Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-10-27
In A Good Company.

lnere mas Deen Time Wnen Harry
Woodbury. was we'll known about the
life-inSurance offices as jolly, energetic
and successful solicitor. He worked for
a good, conservative old New England
company, with an excellent list Of assets
and no scandal about the management,
and Woodbury., who was anything but
conservative, had way Of quitting gin
ger into the figures" as he expressed II,
which won him good living, and steadily
reduced the mortgage on his home.
Everything would have worked out
right if he had not fallen sick. There
was money in the bank for the next pay
ment on the house, and when six months
had gone by and he was still sick and
another payment was due, the owner
said it would be all right, and that Harry
must not worry; and the doctor laughed
when Harry attempted to explain that he
must wait for his pay. In short, every
one was human and sympathetic; but all
OF them must be paid some time, and
there was bread and butter TO be got
every day.
The time came in his slow GONZALES
cence when he could not bear idleneSS
for another day.
Emma" he said TO his wife, prop
me up in bed, and bring me a pen and
pad ofpaper. I'm going to do business! )!
Eve lain here thinking OF the men whom
meant to land before got sick, and
Of some others. I've got good list OF
possibilities, and can write letter that
would sell a policy to the healtheSt man
alive"
He had more courage than strength.
Before the first letter was finished he
was pale, and his hand moved painfully
over the sheet As he finished, he drop
ped back and lay white and Still on the
pillow.
But the next day he insisted on trying
again. "a began a little too lively for a
colt" said he. "I'ye got to slow down.
thought could write ten letters day.
| find oneiS all can do. But I'll do that. "
Every weekday for twenty seven days
he wrote one letter-wrote TO the best
men IN the city, as he estimated the
chances Of inSuring them, and from not
one of them did he receive a reply. The
enthusiasm departed. The recovery de-
layed. The edoctorScoldedin vain. Dog
gedly, hopeleSsly, Harry wrote his one
letter.
lust four weeks from the day OF his
first letter the bell rang twas a minister
who entered. He followed the wife
straight into Harry'S room.
81 got your letter." he said, heartily,
"and it seemed to me | ought TO come
and see you. live near you here, and
gathered from your letter that something
besides business lay behind that note.
Now tell me, Woodbury., just how you
are situated"
"There was no Mr. about it," said
Harry, afterward. "He dropped all man
dies and talked to me man-faShion."
"Well, I'm having it hard, said Harry,
and told his story.
81 see" said the bluff old minister.
"Wel, now, look here, Woodbury., you
can't have been to my church very much
or you'd know Pm too old to insure.
But Pm trying 10 keep up my premiums
on a policy carry on the life to come.
Ifsa good company, Woodbury.. Here's
ten dollarS-oh, you needn't try any OF
that! | know you're no beggar. also
know you're no fool, and just now funds
are a little short. You may pay it back
when you are able, but you've too much
sense to resent my leaving it.
"Wen, gentlemen" said Harry, three
month later, as he sat in the agents room
on Milk Street. 81 believe got better
from that hour. Nextmcrning wrote
fresh letter. had got sick ofthe old form;
and the company sent out to say mere
was a little due me on renewals; and one
OF the men had written to went into the
main office and had himself insured tor
ten thousand, and ordered the commission
paid to me; and began to come back.
"'Do you know, ! believe that old
preacher has got a policy thatll hold!
And the more Pve thought OF it the last
three months the more I've thought ]
should like policy in his company