Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-07-12
FOR $4,000 EACH.

Sarah Lee, daughter of another far
mer, married for love. They hat
two or three lovers quarrels, as wa
quite on the cards and very natural
but for two years after marriage nj
couple ever lived more happily
This state Of affairs might have con
tinued at least two years longer bu
for Abner Jones, Esquire, county jus
tice of the peace, agent for the Farm
ers' Fire Insurance Company anC
sewing machines of all makes bough
and sold." He made his appearance
at the farmhouse one day.
"Well, Jim," he said, "what do yor
and Sarah think? I've got the agen
cy for life insurance company and
am going to branch out a little.
want to insure the both Of you. I've
got Tom Spooner and his wife, Bill
Wheeler and his wife, Silas johnson
and his wife, and several others, anC
I'm here to get you. want you tc
take $4,000 apiece. Ifyou die, Sarah
Jim has got $4,000 to buy you d
monument, pay funeral expenses and
go away to Niagara Falls to get over
his grief. If you die, Jim, Sarah has
got money to bury you decently and
carry on the farm without having tc
rush off and marry again"
The Squire went into further ex.
plantations. He talked life insurance
and stayed to dinner. He talked
life insurance and stayed to supper
He talked life insurance and stayed
until 9 o'clock in the evening. Then
he drank two glasses of cider, ate
three fried cakes and piece Of mince
pie and went home to make out tw !
policies for $4,000 each,
Jim and Sarah had decided that
such insurance was good thing.
Neither wanted to die, but if death
must come they would not be selfish
about it. 1t would be bond to draw
them still closer together. In the
course of couple Of weeks the pol.
icies were delivered, the premiums
paid and Squire Jones stayed to din
ner again and said, as he finished and
wanted to lick his plate, but remem-
bered his dignity in time:
Now, then, young folks, this is the
best thing you have done so far in
your lives. Keep on loving, keeping
up your premiums as they fall due,
and don't worry about the future.
With $4,000 coming to the survivor
in case of death you needn't either of
you begrudge the Astors or the Van
derbilts. Sarah, you can dress in the
most expensive mourning, and, Jim,
you can wear patent. leather shoes
and hear Niagara roar till you get
tired of it.
1t was Squire Jones who was re-
sponsible for the insurance, but it was
Aunt Deborah who was responsible
for what resulted. The policies had
been carefully laid away in the bot
tom bureau drawer and the subject
talked out when Aunt Deborah came
visiting one afternoon. She had not
been invited nor was she expected,
but she proceeded to make herself at
home, and by and by announced:
"Sarah, have heard that you and
James have had your lives insured
for each others benefit, but told
'em you were not the woman to go
into anything like that.
"But we have" replied Sarah.
1--WE were insured two weeks ago"
Upon my soul No one could
have made me believe it.
"But why2 What's the matter ?"
"Sarah Harper, do you know that
you have the same as doomed your
self to death?" asked Aunt Deborah,
in a hoarse whisper.
"What do you mean. Aunty?"
81 mean that there isn't man on
the face of the earth who wouldn' t
kill his wife for the sake of $4,000 in
cash. That insurance is temptation
to murder. Hundreds of wives have
been killed off every year, and you
will be one of them to go before
another year rolls over your head" f"
The young wife laughed merrily at
the idea, but Aunt Deborah grew
more solemn and serious, and said:
Don't fool yourself, Sarah. Jim
is just as good a husband as any Of
'em, but you have put temptation in