George Cardwell : or, A month in a country parish
dcc<_ 5t^d d ccc • <1 <cc -,CC Ctc«. cCC>CCCCi ccc dc cc; sr<<r<rd CCC dC CC 5SE d?C ^d^ cCdcc ccd cc ^r« d* cs: d cc d<fi .eddc - la .< -*!<& C .cifdo c Cdd c est ■:<■ -1_CCC s, die CC <^cCc CC sccc «rr<r • decdc? * deed I CCfCC ' CccCC C C'.CC C dCCcjd CC CC <CC CC 3 c< • C Cc C Ct •'"e^^-^'C'CC- ?CC«S*?1^Cc< x c ^-^■^ cc to #^dC:Cd #=- ^C^'«:c«^c He #y<2CC £c ^Sairjg.<t*r SK (fyC^p <ccc r ■ C 'Sr^S^ *roCC. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. §tf»IU, ifcr . Shelf MG A7"H UNITED STATES OF A^IEKICA. Sec ^ "2<^d- :^C< ■if icc c&c c CC CC'4 C£ d: - «c c <- :■ «E -<C- - <sCC ■ \'<SC :.cc CcCC c (C CCC ceo ccC <s c dCCC <1 *dc_c<c <:-■ ■ d'.C «j . d<c <* c<ro c.. -■ :c«c fccc dec c:c C'cc <C ^ c*f ^>: ^<^fce?3flC ;cc;<~^, < *TC <LjCc =% «^cc-^~ «d <L' iC «^CjC cccc 9;' '«S<- ■«?-■-■ CC ;V;.<L. <T'.;C_ <S X ^ c «- ' Cc C :«W c c <s ccc <S--: .<3VC «g > e«.C <S (" cc <£ cc « «&C«C t£;«d c ccCC;-; <C'C OC'<^l GEORGE CARDWELL; OR, % Utonfjr in a Cffttttirg famjj. BY N. D. MORGAN. " But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied tho faith, and is worse than an infidel."— Tim., v. 8. ^ggpi^, NEW-YORK : DANA AND COMPANY 381 Br o ad way. 1856. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by N. D. MORGAN, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New-York. PUDNEY & RUSSELL, PRINTERS, 79 John-Street, N. Y. M The practice of Life Insurance, in any country, indicates A STATE OF SOCIETY WHERE HIGH MORAL FEELING AND COMMERCIAL confidence exist." — Jenkin Jones. TABLE OF CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION Aim of the Writer — Want of Information on the subject of Life Insurance — Its applicability to the every-day wants of life not appre- ciated— Advertisements do not reach the minds of the people- Literature of Life Insurance — Price, Pocock, De Morgan— Writers Invited to the Work — Educate the School-boy. CHAPTER I. Meeting of Mr, Pendleton and Judge Mason — Sad Information — Paying off Mortgage — Death of George Cardwell — Arrangements for the Funeral — What Judge Mason thinks of Life Insurance — Was George Cardwell's life Insured 1 — Rich Estates. CHAPTER II. Mr. Pendleton Leaves the Judge — Mr. Pendleton talks with his wife about Insuring his Life — No Encouragement from that Quarter — Mr. Pendleton passes an uneasy night — Determines not to pass another such — Goes to the Village, and while there Insures his Life — Judge Mason and Mr. Goodlove — Practical Christian — Causes of Crime — Remedy. CHAPTER III. Day of the Funeral — The Church — The Sermon — Mr. Pendleton's Secret — Mr. P. "set" in his ways — Burning of his Barn — Running in Debt. D TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER IV. House of Mr Pendleton after the Funeral of George Cardwell — Mrs. Pendleton's consent to an Insurance on the Life of her Husband — Too late to Disapprove — Mr. Pendleton Insured — Joy of the Couple — Happy Evening — Family Devotions — Not Afraid to Die. CHAPTER V. Keeping an Appointment — The Judge's Library — Works on Life Insurance — No New Thing Under the Sun — Cost of Insurance Well Thought of — Pious Fraud — Forgiveness — Mr. Pendleton Eloquent — Congratulation. CHAPTER VI. The House of the Widow Cardwell — Character of the Wife of George Cardwell — Responsibility of a Mother — Doing a Duty — George Cardwell, at the suggestion of his Wife, Insures his Life — Payment of the Policy — Payment of the Mortgage — Money in Bank — Happy Family. CHAPTER VII. Change of Scene — Death-bed of Judge Mason — Family Affairs — Nancy Mason — The Orphans — Funeral of the Judge. APPENDIX. Insurance of the Lives of Clergymen — Crime and its Causes — Relief for Widows and Orphans — Bibliographical Catalogue of Works on Life Insurance, &c. "Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the father- less, AND HIM THAT HAD NONE TO HELP HIMJ THE BLESSING OF HIM THAT WAS READY TO PERISH CAME UPON ME : AND I CAUSED THE WIDOW'S HEART TO SING FOR JOY." — Job XXIX. 11, 13. INTRODUCTION. INTRODUCTION, In presenting to the public the following pages, it has been the sole aim of the writer to render to that public a benefit, convinced that if the public mind can be directed or induced to consider the importance of Life Insurance, hundreds, nay, thou- sands will be found ready and anxious to avail themselves of the safeguard vouchsafed to them by this eminently moral, humane, and Christian Institution. That more have not already enrolled themselves as members of Life Assurance Associations, is be- cause the community are not advised of the advantages to be derived from such investment. In those sections of the country where Life Insurance is now most practised, the subject is but imperfectly understood, and among the most 10 INTRODUCTION. enlightened and best educated — those who may be supposed to understand the subject scientifically, its applicability to the every-day wants of the community is to a great extent