from day to day. I now have the trade 

 very well learned, and a very good line of tools; but 

 this town is too small to keep a jeweler, and I have 

 no cash to move to a larger town. 



My chickens are doing fine, but I have only a 

 small flock. 



There seems no way for me to get where I can 

 stand on my feet, to use a common expression, and 

 I do not see my way clear in the future. Although 

 I am not in debt to any one, I am just to the end 

 of my cash and very little work. As you used to 

 work at the jeweler trade, and have had a wide 

 range of experience, I thought perhaps you might 

 have a word of advice to offer. 



Trusting that God will direct you to give me the 

 proper advice, I am vours cordially, 



New York. " F. S. C. 



After going over the above letter several 

 times I decided that this thing that got our 

 friend into trouble — that is, if he really is 

 in trouble — is the habit of becoming dis- 

 contented. His losing his farm because the 

 title was imperfect points a moral. When 

 you buy property, have some competent 

 attorney examine the title, in order to be 

 sure it is all right. My opinion is (without 

 consulting an attorney) that his title could 

 have been made good, even though the one 

 he bought it of was dead. Of course, cir- 

 cumstances might prove othenvise. Our 

 friend did a very wise thing in getting mar- 

 ried, and I think, also, the great Father 

 above " did a Avise thing " in sending the 

 twin boys to that humble home. Below is 

 my reply to his lettei'. 1 decided to put it 



