Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-04-24
TEE MORTGAGE.

wife WhS uuby WdSlliuB up bue supper
dishes and putting the room in order.
He was unusually silent, and his, wife,
as she glanced toward him now and
then, began to fear that something trou-
bled him. After she had finished up
her work, she came and sat down by
his side, and, as she laid one hand upon
his shoulder, said: s.
"You are looking dull tonight Hem
ry. Don't you feel well?"
Ut am little dull" he replied. "The
fact is, Jennie, don't feel comfortable
as things are. / hoped by this time to
have our home nearly paid for; but, in
stead, l have only reduced the debt one
hundred and fifty dollars in the last
year. Atthis rate the entire mortgage
will not be paid off for six or seven
years" IL
"Is that all?''s exclaimed Mrs. Bon
field, In q CHEEKY tone Of voice. "Now,
I call that taking trouble for nothing.
What's the great difference whether it
takes three years or six to pay off the
mortgage, so it's paid off at last, and we
have comfortable home all the while?
Maybe it will be better for US to save
and pinch for seven years than for
three. Economy will become habit
by that time, and there isno better hab-
it for safe passage through the world,
as my father used to say"
GAIL very well, Jennie, if life were
certain" answered the husband. eff
live, everything may come out all right.
But if ]. should die before the house is
paid for?" #
"Don,t talk Of dying" said Mrs. Bon
field quickly, troubled expression
coming into her face.
Her husband dropped his eyes to the
floor, and sat in thought for good
while.
"Jennie," he said, looking up at
length, there's one way to make things
safe. I've been turning itover in my
mind for several days, but didn'tjust
care to speak of it. / could get a life
insurance policy for one or two thou
sand dollars"
10 noln she exclaimed quickly. ~
wouldn't do that. The very thought
sends q cold shiver all over me.p
Thousands of people get their lives
insured, said Mr.. Bonfield.
But Mrs. Bonfield shook her head.
~ wouldn't have you do it for the
world. It's just like looking death In
the face.n
It was all in vain that her husband
tried to reason with her,
"It's Of no use, Henry" she answer
s ed. ~ wouldn't have rnomen's peace
from the day your life was Insured. 1t
seems to me kind Of flying in the face
4 of Providence. There's something 80
cold and calculating In the whole thing;
valuing human life at one, or two, or
ten thousand dollarsl O no, Henry,
don't want you to do it.r
"T'm sorry you feel so, replied her
husband. ct would set my mind at
ease In regard to the mortgage.n
aDon't fronble vourself about that.n
said Mrs. Bonfield, trying to speak
cheerily; ''it will be alright in few
years. Y
But the young man could not feel at
ease. They had two children, and his
wife's health was not very good. If he
should die, what was to become of
them? This thought was perpetually
haunting him and taking away the
pleasure of life.
When New YEARS eve came around
again, B0nfield's circumstances were
not much improved. Only one hun
dred dollars had been paid on the mort
gage during the whole year. There had
been sickness, loss of time, large doctor
bills, and one or two bad debs. Another
baby had come, with the added care
and expense.
Bonfeld was less cheerful than on
the previous New Years eve. A shad-
Ow seemed to rest over him.
81 wish you could look atthings.
more hopefully said his wife. HE
who feedeth the raven has US in his
keeping as well. Why should we lose
the blessings given US to-day In fear of
some evil tomorrow? We have our
pleasant home and our darling children
good gifts and precious. Let us be
happy In them" - ag
Good gifts and precious they were to
B0nfield. Few men loved wife and
children with b tenderer and more UNI
selfish love. 1t was in the very depths
of this love that anxiety was born,
Fear lest he should be taken from them
haunted him night and day. What
was to become of them If hesheuld die2
Alas for the next New Years eve! It.
found the death angel In Bonfeld's
house. A sudden illness baiiied all the
lphysieian's skill, and the life on which
30 much depended went out, and left
sorrow and darkness and desOlation Of
spirit behind. @s
"What is to become Of this poor wife
hnd children?' was. the anxious ques-
ti0n that passed from lip to lip among
Friends and neighbors. They had not q
relative In the place mo not one on
whom they had any natural claim for