unappreciated. It is not the fault of the people that they do not comprehend the working of a system 01 which they have but scarcely heard. The busi- ness cards of the several Institutions, which from day to day appear in the newspapers, are passed over by the general reader as a matter not de- manding attention. The handsomely printed " Prospectus " so extensively circulated, is looked upon with but little more favor, and is cast aside among the thousand and one similar documents of an advertising character. Life Insurance, however, is not without a liter-' ature, and however small claim this little effort may have to take a place in any department, the writer is proud to say that the subject is not un- worthy of treatment by no mean pen. A Price, a Pocock, a De Morgan, and many others, have done much to enlighten the world on this most interesting and all-important subject. But their INTRODUCTION. 11 works are of a scientific character, and wholly unsuited to the wants of the general reader. The subject, therefore, is in need of a literature of a popular character, and it is to be hoped that its importance will, at no distant day, stimulate some friend of humanity to devote the talent which he may possess, in producing a popular treatise here suggested. This little volume, of course, makes no pretensions in such direction. It is put forth, however, not without hope that it may, in the " changes and chances," fall upon some patches of "good soil," spring up, and bring forth fruit an hundred fold — that it may be like the seed of faith, springing into a goodly tree, with branches wide-spreading, and protecting from the blasts of adversity, the widows and orphaned sons and daughters of our land — that it may be the begin- ning of a new era, and the advent of an extended and systematic adoption of the principle, that to every man whose income depends on his own life or exertions, and on whom others are dependent for support, an Insurance on his life is a para- mount duty. i 12 INTRODUCTION. Let this principle be inculcated in our schools, and our sons and daughters who are soon to be fathers and mothers, will understand their duty to themselves, their family, their neighbor and their God. GEORGE CARDWELL; % P0iit| in a Couitirg fjarbjr- CHAPTER I. It was on a sharp frosty morning in early No- vember, that Mr. Pendleton, with clown-cast looks, and quick nervous movement, passed up the leaf- covered avenue leading to the old family mansion of Judge Mason. Approaching the entrance, he was accosted by the Judge with a frank " Good morning, Mr. Pendleton : where have you been so early, and why so sober?" " (rood morning, Judge : well may you ask, why so sober. I am just returning from our neighbor Card well, who, but an hour since, breathed his last. Have you not heard, Judge, of the sad accident which occurred yesterday, in the family of our nearest neighbor?" 14 GEORGE CARDWELL J OR, " "Why not a word of it. Pray, what has hap- pened ?" " Is it possible that you are not informed of the terrible circumstance of yesterday ? But then I sup- pose they were so much occupied with running for a Doctor, and such like, they had no time to come up here. And, indeed, had I not been passing the house at the time, I should probably have been as ignorant as yourself, Judge, of the great cala- mity." " Not a word of it, — not a word of it. Pray, proceed." " Well, Judge, you know that Mr. Cardwell was about paying off the mortgage on his little place, and had called in his money which he had loaned out among his neighbors ; I myself owed him three hundred dollars, which I paid only last Monday. Well, you know he was about paying off the mort- gage—" " Yes, Mr. Pendleton, I was aware of that, — I was aware of that. Pray, Mr. Pendleton, go on, — go on." "Well, he had just packed up his money, and, while changing his coat, laid it on the mantle- shelf, when, by some accident or other, the package was knocked off the shelf into the great blazing fire, and in the attempt of Mr. Cardwell, poor fel- A MONTH IN A COUNTRY PARISH. 15 low ! to extricate and save his money, he was most awfully burned in his hands and wrists, which, after a night of agony, caused his death but an hour since." " Why, Mr. Pendleton, you pain me beyond mea- sure, with the sad story. Poor fellow, indeed, — poor fellow, indeed, — after having strived for more than five years to save up the money to clear his little place, to have the fond hopes of his family blasted at one fell swoop." " Yes, Judge, it's a sad business, indeed. I really do not know what will be done by the disconsolate wTidow, who, you know, has now six young child- ren, and among them no boys old enough to take charge of the farm. George is, I believe, only eleven. I am sure my heart bleeds for them, but I am almost wholly unable to aid them, except with words of encouragement and advice." " Truly, Mr. Pendleton, they are in the midst of great affliction, and we must do what we can for