i96 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



into town with loads of produce, and in the 

 afternoon see them going home with the 

 "things" their owners have bought. Our 

 home is in the "golden mean" between city 

 and country. It stands in the suburbs. It is 

 the first house upon the right of Saginaw 

 street as we drive in from the country. Upon 

 one side we can look out on cultivated field, 

 on forest and farm house ; upon the other 

 side the eye falls on the spires and tall chim- 

 neys of a bright, beautiful, bustling city of 

 12,000 inhabitants. When we awake in the 

 night and look out through the open bed- 

 room door, we can see the electric light glis- 

 ten and glimmer as it comes in the f rcmt win- 

 dows and dances about upon upon the nickle 

 trimmings of the coal stove ; in the daytime 

 we are often amused by the queer antics of 

 a little striped " chipmuck " that has ven- 

 tured to dig himself a home in the terrace 

 just under where Ivy stands with her dolly 

 and cab. He has become so tame that — 

 well, he will let the little girls chase him 

 into his hole. — Just a few words more about 

 those little girls. How well we remember 

 the morning the twins came to brighten our 

 lives. Side by side they were laid in the big 

 rocking chair out in the'kitchen, and covert d 

 with a soft blanket. Just as morning's rosy 

 light was chasing away the darkness, we 

 slipped out unnoticed to where they lay, and 

 softly turned down the blanket to " see how 

 they looked." We don't know how new- 

 born babies usually behave, but these two 

 opened their little brown eyes and, for a mo- 

 ment, looked up at us. That moment will 

 never be forgotten. A feeling went through 

 us that thrilled like an electric shock. We 

 felt twice a man. Let come what would, we 

 would stand between those little brown eyes 

 and hunger, cold and hardships. One year 

 and a half later, another little girl joined the 

 circle. Three babies ! The house was small, 

 and the sitting room and ofiice were one. 

 Many an article have we written with baby 

 fingers clinging to our knees. Often have 

 we thought how pleasant it would be to have 

 an office all to ourselves, where we could get 

 away from the noise and chatter. When we 

 bought the house that is now our home, we 

 expected such would be the case, but it isn't. 

 The girls will bring their playthings clear 

 through the kitchen, dining room, hall and 

 sitting room, into the office, in order that 

 they may "be where papa is." Their doll's 

 cab stands under the imposing stone and 

 their house plants have crept in upon the 



windows, but we have not the heart to drive 

 them out. We little know what the future 

 has in store, and the time may come when 

 we will look back longingly to the days in 

 which our little daughters made a play room 

 of our office. By the way. Ivy takes quite 

 a little delight in watching for the gray coat 

 and bright buttons of Uncle Sam's postman 

 who, at half past eight, comes in with a nod 

 and a smile, and lays the bundle of mail on 

 the desk. She likes to stand by and see the 

 letters opened. Her opinion of a letter is 

 based entirely upon the amount of money it 

 contains. A letter that contains no money, 

 is of little value in her estimation. 



Friends, little did we think, when we be- 

 gan, that this article would be so long ; but 

 thought after thought came crowding on, im- 

 patient for expression, and the pen glided 

 on and on as though bewitched, but it must 

 be stopped. Why have we written as we have? 

 Because we never meet a subscriber who 

 does not ask : "How are you succeeding 

 with the Review ? " and we thought nothing 

 would be more appreciated at the end of 

 this second volume, than to allow all a little 

 peep behind the curtain — to let them catch 

 a glimpse of the home life of the Review, 

 its editor and his family. If our pride in the 

 Review has at times seemed extravagant, 

 please remember "it's our baby." 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



Chopping Cord Wood, "Winter Dairying or 



Winter Poultry Keeeping Combine 



With Bee-Keeping Better 



Than Small Fruits. 



C. C. MILLEB. 



§8 0MEWHAT the same reasons that 

 S^ would decide a man in selecting a vo- 

 l) cation independent of bee-keeping, 

 would also decide in selecting a busi- 

 ness to combine with bee-keeping. If a man 

 were to ask me about it, one of my first 

 questions would be : " What can you do, and 

 what do you like to do?" Otherwise I 

 might advise him to teach singing classes, 

 only to be told that he couldn't tell one tune 

 from another. Still, there is no question 

 but one business may combine better than 

 another with bee-keeping, allowing that a 

 man's ability in each is equal. A business 

 to combine well with bee-keeping must be 

 one that allows comparative leisure at the 

 time when bee-work presses. Chopping 

 cord wood would, in some instances, be the 

 proper thing ; teaching singing school in 



