170 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



July 



room enough, and all -who would like to help 

 in the work of encouraging temperance, hones- 

 ty and purity, should certainly be with us and 

 feel the support that comes from unity In any 

 movement. The pilgrims were banded togeth- 

 er when they founded our nation ; shall not 

 we, their children, preserve our nation by a 

 similar bond V 



Twenty years ago, when I was 19 years old, 

 I was in the habit of spending the greater part 

 of my Sabbaths, roaming about in quest of 

 some selfish diversion. About five miles from 

 where I now live is a small town, where one 

 or more saloons have been kept open, week 

 days and Sundays for perhaps 25 years. In 

 spite of the leagues, and every influence that 

 could ]>e brought to bear, they have been 

 steadily kept up, and now, for miles around, it 

 is a gathering place for our young men every 

 Sabbath afternoon ; and yet all seem to agree 

 that nothing can be done about it. At the 

 time mentioned — 20 years ago — there was held 

 at a school house near, a Sunday school ; and 

 I, with some other young men used frequently 

 to visit both the school and the saloons, and 

 perhaps with about the same incentive, viz., 

 to pass away the time ; if we did interrupt the 

 services now and then, I fear we tho't or cared 

 very little about it. As time passed, the sa- 

 loons became more frequented and the school 

 less, and very soon the latter broke down en- 

 tirely under the pernicious influence of the 

 former. How could it well do otherwise ? 



For a great part of my life, my Sundays 

 have been dull dreary days, and when they 

 interfered with my usual week day duties, I 

 have sometimes felt impatient about it. I 

 want work to do, either with brain or hands, 

 and like the juveniles in my class, I have 

 sometimes thought it would be a relief, if I 

 could only be allowed to hop skip and jump 

 up and down the aisles during the services. X 

 am very glad indeed, to tell you that now my 

 Sundays are the pleasantest days in the week, 

 and that I almost count the days until Sunday. 

 Why V Because I am busy : perhaps as busy as 

 on any week day ; and what do you suppose I 

 am doing ? In an humble way I am trying to 

 teach the children to be truthful and honest in 

 that old school house every Sunday afternoon. 

 Come and see: it is half past four and school 

 is out . The pleasant greetings and words of 

 encouragement have been received, together 

 with the smiles from the little ones who as yet 

 are only half acquainted. The last one has 

 gone and as I close the door to the old school 

 house, memory goes back to the time when 1 

 was a selfish careless boy with no firm rock of 

 principle under my feet, and but little thought 

 or care for the downward course which some 

 of those around me were taking. We have 

 started home ; across the bridge going up the 

 hill is a pleasant looking throng. There are 

 little ones in their neat Sunday clothes, there 

 are young men and women, the middle aged, 

 and a few with gray hairs. All are passing 

 along so quietly and peacefully, that as we 

 mentally review the subjects with which they 

 have just been interested, we can hardly help 

 giving vent in words to a feeling of thankful- 

 ness that the old life has passed away, and 

 that we are one of the number who are doing 

 their humble best to try apd induce humanity 

 to lead the lives they are capable of. 



How shall we induce, not only the juveniles ^ 

 but children of an older growth, to Ijelieve 

 that truthfulness is best ; to have faith that 

 it is of far moi'e moment to be honest, than to> 

 get rich, and to open their eyes and take a 

 wider view of things, comprehending the extent 

 of selfishness that tBUl govern humanity, if un- 

 restrained? When I was a child, my mother 

 taught me that God was watching my inmost 

 thoughts, that I could not deceive him in the 

 smallest particular ; so long as I retained the 

 faith of childhood that such was the case, 1 

 was on safe ground comparitively, but as sooa 

 as my faith l^egan to waver, just so soon did I 

 begin to get selfish, scheming and untruthful. 

 Judging humanity as I see it, I really know of 

 no other way of absolutely pytiveutiug the 

 disposition to twist and evade truth, in the mul- 

 titude of ways that present themselves, except 

 by teaching that the Great Master who made 

 the trees, birds, and bees, who rules all things, 

 and made us to stand at the head of all, cares 

 for each and every one of us, and reads our 

 thoughts. There is a little boy in our town 

 who is so profane, quarrelsome and hateful, as 

 some expi-ess it, that I have sometimes won- 

 dered if any thing could make him serious, 

 respectful, and humble. The time came when 

 I felt satisfied that he was all these, and it was 

 when he was before a large audience during a 

 concert. For the first time I sav/ him anxious 

 to acquit himself credibly, and he quailed 

 before the sea of eyes before him, in a way 

 that was really touching. He was then for a 

 few moments humble and truthful, in his help- 

 lessness. Oh, that my little friends could ail 

 feel that the eye of God is always upon them, 

 that they should be as careful before him, as if 

 the eyes of all the kings and queens of earth 

 were upon them, and should be equally asham- 

 ed of a wrong or impure thought. It is some- 

 times said that we must be se'lfish, that every 

 body must look out for "No. 1," for if he does 

 not, no one else will. Have you not faith that 

 God will care for Ids children? He may not 

 give them all the money they think they need, 

 for very likely he can see that it is not best for 

 them. But he icill give them just what they 

 expect to purchase with money, but which 

 money often fails to buy ; content, peace, and 

 happiness, if they can only have faith that he 

 knows best, and will consent to submit to his 

 wishes. 



A friend sent $21.00 for 3 honey extractors, 

 but forgot to give the size of his frame. Before 

 he could write again, his honey season had 

 passed and he asked to have the money return- 

 ed. Do you know that at first I could not 

 send the money back without some selfish 

 thoughts, such as wishing I had sent him the 

 largest size without asking? And I am really 

 afraid I began to speculate whether I could 

 not by some pretext send them along, and 

 thus keep the .f21.00. Soon, conscience said, 

 "Do you know that God is \vatching'you, and 

 that perhaps he is even novr watching to see 

 how much of a soldier you are going to be? 

 how much money it will be safe to entrust in 

 your care, and vv'hat kind of a use you will be 

 likely to make of it? The money is not yours ; 

 send it back this instant. How can you ex- 

 pect your pupils in the Sabbath school to give 

 up willingly what is not rightfully theirs, and 

 listen to your teachings, if you are not sulM- 