the widow and the orphan, and we must not allow our good intentions and sympathy to remain inope- rative after the remains of our friend and neighbor are placed in the silent grave. When is the fu- neral to take place, Mr. Pendleton ? " " I can't say for certain, but I recommended to- morrow, at four o'clock, and I told Mrs. Card well If) GEORGE CARD WELL J OR, that I would consult you about it, — and if you thought best, it would be fixed for that hour. What is your opinion. Judge, about it ?5? "A very proper hour. Will you attend to the arrangements ?" " Yes, Judge, I will arrange all, if you will take upon yourself the seeing Mr. Groodlove. Mr. Card- well, you know, for the sake of his wife's feelings, always went to the church, although he himself was not a communicant; — but somehow, Judge, I always thought he was at heart a churchman." " Yery likely ; his father was a churchman, as was also his mother a church worn an, and distin- guished for her great personal piety. You never knew the Cardvvell family, I take it, Mr. Pendle- ton. Excellent people, — excellent people." " No, Judge, my acquaintance with the family extends only to that of our departed friend. Speak- ing of church matters, Judge, did you know whether Mr. Card well ever insured his life ? You know he was very active in securing the insurance on the life of our minister, Mr. Groodlove ; of course, you are aware of his instrumentality in that matter, for I saw your name down for twenty dollars, and although I am not a rich man, and so able to give as some others, I was prompted to give half that sum for the sake of our good pastor, notwithstanding A MONTH IN A COUNTRY PARISH. 17 I knew but little of the subject. But I was going to say, that the thought has occurred to me, since I left his house, that, as Mr. Cardwell had taken so much interest in the family of our Rector, per- haps he had taken the same in his own, and secured a like insurance on his own life. n " Now you make mention of it, Mr. Pendleton, I do remember of his having spoken to me on the subject of Life Insurance, asking my opinion re- garding his own case. This was two years since, if I remember rightly." " "Well, Judge, what was your opinion in his case, and what is your opinion in my case ? I have been thinking about it, and have thought sometime I would come up and have a talk with you on the subject." " What do I think about it ? Why, my good friend, I am surprised that any difference of opinion can exist on a subject so manifestly advantageous, not only to individuals, but to the community, — I'm surprised, I'm surprised. My experience as a Magistrate, my experience as a Probate Judge, has made me familiar with the causes of crime and poverty, — or rather poverty and crime, for, in nine cases out of ten, crime follows poverty. What, then, should be my opinion of a system which, if universal, would banish from our land nine-tenths 18 GEORGE CARDWELL J OR, of the crime which now engages our courts of law, taxing our people, and bringing misery upon the innocent heads of millions of the children of the po- verty-stricken and depraved ! I told Mr. Cardweli, sir, to lose no time in effecting an insurance upon his life for a sum at least sufficient to pay off* his mortgage, and he told me he should do it. He was a man of his word, and I shall at once go down and look into it ; for I am certain his life was in- sured. Let me say to you, my good friend, that if you are in debt for your place, or for anything else, go and insure your life for the amount, and for as much more as you can safely calculate your ability to meet the annual premium. And, if it will be any satisfaction to you, I will inform you that my own life is insured for a sum sufficient to pay for the education of my three grandchildren, orphans of my son, John Marshall.55 " You surprise me, when you tell me your life is insured. I should think that a man of your age, would have to pay so high a rate of premium as to render inoperative the alleged advantages of the system, — or, that you were possessed of so much of this world5s goods as to satisfy you, and spare from your estate a sum sufficient to endow your grand- children with a fortune.55 " Don't be deceived by appearances, Mr. Pendle- A MONTH IN A COUNTRY PARISH. 19 ton. As I said before, my experience in probate has put me in possession of facts in regard to the settlement of estates, which teach me that little confidence can be placed in appearances. Many of our richest estates in this county it has been my business to close, and but few are found free from encumbrance of a serious nature. Time will not allow for a full illustration, and we will, with your permission, postpone the discussion until after the funeral of our friend, when I shall be most happy to exhibit to you, in my library, numerous works on the subject, and explain the whole matter to you. And I shall be the more happy to do so, because if I prevail upon you to insure your life, I shall feel conscious of having done you a personal favor, and performed a neigh- borly duty ; and which act of duty is certain to be blessed from the very nature of the sub- ject, the mutability of all things human, growing out of the declaration of God : — ; dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. ' I shall now go down to the CardwelPs, calling upon Mr. Groodlove on the way. Good morning, — good morning." 