Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-02-17

| wouldn't have moments peace from
the day your life was insured. II seems
to me q kind cf flying in the face OF
Providence. There's something so cold
and calculating in the whole thing
putting mp SO much money. as it were,
against life-.aluing human life at
one, or two. or zen thousand dollars +,
Oh no. Henry. don't want you to do
it."
I'm sorry you feel So" replied her
husband. at would set my mind NJ ease
in regard to the mortgage"
Don't trouble yourself about that" "
said Mrs. Boniicld. trying to speak cheer
fully "it will be right in few years
But The young man could not feel at
ease. They had Lwn children, aud his
wite's health was not very good. IL he
should die what was To become of them
This thought was pcrpctually haunting
him and taking away the pleasure of life.
When New Years eve came round
again. Bonlicld's circumstances were not
much improved. Only one hundred dol,
lars had been paid on the mortgage dur.
ing the whole year. There had been
sickness, loss of time, large doctors bills
and one or two bad debts Another baby
had come. with the added care and ex
pensc.
Bonfield was less cheerful than on the
previous New.Year's eve. A shadow
seemed to rest over him.
"I wish you would look at things more
hopefully" said his wife ale who
(eedeth the ravens has us in his keeping
as well. Why should we lose the bless
ings given US TO day in fear of some evil
tomorrow We have our pleasant
home and orr datliug children-good
gifts and prccious. l1tus be happy in
hem"
Good gifts aul precious they wcrc to
8ouiield Few men loved wife and chill
ilrcn With tendcrcr and more unscIlish
love Ii WAS in the very depths of this
,oyc that anxiety was born. Fear lest he
should be taken from then haunted him
night aud day. What was to become of
Them il he should die
Alas Tor the next New Years eve 1t
iound the death-angcl in Boniiold'S house.
\ sudden illness baftltd all The physicians
skill. and the life on which 50 much de.
pended went out, and LEFT sorrow. and
darkness, and desolatlon of spirit behind.
"What is to become OF his poor wife
and children ~ was the anxious question
hat passed from lip to lip among friends
and ncighbors. They hal not relative
in the place-no one whom they had any
natural claim for help or support II
was this that had made the husband and
Iather so anxious about them, and 90
aIncst 10 get his home paid for. In the
rear which has iast cloSel only hun.
,lred dollars OF the mortgage had been
ance led, and theie still remained eight
,tundred dollars due This mortgage
was in The hands OF man who would
not scruplo to rob the widow and orphans
.,y taking any advantage within his reach.
While Bonlield lived. he knew that
1 olhing could be gained by any attempt TO
')reclose the mortgage, for another could
easily have been obtained. Bus now
that he was dead, and his widow left
withou. the means Of meeting even the
iliercst, much less paying off The mort
gage, an opportunity to force Il sale and
get the property At Il sacrifice had come,
which he was not the man to let pass.
Three days after the funeral, Mrs Bon-
field was rou'od from the helpless leth-
argy of grief by the reception nf II legal
PAPER. giving notice that the balance of
money due ON the house must be paid by
s certain date OF il would be sold in salts
faction OF the mortgage. To whom
could she go in this sad extremity: Alas.
there was no one. In losing her husband
she had lost her only humln friend, sup.
Porter and protector. Shc was alone in
the woild.
The extremity of her situation quicken
cd iato life all the energy of Mrs. Bon.
fields nature. She looked nj her three
fatheress children, then at her small,
weak hands, by which alone their bread
was TO be wrestcd from the world, and
then upward to God Tor guidance and
help For whole day after receiving
TIE legal notice, east about helpless in
her mind for Il means OF escape from the
threatened danger. Not single neigh.
Dor came in during the the 10 help or
counsel her. II the house had been paid
for, and home thus secured. Mrs. Bon
field would have seen the way clcar.--
Before her marriage size had learned the
trade of Il milliner. and being woman
IF considerable tasle, she felt sure that
she could turn her skill TO good account in
the supper; OF her children. But il her
home was taken from! her what would she
do?
In her painful suspense and anxiety she
went to the man who held the mortgage,
and telling him her plans, bcsought him
to let the debt lie for one year, and sell
then if she could not pay the interest and
a pam OF the debt He would listen TO
nothing. The chance had como TO make
gain of oppression and he could not let
ii pass.
The poor widow went back in despair