The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-12-25

over. and il was a long distance to
reach water; but bucket brigade was
| formed. and willing hands worked hard
/ IN ave the shelter over their neighbor's
head. But all in vain. The fire had
| so got the start, and water was so
difficult to procure that, when the
smouldering embers were finally sub
dued there was nothing left OF the
cheerful. happy home Just completed
! within which III 4 ruined heap
Law the treasures that he had
been gathering for years to make him
happy.
On the following morning the lead
/ ing spirits of the village Assem- oled to-
| gether 10 consider what could be done
lfJr their ruined neighbor, and with
generous impulse started a subscription
| list. by which sufficient means was
raised 10 aid the owner Of the burned
house. Some who themselves were
moor. but whose hearts were touched
with the sad plight in which the fire
had left their friend, gave oeyond then
means TO aid his distressed family.
Through the contributions of all, a
shelter was soon prepared, but the hard
labor of a mans life for years had been
swept away in a single hour; and,
mingled with the feeling Of gratitude to
his neighbors, there was still singing IN
his breast the consciousness OF depend
ence upon others for that which e
might have made secure. but for a LII, .
placed confidence and false economy.
Added to the humiliation OF being de
pendent upon others, ne also becam
conscious OF the criticism OF
some of his neighbOrs, who, in a
quiet way behind his back, were NUT
tering and wondering why man
of Johns intelligence and thrift had
not insured his house against ire. he
might Just as well as not have had |
81 600 to-day, with which to rebuild his |
house and not be compelled 10 make |
his nsighbors 90 INTO their rockets for |
that amount 10 give himself and family /
shelter" 1.-The Home Insurance /
Company" chimed III another, was /
organized expressly 10 save the people /
from Just such a catastrophe The /
agent told John, when he was building.
that If he were wise he would take out a
policy for 81 600. II would only cost
him about Sl2 10 insure for three years
and If he had paid attention and hadn't
been so stingy, his neighbors wouldn't
be paying twice that much each to-day,
to help him out. When We have q
like the Home organized ami
doing business right at our very doors
|: seems 10 me that If a man neglects TO
insure until his house burns down he
ought not 10 expect his neighbors TO
rebuild il for him. But don't say l
said anything about it, Johns per
iectly welcome to what I've given. L
am mighty glad, though, that l have
yot a Home policy on my house for
fifteen hundred dollars; and can prom
Sc you that If ] have a fire the people
Won't have to raise a subscription for
ny relief"
These and other similar comments
we're made and finally reached the poor
mans ears. He bitterly repented his
oolish neglect. He had intended 10
insure, but thought he would wait until
he house was finished. Thus he had
delayed day too long and now 1t was
90 late. Too late!
of all sad words of tongue or pen
Inc saddest are these: Too late!
There was but one thing he could do,
nd that he Immediately did. He
Trote to the Home Company for
ates upon the uninsured houses
q his village and never ceased
alking insurance until every
ouse was covered with from five
undred 70 two Thousand dollars. He
slt then that he could hold up his
cad among his neigbbOrs, and in
tile while he had replaced the black
ned ruin of his uninsured home with
substantial cottage. upon which
ONE policy was written while he was
uilding il for q thousand dollars with
emission 20 finish.