20 GEORGE CARDWELL ; OR, " (rood morning, Judge. I shall keep you to your engagement in regard to that Life Insurance business, for I feel that I ought to be insured, and can hardly wait to be convinced. Grood morning." A MONTH IN A COUNTRY PARISH. 21 CHAPTER II. Mr. Pendleton leaves the Judge, and spends the day in preparation for the funeral ; "but his mind is ill at ease about that insurance. He talked with his wife about it, and she did not give him much encouragement. She can't see what right a man has to fight Providence ; Mr. G-oodlove may explain it, but she can?t see into it. Poor Mr. Pendleton can't sleep for thinking of the hair- breadth escapes he has had. Once in the woods chopping, when the tree fell so near him as to crush his foot ; and the last spring, in shingling the barn, what a narrow escape that was, — only saved by being caught in the bight of the rope used in hoisting up the shingles. Twenty times in the course of the night did he start, imagining himself falling from some lofty scaffold, or about being crushed beneath some giant night-mare ; and Mr. Pendleton was no coward, but the bravest of men. He knew his duty when courage was needed, and never shrank from it. He also knew his 22 GEORGE CARDWELL ; OR, situation in regard to money matters, and he too well knew what would be the condition of his family, should one of the events happen which were crowding on his imagination. He determined that another such night should not be passed by him, and, although he did not altogether understand how it worked, he was determined that in the morn- ing, when in the village, (where he had to go for the coffin,) he would at once insure his life, and afterwards go to the Judge and be " convinced ; " " converted, " said he, " I am already. I am satisfied that it is my duty, therefore I have but one way to pursue. Curiosity, and a desire for information, may be satisfied at another time." In this state of mind Mr. Pendleton started for the village, leaving his wife in the mean time to assist in arranging the house of the mourners. Judge Mason, after parting with Mr. Pendleton' as before related, called at the Parsonage to see Mr. G-oodlove, but learned that he had just gone down to the Cardwells, having been informed of the casualty. The Judge, after taking leave of the wife of the kind rector, proceeded to the house of mourning, where he found Mr. Groodlove and some two or three neighbors. After giving some advice regarding the obsequies of the next day, he handed his reverend friend into A MONTH IN A COUNTRY PARISH. 23 his gig, and proceeded to the village, for the purpose of ascertaining about the insurance, which he felt certain had been effected on the life of his friend, George Cardwell. The books of the Insurance Agency were freely shown to the Judge, and the name of George Card- well was found duly recorded, insured for Two Thou- sand Dollars, with the premiums all promptly paid. " Just as I expected, " said the Judge, as he banded his reverend friend into his gig. " George was a sensible, clever man ; I wish there were more like him. Then would the hearth of the ividoiv be safe from the tread of the Sheriff, and the cry of the orphan be hushed. A good practical Chris- tian, Mr. Goodlove, who provides for his own house- hold." " Yes, Judge, I have no reason to find fault with our deceased brother. He was a good practical Christian, — one who made no ostentatious display of piety, but whose works were of an efficient and telling nature. But, Judge, I think I detect a double meaning to your remark in relation to a ' practical Christian, ' and, if I am right, you do our departed friend injustice, for he not only practiced Christianity, but professed it before men also ; a fact, of which you are probably not aware, inasmuch as his public profession is of but recent date, and 24 GEORGE CARDWELL ; OR, took place but two weeks since ; just previous to your return from Europe. " Indeed ! Then I did do him injustice, and I confess to the impeachment of a double meaning ; but I did it to draw you out on a point of some controversy." " "Well, Judge, let us see. This man who has gone to his rest, has done in the act of insuring his life, what ? a bad deed ? No. He has insured his life ; for that is the point on which this controversy is based. He has insured his life for the benefit of his widow and orphan children. This has he done entirely for the benefit of others, not one particle of benefit can possibly inure to himself. # Indeed, he deprives himself of many hard-earned dollars every year, that he may do good to others. Certainly, selfishness has nothing to do in this mat- ter. A more unselfish act can hardly be con- ceived. This act, then, is a good one. He has done a good work, a Christian deed, Christian because Christ-like, — not from a love of Christ, or because the objects of the deed are of the ' household of Christ ; ' of these things "he may know nothing. It is enough that he is anxious to do good. G-od has endowed him with intelli * See Appendix. A MONTH IN A COUNTRY PARISH. 