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GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



May 1. 



his trade and calling" is a pretty good rule, 

 and I think we ought to enjoy patronizing our 

 neighbors when we need what they have for 

 sale. I thought I needed something they had 

 for sale at that hotel. As usual, my first long- 

 ing was for the pitcher of milk and plate of 

 bread. Then I was ready for the nice steak, 

 potatoes, fried eggs, and a nice dainty piece of 

 fried liver. I think I have heard somewhere 

 that liver is not fit for human food; but I feel 

 in many such matters a good deal as Prof. Cook 

 did. Somebody demonstrated, by scientific 

 methods, that ensilage is not a fit food for cows. 

 On giving the cows a chance, however, to ex- 

 press an opinion on the matter, they disagreed 

 with the scientist: and I thought that night 

 that that nicely cooked liver was a most deli- 

 cious food. What a supper I did have! and 

 after my nine-mile ride home my digestion was 

 as perfect, and my sleep as sound, as that of 

 any baby boy after he has had his supper. 



Anil the Loid God forineil man of the dust of the ground, 

 and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man be- 

 came a living soul.— OBN. 2: 7. 



Some little time ago the readers of Glean- 

 ings made a contribution in response to a call 

 from Helen Keller for Tommy Stringer, anoth- 

 er deaf, dumb, and blind child, living in the 

 State of Pennsylvania. Our older readers have 

 the matter fully in mind, no doubt. But it may 

 be well to explain a little for the benefit of the 

 later ones. By the way, it was my good fortune 

 to be present at one of these kindergarten 

 schools for the deaf and dumb while at the 

 World's Fair. The part that interested me 

 greatly was the methods of teaching deaf and 

 dumb children to talk and hear othirs talk. 

 Perhaps 1 should say ronderstcmd others in- 

 stead of hearing them, for they do not hear a 

 word. It was almost impossible to believe the 

 teacher's statement that these children did not 

 hear a word. It was not long before I suggest- 

 ed testing the matter by turning off the electric 

 lights some evening when they were talking 

 and visiting as only children can talk and visit. 

 The teacher informed me that the thing had 

 been done repeatedly to convince the skeptical. 

 Of course, the deaf children could keep on 

 talking, but none of their comrades caught a 

 syllable after the lights were cut off. I was 

 asked to talk with them; and as I put out my 

 hand to a bright little fellow, and said, •' Can 

 you really talk?" he responded at once, "Oh, 

 yes!" and when I told him my name he repeat- 

 ed it after me just as any child would who 

 could hear perfectly. This is all accomplished 

 by cultivating that marvelous power of judg- 

 ing by the motion of the lips, mouth, and face 

 what the speaker is saying. When I reverted 

 to the matter of Helen Keller, the teacher said 

 at once, "Mr. Root, you must not expect to 

 find any more Helen Kellers right away. She 

 is not only the wonder of all the schools in this 

 line of work, but she is probably destined to be 

 a wonder to the world." I remember of once 

 saying to our people, when the subject was be- 

 fore us in Gleanings, that Helen Keller would 

 eventually stand before the crowned heads 

 and the kings and princes of the world. 



Now to get back to Tommy Stringer. Our 

 friends will perhaps remember that Helen 

 Keller, in her report in regard to him, admitted 

 that he did not take hold as Willie Elizabeth 



Robin and some of the others did. We excuse 

 Tommy by saying he was a boy, and every bod 

 knew boys did not "catch on" as quickly j 

 girls do. I remember feeling a little anxloi 

 about Tommy myself. There is somethir 

 queer aliout his case ; and even the teache: 

 were obl.:.cedto think it was sometimes don 

 care rather than don't knoiv. Tommy w: 

 "balky;" but it seemed to be more of a bodi 

 balk than a mental one. He would get laz 

 and seemed to expect that his teacher wi 

 going to do the whole of this matter of educa 

 ing. He would get his spells of being contrar 

 and neither coaxing nor any sort of mild disc 

 pline would get him out of it. Perhaps some 

 you may smile when you recall to mind th 

 poor Tommy is not the only small boy who 

 thus al'fiicted. Well, I am glad to be able 

 tell you that our young friend is coming brav 

 ly " out of darkness " and " into light." Let 

 remember that his early and perhaps most ir 

 portant years were lost or worse than lost. ] 

 ■ was born in Pennsylvania in 1886, and was r 

 ceived into the kindergarten when he w 

 about five years old. Before this, on accou 

 of poverty, he was, if I remember correctly, p 

 into a sort of infirmary where nobody cared 1 

 him, and where his main accomplishment w 

 creeping about on the floor. But, true to 1 

 natural disposition, he always crept backwai 

 bumping against every thing and everyboc 

 Please imagine, if you can, a child five yef 

 old. who has never beheld the light of day— b 

 never heard a sound, and who knows little 

 nothing of loving care from anybody. Do y 

 wonder that Tommy was not only ignorant f 

 contrary and stubborn when they found hit 

 One might almost weep to think of a child 

 such benighted darkness. The reason he v 

 not educated like Helen Keller was, that it c 

 too much money. Somebody has said that 1 

 whole great State of Pennsylvania, with all 

 wealth, could not afford to pay for educat 

 poor Tommy. But, hold on! It was not Pei 

 sylvania alone, but the whole United States 

 America, that waited for a little deaf, dm 

 and blind girl to hunt Tommy up. and with 

 childish voice plead for him. Hold on! I 

 making another mistake. She hadn't a vc 

 to plead with ; but such as she had she used 

 Christ's service. One is reminded of the woi 

 "Silver and gold have I none; but such £ 

 have, give T unto thee." Helen's app 

 b ->ught forth the funds, and we helped; 

 ' ery one who had a part in that contribut 

 .ught to feel glad now when he thinks of it. 

 Poor Tom knew nothing about it. In f{ 

 could ?iot know any thing aboutit. All the ^ 

 men with all their ski 1 and knowledge, in 

 whole wide world, could not tell him. This 

 stitution in Massachusetts, however, underti 

 the task of telling him. They also undert* 

 the task of telling him about the great .( 

 above— the God who implanted, even in p 

 Tommy, the knowledge that he possessed 

 living soul." even if he was made out of 

 " dust of the ground." And now let us consi 

 the good news that comes. Tommy, with 

 his dullness, with all his obstinacy, proved 

 be aMer. Wouldn't it be funny if we sho 

 have a deaf, dumb, and blind humoristf I 

 it was along the line of taking advantage 

 Tom's disposition for practical jokes and 

 playing tricks thit they made progress. 1 

 work was accomplished by personal effort. 

 teach(>r had hcnomf^ Intimxitely acquainted^ 

 the poor child. She took him home and 

 him help her bake cookies. This was soi 

 thing he greatly enjoyed. He was allowed 

 have a part in all the work, even putting 

 cookies into the oven and taking them out. 

 course, he had one hot to eat, right from 



