1904 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



665 



of the peaches were hurt by the severe win- 

 ter; but apples, pears, plums, and cherries 

 stood it apparently unharmed. Apricots 

 thrive amazing-ly. Insects never trouble 

 them, and they are earlier than any peach- 

 es, and, / think, more delicious. I can 

 not see why they are not more generally 

 grown in this region. On one of our steep 

 side-hills, where the white sand almost 

 " runs " down hill in a dry time, we plant- 

 ed some rhubarb, or pie-plant. The ground 

 looked too poor and dry to grow any thing; 

 but this spring we found the largest, finest, 

 and most luxurious growth, without any 

 manure, and almost no care. The leaves 

 are a yard across; the stalks a yard long, 

 and big enough so one makes a pie. It 

 needs experimenting to find what crops are 

 suited to this region, and it is this experi- 

 menting that I enjoy. 



A " HOME " ON FIRE. 



While our neighbor Hilbert and his wife 

 were in town a few days ago his house 

 burned up. Gladys, only six years old, 

 saw it first. She told her sister Alice, 

 about fifteen, who was the only one at home 

 besides the hired girl. You will remember 

 Alice as one of my particular friends. 

 Well, I will tell you how a girl of fifteen 

 managed. She ran to the bell that is on a 

 post near the house, and rang it so vigor- 

 ously it turned over and wouldn't ring any 

 more, then after being headed off on the 

 bell she went to the telephone and yelled to 

 central, " Hilbert's house is on fire! Tell 

 everybody near us I "* Then she tried to 

 carry water into the attic where the fire 

 was, but no one could get in on account of 

 smoke and flames, so she and the girl, only 

 a little older, began to get out the goods. 

 By this time men, women, and children 

 were pouring in from all sides, and every 

 thing was got out of the lower rooms. 

 They might have taken some things out of 

 the cellar; but the barn took fire several 

 times, and took the whole crowd to save 

 that. 



Now. here are several good lessons for us 

 all. Every home should have a good bell 

 that can be rung by even a child, to be 

 used in any case of emergency, besides 

 calling the hungry men to dinner. I wish 

 also every home had a telephone. This 

 one saved a good- sized barn and contents. 

 Better have your home insured also. While 

 friend H.'s insurance ($700) does not make 

 him good, it is a big help on the new house. 

 Every home should have some boys and 

 girls (God willing), and these boys and 

 girls should be taught to bear responsibili- 



* Alice thinks toward forty people — men, women, 

 and children — were there in about ten minutes after 

 that telephone n-iessage. Bicycles flew up hill and 

 down in reckless haste. After this last faithful ser- 

 vice a boy knocked the telephone loose with an ax 

 and rescued it from the flames. One of the pleasant 

 hings about a community like this is the eager alacrity 

 with which all the neighbors rush to the aid of one of 

 their number who is in trouVile. Then is the Chris- 

 tian spirit, or, we might say, Christ spirit manifest. I 

 am sure that Sunday-school held every week (preach- 

 ing is only every other weeki lielps to encourage this 

 unselfish disposition. 



ty. Could any of my fifteen year-old read- 

 ers do any better than Alice did ? The 

 fire started in the attic from a defective 

 chimney. Had you not better look over and 

 into your chimney while the matter is up ? 

 If I remember correctly, more than half the 

 fires in country homes come from defective 

 mason or carpenter work, or both. 



THE BONNIE BEE. 



BY E. T. SPOTTSWOOD, M. D. 



The bee ! the bee ! the bonnie bee, 



That flits from flower and shrub and tree. 



When early morning's sunlight gilds 



The tree-tops on the distant hills. 



Obedient to stern duty's call. 



It hastes to gather sweets for all ; 



And, flying fast on buzzing wings. 



The happy toiler joyous sings — 



In busy flight speeds quick along. 



And crooning hums sweet labor's song ; 



And, wandering o'er the meadow's breast, 



One moment on each flower 'twill rest ; 



Now on the drooping columbine. 



And then the yellow dandelion — 



On feathery plumes that graceful nod, 



Of the fragrant yellow goldenrod ; 



Then from the wild rose ruby lips 



The dainty nectar sweetly sips. 



The modest clover yields its sweet 



To fill the hoarded store complete, 



And from the linden's leaf it drew 



The luscious stores of honey-dew^, 



And every bloom and every flower 



To its caress yields up its dower. 



Then when the length'ning shadows crawl. 



And on the flowery landscape fall. 



And setting sun's fast-fading light 



Gives warning of the coming night, 



It homeward wings its rapid way 



To clcse the long and happy day. 



Is it not true that even we 



May learn some truths from Bonnie Bee — 



To shun the bitter that we know. 



And gather sweets where'er we go, 



And bring the treasures we have found 



To lighten up life's weary round? 



Handy Wagon 



Only 25 inches high. Steel Wheels 

 ■1 inch Tires. Carries any load two 

 horses can pull. 



We furnish any size steel wheels, of 

 aTiy width, forany axle. Catalogue free. 

 Empire Mfg. Co., Box 91C Quincy, 111 