25 gence, and he has used that intelligence in a work of mercy, that great attribute of the Almighty. He has, so far as human judgment can determine, saved that family from penury, and in doing this has without doubt, saved the younger portion from crime, which, in so many instances, follows close on the heels of poverty. I say then, that if our friend has used that intelligence which (rod has given him to such a result, his work is blessed, and we poor mortals are not allowed to judge the result to his immortal soul." " I understand you, Mr. Groodlove, Mr. Cardwell has done his duty to his family, and to the communi- ty, — all praiseworthy acts ; but, after all, comes short of his whole duty, inasmuch as his acts are not prompted by the grace of Grod ; and therefore are not counted unto him for righteousness. " " As I said before, we are not allowed to judge of the effect upon the soul, of any act of man. Pos- sessed of such power or right to judge, works alone would be all-sufficient. It is always safe to do welly and our constant aim should be, to advance in the right direction ; for in that way, and that alone, can we ever reach the goal. The very effort to reach a goal, is a confession that a goal exists ; and as none will exhibit anxiety to obtain other than an agreeable termination to their pilgrimage, cer- 2 26 GEORGE CARDWELL J OR, tainly they must do works meet for such result. My views of the whole matter may be expressed in this wise. No man does a good action, (unal- loyed with selfish motives, and the good the only object,) without the grace of Grod prompting; and, therefore, our friend in insuring his life, did so with these conditions : ergo, the grace of G-od was operative in his case, as the sequel of his life proves. " " I agree with you, Mr. Groodlove, touching the grace of God prompting to good actions with pro- per motives. It is the devil who prompts to good actions from improper motives." "Did I understand you to say, that in a majority of cases, your experience as a Pastor has con- firmed you in the belief that crime is the immediate consequence of poverty. " " I so stated, and such is my firm conviction. Take away poverty, and give only competence, and the incentives to virtue are increased ninety- fold. What is the experience of Mr. Pease, at the Five Points, in the city of New- York ? Ask the criminals themselves, located in that hot-bed of iniquity. Did any of them jump into crime from a position of competence ? Take my own parish, here in the virtuous ' Rural Districts, [ and what is the picture ? Every case of crime under A MONTH IN A COUNTRY PARISH. 27 the law has been induced by poverty. Intem- perance induces poverty, but poverty does not always involve crime. We have in our own church an ' abundance ' of the poor always with us, — noble examples of Christian faith and practice. But, Judge, your experience as a Magistrate must have afforded you a favorable opportunity for forming an opinion on this important subject of cause and effect. " " Yes, it has, and I freely concur with you, that poverty, no matter from what cause, is the great parent of crime ; and that the only way to effectually stop crime, is to stop poverty ; and the best way to prevent poverty is, by the intelligent and systematic use of Life Insurance" " I think with you, Judge, that Life Insurance is a powerful lever in the great work of ameliorating the condition of the people. I am informed that, during the two years last past, the enormous sum of eleven hundred thousand dollars was paid to widows and orphans, in the State of New- York alone. # That this sum has been the means of keeping alive the cheerful blaze on more than five hundred hearth-stones, clothing, feeding, and edu- * See Appendix. 28 GEORGE CARDWELL ] OR, eating more than twenty-seven hundred fatherless orphans. By-the-by, Judge, should not our excel- lent friend, Mr. Pendleton, insure his life ? I have heard that the repairs on his farm-buildings, par- tially destroyed by fire last winter, have involved him in a considerable debt, which, should he die, would hazard the possession of his farm to his family." " I have this very morning been talking with him on the subject, and am to have a further conference with him in a day or two, at my house, by special appointment." " I am very glad to hear it, and trust you may convince him of the propriety, nay, duty, of imme- diately ' setting his house in order,' for an event which, in the providence of Grod, may come upon him in an hour he thinks not of." Our worthy Pastor, with his learned friend and church-warden, had reached the gate which ex- cluded from the glebe the stray cattle which, in the rustic village, were suffered to run at large. Mr. Groodlove alighted, and shaking, wTarmly, the hand of Judge Mason, the two friends parted : the Parson to his study, the Judge to his office, — the Rector to prepare for the solemnities of the mor- row, the Judge to devise some plan to benefit his neighbor. A MONTH IN A COUNTRY PARISH. 