1883 



JUVENILE GLEANINGS. 



177 



word more that isn't jestinf? ? May I not 

 very soon hear the glad news that you are 

 (or have been for some time past) standing 

 with your good husband out before tlie 

 world, on the side of the dear Master, who 

 has it iu his power to give eternal life V 



THE TOY BRICKS. 



A SHOKT STORY OF AT^MOST 30 YEARS AGO. 



MY youngest sister sends the foJlowing: 

 Before Jua'enile Gleanings was commenc- 

 ed I Intended to have the little folks hear, 

 through the journal, of a box of miniature black- 

 walnut bricks, made for me by my elder brother 

 Amos, in the year 1854, I think. They were smooth 

 and true, and, if I remember aright, were 'iM inches 

 in length, IJ.i iu width, and Vi thick. I suppose that, 

 with the machinery he now has, he could mike in 

 one minute what then would have taken him an 

 hour to do. A box, with strips of leather tacked 

 from the cover to the opposite side of the box, so it 

 would open from cither side (made by that same 

 brother), was a curiosity to many, and now he is ed- 

 itor of Gleanings, and yet pleases little folks as 

 well as the older ones. Mattie E. Holmes. 



Medina, Ohio. Feb. 2G, 1883, 



Was it really so long ago? This sister has 

 now little girls of her own. almost old enough 

 to write for the Juvenile themselves. A 

 few days ago one of them said. *' Come again 

 some time, Uncle Amos, and stay a good 

 long while." I remember thinking at the 

 time I made the bricks (you see I was just 

 14 years old then), that I was getting to be a 

 pretty fine mechanic, for they were sawed 

 off so true that I could stand ten of them on 

 one end, one on the other, without their 

 falling over. I cut them ofl: in a little miter- 

 box ; and when I found my little sister was 

 so much pleased with them, I felt quite hap- 

 py. Some day I may give you a picture of 

 the curious box that opened on either side. 



'WITH WHAT MEASURE YE METE, IT 

 SUALIi BE MEASURED TO VOU." 



ISjlHERE is nothing in the Bible put there simply 

 to All up. We are left at liberty to accept or 

 reject its teachings, but are accountable for 

 our privileges. Every good word we have ever 

 heard is a drop of mercy; and as we have "freely 

 received," we should "freely give." While we are 

 under obligations to others for our pleasures, we 

 should make others under obligation to us for their 

 pleasures. 



If we would prosper in this world, we must have 

 exercise. Our brain may be ever so ready to act; 

 but if you allow it to feed upon Its own vain imag- 

 ination or morbid fancies, it will grow weak; and 

 through inaction our spirits also pine and die. 



If a respectable neighbor refuses to work in the 

 Sabbath-school or the temperance cause, or any 

 work of reformation, that should not deter us from 

 doing our duty. Our friends may be very worthy 

 persons; but should they stammer, or lisp. It would 

 not be very good taste for us to imitate them. We 

 should show them much greater respect by continu- 

 ing to act our own part. 



Seme may say they have never taken a step in the 



direction of right; and others, "seeing their good 

 works," might stare. Better let them stare till they 

 starve, than for you to neglect the opportunities af- 

 forded you for doing good, and your preparation for 

 eternity. If our bees were as selBsh as we are, we 

 should soon quit caring for them. Let us proflt by 

 their example, and not hesitate to take advantage 

 of every opportunity to do the little or the much 

 our hands find to do. If we did not add cue more 

 cent to the ninety-nine, we should never have the 

 dollar. AVe should not despise the day of small 

 things. "All great reforms move slowly." Let us 

 go forth bravely, sowing seed, and without a doubt 

 we shall "come again, bringing our sheaves with 

 us." 



If we were without a home, and a man of wealth 

 and power shouM offer us one where all our wants 

 might be fully supplied, and yet we refuse to eat 

 and drink, and spend our time complaining, because 

 of our hungry condition, is it probable that we 

 should accomplish much in brLnifing others where 

 they might receive the same beiietit? V/c are told 

 that our Father has made all things ready, and we 

 ai-e commanded to go out into the highways and 

 hedges, and compel others to come in; and "inas- 

 much as ye -have done it unto one of t'»e least of 

 these, ye have done it unto me;" and th« invitation 

 is, " Whosoever will may come." 



Anderson, Ind., Jan., 1883. Em.ma Mohan. 



A liETTER FROM OUR FRIEM5 VICTO- 

 RIA FIELDS. 



eUR teacher being sick, school is closed for the 

 time, and I have had some liitle time to pay 

 attention to the bees. On the 26th of last 

 month they came out and played as they do in the 

 summer. From one hive they spotted snosv all full 

 of yellow specks. What is the reason of that? I 

 called papa, and he hobbl«d out to the be»-yard, but 

 could not tell the reason, unless it was dysentery. 

 Papa told me to hunt in the ABC. I soon satisfied 

 myself that such was the case. Now, there has been 

 no weather since that when bees could fly, so we 

 moved the straw packing of that hire yesterday, 

 and it appeared damp and frosty; but the bees ap- 

 peared all right, so we closed them up. Our other 

 hive, the bees came out of, but did not spot the 

 snow. I never felt so anxious about our little pets 

 as I do this winter. I suppose it i$ because I take 

 more Interest iu them. Papa says if he is spared, 

 and gets able to work again, we shall have a better 

 way of wintering by another winter. 



I like to read Mrs. Harrison's letters. I think al- 

 most any person could understand her views of bee- 

 keeping. She is original and plain. Have you bee 

 candy for sale? I lent ray catalogue, and it got lost. 

 Papa says I must get some foundation, and tr^ if I 

 cannot get a better yield of honey, if the season 

 proves good. I do not think it would pay to sow 

 seeds expressly for bee pasture in this countrj% when 

 there are so many acres of wild flowers that bloom 

 at almost all seasons of the year. Linden honey will 

 be scarce hereafter in this neighborhood, for the 

 people that own timber are cutting it all for pulp 

 wood. V. J. Fields. 



Valley Point, Pa., Feb. 1, 1883. 



We have given up keepingTcandy for sale, 

 Victoria, since we have found the Good 

 candy does so well. I pretty nearly agree 



