The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-02-19
JOE CATERS LIFE INSURANCE.
BY II, A. BERTON,

the prudent Joseph was trading Sun
day school tickets for strawberries ani
eggs, which he converted into currency
OF the republic. As he grew up, and
his old school-mates purchased cravats
and hair oil at Squire Tackey's store, il
was the industrious Joseph who stood
behind the counter and took theil
money. When the same boys stood on
the street corners and cast sleeps eyes
at the girls, the business. like Joseph
stood in the store door and contemplated
these same boys with eyes such as q
hungry cat casts upon brood of yoUno
birds whom he expects to eat when they
grow older. Joe never wasted any time
at parties he never wore fine clothing :
ne never drank nor smoked: in short.
Joe was 80 industrious that blythe time
ne reached his majority he had a thou.
sand dollars in the bank and not a soli-
tary virtue in his heart.
For Joe's money good Squire Tackey
had an earnest longing, and soon had it
TO his own account while the sign over
the store door read "Tackey & Cater.
Then the Squire wanted Joe's soul too.
and so earnest was he that Joe soon
found it necessary to demonstrate with
his partner.
Twon't do, Squire, said he: Gre
=
llglon's all very well in its place, but
when q man loses the sale of a dozen
eggs, profit seven cents, because his
partner is talking religion with him so
hard that customer gets tired of wait
ing and goes somewhere else, then Re.
ligion's out Of place"
The human souls of more conse-
kence than many eggs, Joseph, /" argued
the Squire.
"That's Just il, . replied Joe, e'money
don't hit the value OF the soul anyway.
and there's no use trying to mix 'em.
Aud while we're talking, don't You
think We might be mixing some of the
settings of the molasses barrel with the
brown sugar? twill make it weigh
much better.
The Squire sighed, but he could not
help admitting that Joe was as good O
partner as man could want.
In one of Joe's leisure moments il
struck him that, if he were TO die, mo-
body would lose cent by the operation.
The idea Wastoo exasperating, and soon
the local agents of noted insurance
companies ceased to enjoy that tran.
guilty which is characteristic of busi-
ness men in that country. Within
fortnight two Of the agents were ar
raigned before their respective churches
for profane brawling, while Joe had
squeezed certain agents into dividing
commissions to the lowest unit of devi.
sibility, and had several policies in the
safe at the store.
The Squire, his partner. was agent for
the Patagonian Mutual, and injured
his full share OF the general agony Joe
had caused. But when he had handed
Joe q policy and receipt, and taken the
money and counted il twice, and seen TO
it carefully that ell the bills were good, |
the good Squire took his revenge.
Joseph, said he, you ain't through
with insurance yet |: yon need TO insure
your soul against risk in the next world,
and there's only one agent that does it. =
The junior partner stretched himself
on the counter and groaned. He knew
the Squire was right. He had heard
that same story from every minister he
had ever heard. Joe was so agitated
that be charged at twelve and half
cents some calico he had sold at fifteen.
Only one Agent Bat the shire id
Joseph rejoiced to think that those who
represented the Joseph Great Agent diff
erred grea " III the conditions Of the
insurance. and that some made more
favorable terms than others, and that il
he could get the ministers thoroughly
interested in him, he wouId have a good
opportunity for comparing rates. The
good men al wanted Joe. for he was
rising young man, and could, if the
spirit moved him. make handsome sub.
scriptions to good purposes. soin their
zeal they soon regarded each other with
zealous eyes, and reduced their respect
i've crseds To gossamer thinness. They
agreed about grace being free, and Joe
accepted that promptly, as be did any.
thing which could be had without price.
Bat Joe was practical man, and /
though be found fault with none OF The
doctrines talked 81 him, he yet Eeaitated |
TO attach himself to any particular con
gregation. He finally aseertained that
the Rsv. Barzillai DriftWood's church
had no debt, and that its contributions
to missions and other religious purposes
we're very ernall, 10 Joe allowed himself
10 be gathered into the fine assortment
of crooked sticks which the Rev. Bar
zillai Diftwood was reaerying INTO the
day Of burning.
Great was the rejoicing of the congre
gation at Joe's saYing act, and sincere