29 Judge Mason was a good man, of one of the oldest families in the county, and possessed of a moderate fortune in his own right, with a life interest in the valuable estate on which he resided. He was full of benevolence and kindly feeling, a firm believer in the Christian religion, zealous in works of mercy and charity, and never ceasing in efforts to do good. 30 OR, CHAPTER III. The day of the funeral found our friends all present at the house of mourning, and at the church. The deep-toned organ poured forth a solemn strain, as the funeral procession entered the west- ern door, and passed up the nave to the open space under the chancel arch. Fitful streams of colored light played upon the vestments of the clergymen as they ascended the steps of the chancel ; and when the remains of the dead rested in their place, but a few feet from the spot where so recently the living man had knelt to receive the bread of life, voices from an invisible choir were heard to sing, " Lord, let me know my end, and the number of my days, that I may be certified how long I have to live." The sermon was preached by the Rector, who recited passages in the history of the good man departed, which showed him a man of deep-seated A MONTH IN A COUNTRY PARISH. 31 piety, whose every effort was to do his duty in his generation, and in the sphere in which it had pleased Grod to place him. The preacher could not allow the opportunity to pass without alluding to the provision which had been made by the deceased for the protection of his family in the possession of their home; and in doing so, could but urge upon all others to go and do likewise, — not as a worldly measure would he urge it, but as one of far more importance, ha- zarding, in the neglect, the interests of the souls of children, and men and women, yet unborn. He thanked the people of his parish for the kind interest manifested in his own case, in the hand- some donation to his family of a Policy of Insu- rance on his own life, procured, as he had reason to believe,, by the instrumentality of his departed parishioner. # After the remains of Mr. Cardwell had been committed to the tomb, " dust to dust, ashes to ashes, earth to earth," the funeral cortege, as is usual in the country, returned to the now lonely home of the widow, where the neighbors took kindly leave of the afflicted family, and departed for their several homes. * See Appendix, 32 GEORGE CARDWELL J OR, On the way, Judge Mason accosted our friend Mr. Pendleton, and invited him to stop and talk over the subject of Life Insurance, as had been previously arranged. But Mr. Pendleton was not disposed to stop that evening ; his feelings were of too happy a nature to allow him to wait. He wanted to hasten home, and show to his wife the document by which he had secured to her and her little ones a sure refuge in the hour of their greatest earthly disaster. Mr. Pendleton had, while in the village, effected an insurance on his life, and he was not disposed to tell the Judge of his hasty action, desiring to appear somewhat more circumspect in a transac- tion of so grave a character. He, therefore, kept his secret, and, bidding the Judge a good evening, hastened to his home. Mr. Pendleton was a farmer who had lived in, the neighbourhood of the Judge some twelve years, having purchased and paid for the farm on which he lived. He was of strictly temperate and industrious habits, of good common education, and a church- man. Fond of accumulating property, — not for the sake of accumulation, but for the sake of the good it can be made to accomplish, — Mr. Pen- A MONTH IN A COUNTRY PARISH. 33 dleton was a liberal man, and deemed it a real privilege to be called upon to contribute to objects of charity, and was always ready to respond to such calls to the full extent of his ability. Mr. Pendleton, however, had some faults ; and who has not ? Mr. Pendleton was oftentimes " set " in his ways. He never would insure his house or his barns. He did not believe in it. It would do very well for careless people. He never allowed a lantern to go into his stables ; and as for the house, he always raked up the fires at night himself. But, with all his care and caution, his barn did get on fire, and his house, too ; and the repairs cost him the good bit of two thousand dollars, for which he had to run in debt, and mortgage his farm. It was well they succeeded in saving the house, with but a slight damage ; for had the house been destroyed, as was the barn, it would have been a bad night's job for our farmer. Mr. Pendleton was a conscientious man, and would not do a thing his conscience forbade ; nor would he leave a thing undone, when convinced of the propriety of doing it. He was, therefore, an impulsive man; and hence his zeal and prompt action in effecting the insurance on his life, when once convinced of his duty in that direction. 