!10 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE. 



Mak. 



this changed life, so thick and plain that I 

 should be insane to think of deserting 

 it for the old life. I can not explain in 

 words Low these evidences have come, or 

 why I can say, with such perfect assurance, 

 '• 1 know that my Redeemer liveth." It is 

 not only that it has been proved and tried 

 every day of this new life, but there has 

 been a progression and a stepping upward 

 week after week and month after month, 

 until it seems as if I could look back along 

 that pathway and see the starting-point 

 down those many steps, away down, to a 

 point where I shudder and tremble to even 

 cast a look back at. There is a little verse 

 which I want to quote you in conclusion, 

 that seems to sum it all up. iJut before I 

 quote it I want to ask you to please remem- 

 ber that I am human. Do not lake me for a 

 standard, dear friends ; do not judge of Jesus 

 by the poor way in which I have succeeded 

 in following him. If you knew where i was 

 once, and how I have been helped by the 

 grace of God, up and away from that place, 

 my life might show differently to you, and 

 perhaps you would make allowances for 

 some of tlie old evil that hangs around, and 

 is lurking there still. Now, the beautiful 

 text that I have in mind, and that I want to 

 give you as a bright beacon-light to your 

 pathway is this : 



The path of the just is as the shining light, that 

 ghiueth more and more unto the peitect day.— Pruv. 



4:18. 



HOW FIVE BROTHEKS AVERE INDUCED TO GIVE UP 

 TOBACCO THROUGII READING GLEANINGS. 



!Y brotheer Je£f takes Gleanings, and keeps 

 bees. He has 11 hives. They all wintered 

 well, only one hi%e died. He feeds them on 

 corn-cobs, with sugar. I like to read Gleanings, 

 and the letters In it. 1 want you to put this letter in 

 the Tobacco Column, as 1 have been using tobacco 

 lor 12 years, both chewing and smoking, up to last 

 May, when I quit chewing and commenced smoking 

 excessively until I saw so much about it in Glean- 

 ings, when I concluded to try to see if I could not 

 quit the use of the weed altogether. 1 have not used 

 it in any form since last December. 1 had four 

 brothers who used it, but after I stopped, they have 

 followed my example, and none of us use the weed 

 now. You are the one who caused us all to stop us- 

 ing tobacco, and I don't want the smoker, but would 

 rather give you one. I may write to you again some 

 time. Kiss little Peter for me. 



Frank S. Werner. 

 Riverside, Texas, Feb. 18, 1881. 



May God bless you, boys, for your efforts 

 in the right way. You can not imagine how 

 much good it does Uncle. Amos to hear of 

 your determinations for the right. And, 

 frank, I want to thank you especially for 

 your concluding words, and for saying that 

 It is not because you want a smoker, but be- 

 cause you thought it was right to give up a 

 bad habit. Thanks, also, for remembering 

 little Iluber, for that is what we call him 

 now, instead of Peter. 



ANOTHER STORY OF DELIVERANCE FROM TOBACCO. 



Now about smoking. Don't be afraid. I am not 

 going to apply for a smoker. After 35 years of heavy 

 seasoning with tobacco smoke, I quit using it, now 

 close on to 7 years ago; but I trust from much high- 

 er and nobler motive than being paid for doing right, 

 by one of my fellow-meu, however good and kind his 

 intentions. Your endeavor, dear brother, to assist 

 any poor store to break his chains, and rise to the po- 

 sition of a man, is a good and noble one; but 1 could 

 not receive pay from you or any one else for your 

 trying to do me good. Am I wrong? During my 35 

 years' experience as a smoker (I never chewed tobac- 

 co), you may be sure I often heard and read and ar- 

 gued on the tobacco question, but never succeeded 

 in convincing myself that it was either good, useful, 

 or cleanly, although completely enslaved by it, yet 

 thinking all the time I could give it up, if I wanted 

 to. After a while I did want to, and tried, and learn- 

 ed my weakness. I tried tapering off, so as to weak- 

 en the craving by degrees; failure. It must be all, 

 or nothing. Often did I resolve that, when I had us- 

 ed up what I had on hand, I would buy no more; 

 failure again. By the time my supply was exhaust- 

 ed, my good resolutions had vanished, and I was still 

 a confirmed smoker. But, how did you give It up? 

 I will tell you. A great many years ago I realized 

 the claims of the Lord Jesus on me, and gave my 

 heart up to him, to be guided and molded according 

 to his will. During a pretty long life (now close on 

 to 03 years) he has led me on through sunshine and 

 storm, joys and sorrows; many times he has had to 

 use the rod of discipline to bring his wayward child 

 back to the path; he has taught me the depth of the 

 meaning of the loss of the firstborn, that I might un- 

 derstand a little of God's love in giving his only be- 

 gotten. Tu-night I can say Ebenezcr. About eight 

 years ago I was much exercised in my mind about 

 my coldness of heart, and an intense longing came 

 over me for a higher walk and closer communion, 

 and for days the burden of my prayer was, " Dear 

 Lord, make me more like thyself; bring me closer, 

 closer, that I may truly know what it is to walk with 

 God." One day as I was praying, the Holy Spirit (for 

 j I can attribute it to nothing else) flashed into my 

 mind the thought, " What inconsistency ! profess- 

 I ing to follow Jesus, praying to be like him ! " Could 

 I 1 for one moment bring Itim before my mind's eye, 

 i going about on his errands of mei'cy with a pipe or 

 I cigar in his mouth? That, sir, settled the tobacco 

 question for me, and my cry was, " Blessed Jesus, 

 thou wast jjurc while here on earth; thou art pure; 

 oh make mc pure ! strengthen me with thy strength 

 for the combat, for thus only can I conquer this 

 habit," and I now record his faithfulness. He heard 

 and answered, and I have learned this lesson: That 

 I for one can not be a consistent follower of Christ, 

 and continue to be a smoker. Some say the battle 

 is easy. I found it quite the reverse. I had been ac- 

 customed to smoke, the first thing alter meals, 2 or 3 

 times between meals, and the last thing before go- 

 ing to bed. I did not throw away pipe and tobacco 

 in disgust, but cried mightily for deliverance from 

 the appetite for it. For three days I was so restless 

 I hardly knew what I was doing; then the reaction 

 set in, and for three days and nights I neither atci 

 drank, nor slept. Thanks be to the Lord, he sustain" 

 ed me through it all. Not unto me, O Lord, not un- 

 to me, but unto thy great name be all the praise. 

 Let me not stand in my own strength, for I still love 

 the amell of a fragrant cigar. 



