The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-03-31
How the Mortgage Was Paid A
True StoU


1899, an agent of The Old Line Bankers
Life insurance company drove into
the farmyard of John Ottersberg, liv-
ing near the town of Adams. in Gage
county, Nebraska. Mr.. Ottersberg
was at work repairing his farm wagon.
Near him stood his wife, bright APP
pearing young German woman, and
about her were three small children,
the Oldest not over sever years.
The agent presented his business
and received the interested attention
oil husband and wife, while the baby,
in the mothers arms, patted her
cheeks with its little hands, and
looked askance at the strange man.
The appealing eyes of the wife as they
rested on one or other of the children
added force to the agents argument.
1t was just such a situation as an
agent likes. 1t is indeed poor man
who will not listen attcntivcly to a
proposition which will, at very little
cost to himself, leave his wife and
children well provided for at his
death.
When Mr.. Crum had thoroughly ,ex-
planned the plan and demonstrated it's
benefits, came the inevitable question
Will you take it." 1t was now John
Ottersberg's turn to talk. Admitting
1t was good-that he needed it--that
his wife and children needed it, he
said: ut is impossible. Last summer
bought this eighty l paid down all
! had-$500. l still owe $4,000. To
pay the interest and reduce tie prln-
cipal little each year will tax us
to the uttermoct. Hannah and will
need to work Early and late to dr. it,
and unless God smiles we viii fail"
1T is true" said Mr.. Crum, that it
will require economy, good manage
ment, and hard work to pay your debt,
but suppose you Gle this year or next,
do you think your wife, who must hire
a man to take your place, paying nirr
three or four hundred dollars a year,
will be able to pay it easier? Is it net
true that, if you die, she, being with
out relatives or interested friends In
this country, will lose the farm? She
and the children will certainly suffer.
Is it not also true that when she ad-
vertises the Gale of personal property |
and stock, to pay funeral expenses,
the neighbors will come, not to pay
her fair price, but to bid 1t in at |
bargain? Bill, as he nears the place |
of sale, will meet Joe and say, Now,
Joe, don't want you to bid en- that |
yearling bull. / want The bull. All |
right says Joe, if you don't bid on |
the colt, you can have the bull We'll,
why not. Why should the neighbors
be more kind Or considerate to your
wife and children than you, their nat
ural protector?
"You are twenty-eighi years or age.
For less than three per cent more in
terest than you are now paying, you
can insure the payment of the mort
gage if you die, and leave the wife and
children seven hundred dollars aGdi-
tlonal in cash. In other words, three
thousand of insurance will cost you
$64.S0 PEI annum for twent, years.
II means home for your wife, and
an education for your children"
John Ottersberg took the policy and
paid s6I.So. May 25. 1899 The wife
smiled. Putting her hand on her h,.s-
bands shoulder. she said; we will
work a little harder, Joan. Notning
of lreat value can ever be obtained
without great effort The children.
though not understanding why. knew
their mother was glad. and bgshlully
responded to the efforts OF the agent