2* 34 GEORGE CARDWELL J OR, Mr. Pendleton was a kind and provident hus- band and father, and his heart leaped to his throat as he stepped into the presence of his wife and children on his return from the funeral. Mrs. Pendleton, having young children, did not accompany her husband to the house of Mrs. Card well, but after the services at the church, had, with her eldest son, a lad of about twelve years of age, driven directly home. A MONTH IN A COUNTRY PARISH. 35 CHAPTER IV. " Well, Mr. Pendleton," says Mrs. P., after her husband had seated himself at the fire, with Mary on one knee and little Sammy on the other, " I have nothing more to say against your insuring your life, for Mr. Groodlove has made it so plainly your duty, that I am sure you would not heed it if I did continue my objections ; and now, as we have been obliged to mortgage our farm to raise money to repair the house, and build a new barn, I do think we ought, for the sake of our children, try and secure ourselves against a calamity, which I pray (rod in his mercy may be long averted." " Yes, my dear, " replied Mr. Pendleton, " we are all mortals, and the scene of to-day should remind us of the shortness and uncertainty of human life, and that in the midst of life we are in death ; and I am very glad that anything our good minister has said, has been the means of reconciling you to approve of my insuring my life 36 GEORGE CARDWELL J OR, for your own and our children's benefit ; for you know I dislike to oppose in anything reasonable. I did oppose you about the insuring our barn, and the result has been disastrous to us. But, as I was saying, I am glad you have consented to approve of my insuring my life." " My dear husband, why do you say approve. I am sure I should be very sorry to disapprove of any course you, in your superior judgment, deem fit to pursue. Why do you use the word approve, husband ?" " It is, because I have already done that which it is now too late to recommend ; and, therefore, I say I am glad you are prepared to approve of my act." Tears of affection burst forth from the eyes of our hardy farmer, as he pulled from his pocket the great sheet of parchment, and displayed it to the wondering eyes of his astonished wife. He now recited all the circumstances in relation to his " exercise of mind " about this insurance ; his talk with the Judge, and his appointment for another interview ; how he could not wait, &c. ; all of which was very amasing to the loving wife. The children had to look at the picture of the Indian reclining on the bank of the stream, emblematical of the passing away of life. They could not un- A MONTH IN A COUNTRY PARISH. 37 derstand about the talk between papa and mamma, nor could they reconcile the smiles of approval of their mother, with the tears and sobs of their father. Poor things, they will know all about such matters soon enough ! Mr. Pendleton was a devout man, and after he had carefully placed his newly-acquired treasure in his tin box, where he kept his valuable papers, he called, as was his custom, his family around him for evening devotion. With a heart full of kindly emotions, and a sense of having done a duty, not only to his family, but to his Grod, he com- mitted himself and family through the dark hours of the night to the care of an all-seeing and pro- tecting Providence, with a prayer, that, amid the manifold changes and chances of this mortal life, they might be defended by His ready help, and that they may always sojive, that they may never be afraid to die. The morrow saw our friend Mr. Pendleton on his way to the Judge's mansion, with his policy of in- surance ; feeling more like a man and a Christian than he had ever felt before. And why should he not ? He was not afraid to die ! Why should he be? 38 GEORGE CARDWELL J T)R, CHAPTER V. " Gtood morning, Judge ; I suppose I'm rather early, but I was anxious to have that matter settled about that Life Insurance, and so I have come to have that talk." " Not at all too early ; good morning. I'm glad you have come so early, as I am quite at leisure : walk into my library, — take a seat by the table, while I hand down some books on the subject ; you know we lawyers like to be backed by authority. Are you aware, Mr. Pendleton, that this matter of Life Insurance is no new thing under the sun ? Here is an old worm-eaten book, nearly a hundred years old, three hundred pages, all on the subject of Life Insurance." " No, Judge ; I was not aware that Life Insurance had so remote a beginning. I supposed it was of comparative recent origin." " No, sir, it is quite of ancient date, but only recently introduced into this country, and made A MONTH IN A COUNTRY PARISH. 