848 



GLEANLNGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Dec. 



at last he came here, all nature rejoiced. The ten- 

 der young buds opened their leaves when he touch- 

 ed them, and the grass sprang- up under his light 

 footsteps. He is better liked than any of his broth- 

 er-winds, because he is so mild and gentle. 



At the present time the north wind seems to have 

 obtained the predominance ; but we may hope, 

 when spring comes again, the soft south wind will 

 once more favor us with his presence. 



Rockton, 111. AuxT Vic. 



-^ -~m- II 



CALIFORNIA. 

 Santa Barbara and its Surroundings. 



BV AUNT KATIE. 



EAU JUVENILES:— We took a trip to Santa 

 Barbara, the lovely city by the sea, last 

 month, to attend the county fair. We had a 

 nice rain, commencing the 13th of Oct. It 

 was cloudy and showery for a week, and 

 then it cleared oft' warm and delightful. We stai-t- 

 ed just one week from the day it commenced to 

 rain, and the hillsides were thick with green grass; 

 and where the road went through stubble-llelds, the 

 grain that had fallen on to the dry earth during the 

 harvesting had grown one inch in length. It sur- 

 jjrised even us, who are used to the wonderful 

 things California can do. The roads were splendid, 

 and the lovely fresh green grass was a perpetual 

 delight. 



We took our tent, bedding, and provisions with us, 

 so we were independent, and could stop when and 

 where we liked. The first night we stayed with 

 friends at their urgent retjuest, and the ne.vt day 

 we took our dinner at the foot of the hill that leads 

 up to the Las Cruces hot springs I told you of last 

 year. Of coui-se, we went u)) and had a delightful 

 bath. We found an equestrienne party just start- 

 ing away. There were three ladies and one gentle- 

 man. They had come the daj' before from Santa 

 Barbara by the Coast Koad, 30 miles; stopped at a 

 farm-house for the night, and then ha*! come to the 

 springs, 8 miles, took a bath, and were going to 

 Santa Ynez, 15 miles, stay all night, and then over 

 the mountains another road home. How many of 

 you could do that, think you"/ This is a great coun- 

 try for horseback riding, and many a laugh is had at 

 the awkardncssof people fresh from the east, when 

 they attempt to saddle a bronco, or California horse. 

 The women we saw at the springs were some of 

 Santa Barbara's best ladies. They saddled, bridled, 

 and mounted without assistance. Each one had a 

 cup at her belt, and a pair of saddle-bags behind 

 the saddle, with toilet appurtenances in them. They 

 filed gently down the mountain, after saluting us. 

 We took our bath, then on through the wonderful 

 pass of Gariota. The first few times one goes 

 through that cleft in the mountains, even the 

 strongest quail a little when they pass the " hang- 

 ing rock." About 100 feet above the road, a mon- 

 ster rock, weighing hundreds of tons, seems just 

 ready to fall; and when it does fall, the road will be 

 blocked for a good while; for there is only room 

 now for the noisy brook and the road, through the 

 pass. 



After watering our horses at the last crossing of 

 the brook yve went on to the Gariota landing, where 

 the children were delighted by the sight of a steam- 

 er loading wheat, barley, and wool, for her trip to 

 San Francisco. We stayed all night at Gariota, then 



on to Goleta, 8 miles from Santa Barbara. While 

 we were going there we followed the shore of the 

 sea all the way, 28 miles. We were much amused 

 at the pelicans. They would fly up over the sea 

 about 50 feet, and then drop splash into the water. 

 They were fishing. The sea-gulls were very much 

 interested in the fishing also, for they generally 

 managed to be on hand the moment the pelican 

 emerged from the water, and we suppose they 

 sometimes got the flsh that the pelican had dove for, 

 because we could hear them scolding in a rather 

 whining voice, when two or three sea-gulls attacked 

 them at once. The telegraph wire was on the left 

 of the road; as we journeyed along we were talking 

 about the number of birds upon the wire, when 

 down came a flock of wild canaries. One cii-cled 

 around the horses' heads, and then came and 

 alighted on the lines, within 6 inches of Mr. Hilton's 

 hands. It turned its cute little head first on one 

 side and then on that; and as Ernest grasped at it, 

 it flew away. Wasn't that cute to come and greet 

 us in that way? We have wondered since if it could 

 not have been a tame one that had got lost. The 

 nearest house was three miles away, but that is not 

 far for a bird. 



I find that I have made my letter so long that I 

 can not tell you any thing about what we saw at 

 Santa Barbara, but will in my ne.\t one, if Mr. Root 

 will let nie. Acnt Katie Hilton. 



Los Alamos, Cal., Nov. 9, 1881. 



]3y all means, go on, Aunt Katie, and tell 

 us the rest. Travels are always interesting, 

 and more especially are they when they come 

 from vour wonderful State of California. 



LETTER FROM TOKIO, JAPAN. 



IM (tru REGULAR CORRESPONDENT, ADA 

 KRECKER. 



EAR MR. BOOT:— I was much surprised and 

 pleased a few days ago, to receive a postal 

 card from you, crediting me one dollar for 

 the letter of mine which appeared in the 

 June number of Gleanings. In looking 

 for something to select for my dollar, I found a list 

 of books in the May number of Gleanings, which 

 I showed to mamma. She thinks I shall enjoy 

 "Moody's Best Thoughts and Discourses," so please 

 send me that. I thank you very much for the Pil- 

 grim's Progress you sent me. I read it as soon as 

 it came. 



Mamma showed Gle.^nings to a friend of hers. 

 They have often said they would like to know you 

 personally, because they think you must be a very 

 good man, and I think so too. They very much en- 

 joy Our Homes, and your answers to your corres- 

 pondents. 



The weather is getting cooler now. We have cool 

 mornings and evenings, though the middle of the 

 day is quite warm. Here in Ja])an, from the tenth 

 of June till the tenth of July we have what we call 

 the " rainy season." This year it was not so bad; 

 but some years it rains nearly if not every day; not 

 a good earnest rain that makes one feel happy for 

 the flowers and bees, but a drizzly rain that stops 

 every little while for a five-minutes' rest. Then 

 from the tenth of July till the middle of August we 

 have the very hottest weather; but this year we 

 fared very well in this line also. The fruits, too, 

 are far better than usual. Mamma says this year. 



