264 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



May 



an idea of what we think would conduce to 

 our happiness ; but are we sure our judg- 

 ment is good in the matter ? Look around 

 you and see if it would be safe to give every- 

 body all they are striving for. Do you see 

 how many there are who want things that 

 would be almost certain to bring them un- 

 happiness V Well, have you an idea you are 

 an exception to the general rule V About an 

 hour ago I asked the boys and girls at the 

 noon service what it was we needed most 

 to-day. One of the girls replied," Patience." 

 The foreman of the saw-room whispered so 

 that j\Ir. Gray heard him, "Dry sections." 

 At this the foreman of the packing-room 

 suggested faintly that we needed '• some 

 chati hives." Then one of the printers said 

 we needed some pajjer in the press-room, to 

 print Gleanings on. 1 was glad to hear 

 that all seemed most intent on the where- 

 with to make progress in the work that lay 

 before them, and that their interest was my 

 interest ; or, in other words, that they might 

 serve their fellow-meir in a way that would 

 be acceptable in God's sight. Reader, what 

 do you need most now V Is it something 

 for your own gratification, or something 

 that might help you in your great work of 

 serving humanity ? Did you ever think the 

 word servant was a pleasant word V It is a 

 happy word to me. Jesus, my beloved mas- 

 ter, was a servant, and therefore I feel it a 

 great honor to serve, even in my own hum- 

 ble way. Well, most of us have an idea of 

 what it is we need ; but only God the Fa- 

 ther knows exactly what we need. Are we 

 willing to trust him ? Are we satisfied he is 

 studying our wants and best interests, just 

 as a kind father studies the' best interests of 

 his children ? Ernest is now home from 

 college, broken down in health. We are dis- 

 cussing sending him on a visit among bee- 

 keepers ; and if he makes you a call, you 

 will know why he came. We wish to have 

 him get well and strong, that he may be a 

 good and faithful servant ; not a servant to his 

 parents, but a servant of the bee-keepers of 

 the world, and humanity in general ; or, if you 

 choose, a servant of God. We do not expect 

 him to grow strong by having an easy time, 

 nor does God expect you to grow strong by 

 having an easy time always. Instead of send- 

 ing Ernest to Florida, we have suggested to 

 him the frosts of Canada, and a visit to our 

 stout and sturdy old hero, D. A. Jones. 



The question that tries our faith seems to 

 be, Does God really; notice all tlie little 

 events of our lives ? is he like a kind father, 

 watching and studying us with our wants 

 and needs V In this matter of serving that I 

 have been speaking of, most of us are averse 

 to being called servants. Quite often have 

 people asked me if I suppot^ed any of the 

 women in my employ would be willing to do 

 housework. After thinking of the matter a 

 while, I usually told them that I rather 

 thought they would not. JSlow, I don't pro- 

 pose to discuss the matter here, of how com- 

 petent help can be obtained for household 

 tasks, but I have been thinking it is not the 

 girls alone, but mankind in general, who 

 dislike the idea of being considered a serv- 

 ant; and yet the word when taken in the 

 right sense, is a glorious one. The life of 



our Savior was one of continued service ; 

 and if we are to be followers of him, we too 

 must serve ; and God's plan seems to be to 

 make us strong and good by requiring ser- 

 vice at our hatids, and continued services. 



Last Sabbath our pastor spoke to us about 

 the ladder of Jacob's dream ; a ladder that 

 started from earth, and that reached up to 

 heaven. lie said, that with most of us our 

 lives might be considered ladders in one 

 sense. \Ve are all anxious to climb ; that is, 

 we wish to grow wiser and better as we 

 grow older. We wish to do something in 

 this world. Well, friends, is it not true, 

 also, that God wishes us to do something ? 

 He wishes us to grow in every thing that'is 

 good and pure, noble and true. It seems to 

 be his wish that we shall grow better and 

 better, serving others rather than ourselves. 

 Jesus once told his disciples, you know, 

 that if any one would be greatest among 

 them, he should be their servant. Now, is 

 it not true that our greatest trials and difli- 

 culties in life cometrom our being unwilling 

 servants V If we could have the faith to be- 

 lieve that God is always watching us, and 

 watching us lovingly, could we not take up 

 with the necessary duties that lie before us, 

 with a better grace than Ave often do V lie 

 knows full well that these duties are often 

 grievous, and hard to bear ; but his wish is 

 that we should come tj him. How often he 

 has said, in substance, " Come unto me, all 

 ye that are weary and heavy laden "! 



A few days ago I saw a little child playing 

 with her blocks. She was piling them up, 

 and standing on them. Her fatlier told her 

 she would fall. She didn't heed him, how- 

 ever; but pretty soon, dovvn she went, with 

 a tumble, and was evidently hurt. " 'I'here, 

 I told you so," said he; "next time you 

 must mind what I say." It was evident 

 from the looks of her face that she was ready 

 to cry ; but with a determined eftort she 

 held back the tears, although her little face 

 showed phiiiily the evidence of pain. What 

 did she do ? I will tell you. She scampered 

 as fast as her little feet would carry her in 

 the direction of where she knew her mother 

 was, threw herself vehemently into her moth- 

 er's lap, and that soothed the paiu. Did she 

 do well V To be sure, she di.d. In the same 

 wayGodw^ould always have us come to him. 

 No matter it we have been disobedient and 

 headstrong. When we get into trouble, no 

 matter how the trouble came, our duty is to 

 come to him, trouble and all, and lay it at his 

 feet. 



Now, when we look about us in the world 

 we see many things that seem to contradict 

 the idea that all things shall work together 

 for good ; and, in fact, the Bible does not 

 promise that all things shall work together 

 for good. 'JMie promise is only to those who 

 love God. The most impoi tant, — perhaps I 

 might say the only important thing in life, — 

 is that we shouldlove God. Don't you re- 

 member the text, " Seek ye first the king- 

 dom of God and his righteousness, and all 

 these things shall be added"? Of course, 

 all these promises can not refer to a bad 

 man, or even to a selfish man. Tliey are 

 only to those who seek to have their hearts 

 and their whole lives right before God. 