39 available to almost all classes. We will not, however, at this time, follow its history, but at once proceed to the main points, and explain the operation of the system, or rather science ; for it is a science, Mr. Pendleton, an exact science, de- pending upon certain natural laws, as immutable as death. Able men, — men of great skill in ma- thematics,— have devoted their lives to the sub- ject, and the results of their investigation is bringing about blessings to thousands of families that otherwise would have been sunk in poverty and crime. " Here is a book which treats of the duration of human life, with tables of mortality, showing how long men, at every age, live on an average. These are the tables by which the premiums for in- surance are calculated. When we know how long men will live on an average, it is easy to tell how much money will be laid aside, or put into a common fund, every year, to amount to a certain sum at the death of any one of the lives, making up the element of common average. In common life each person is but an individual, and in that capacity cannot tell when he may be called upon to give an account of his stewardship. This un- certainty as regards the individual, is neutralized when many individuals are associated for a 40 GEORGE CARDWELI' J OR, common object like that of Life Insurance, se- curing to each atom of the mass an equal share of the advantages secured by the whole. In other words, investigation and close research has resulted in a knowledge of how long a body of men of any given age live on an average, some living a shorter time, and some longer. "We therefore know how long they live as a class, and can, from such data, safely calculate how much each should contribute, to secure a certain sum at the death of any of that body. A great many ways have been devised for making available to all classes the great ad- vantages of Life Insurance. Some engage to pay an annual premium, — this is the most common mode ; some pay in one sum, and some in a specific number of payments, say five or ten ; some insure by depositing a certain sum, with the liberty to withdraw all the deposits, and still have ^ a small insurance left them. " I insure my life, and pay the premium in annual payments, in cash, as I can well spare the money ; but some who are engaged in active business, and who need all the money they can command in their business, and yet are desirous of securing a considerable amount of insurance, pay but half of the annual premium in cash, and for the other half give a note on interest, which they A MONTH IN A COUNTRY PARISH. 41 propose taking up when their business will allow the withdrawal of a portion of their active funds. This is a very good plan for such, and tends large- ly to extend the benefits of the system. " "What is your age, Mr. Pendleton ? Let us see how much it will cost you for an insurance on your life, say for two thousand dollars ; that is the amount I believe of the mortgage on your farm, and I always think it a good plan to insure for enough to pay off the mortgage, if one has them, and thus leave the home clear and unencumbered to the wife and children." " Well, Judge, I am just forty years old this month ; but, Judge, why would it not be a good plan to insure for a little more than the mortgage V9 " It would, my friend, be a very good plan to do so, provided you can meet the premium with- out difficulty." " Of course, Judge, one must be careful, and not cramp himself too much ; but would it not be a good plan, when it can be done, to insure, for say five hundred dollars more than the mort- gage, as that would give the family a little ready cash to help in settling the estate." " Well thought of, Mr. Pendleton. I have, as 42 GEORGE CARDWELL ; OR, Judge of Probate, known several estates suffer great loss for the want of five hundred dollars in ready money ; and I have known the families of rich men positively suffer for the want of a little ready cash, just at the time when, although pos- sessed of a large property, they could not control it. Well thought of, Mr. Pendleton. Now, then, let us see what it will cost to insure your life, for when you see how little outlay will secure so large a sum as twenty-five hundred dollars, I am sure you will not hesitate to say you will insure your life. Age forty years, one thousand costs thirty-two dollars ; two thousand, sixty-four dollars ; five hundred, sixteen dollops ; in all, eighty dollars ; just even money. Now, Mr. Pendleton, don't you think it best to insure your life at once ?" "Yes, Judge, I do; and, to prove my sincerity I will thank you to look at this piece of parch-1 ment." " Oh, oh ! my friend, a pious fraud. First go and do as your conscience dictates, and then come and get my opinion. 