Year: 1868

Will uo ioI ue Wudt We are perfectly able
to do for ourselves. If by our improvi-
dence or neglect we come to want, we
shall suffer for it, in spite of our blind
confidence. This is not faith but pre-
sumption. True faith bids us first to do
all in our power for ourselves, and then
put our trust in God.


| If this reverently and tenderly beloved
wife could have brought herself to talk
with her husband freely, and show him
what ease it would give her heart to know
that there was something to be left for
the benefit of herself or of Susy. were
one of them to be left alone in the world,
there can be little doubt that he would
at once have insured his life. He would
have said, 81 shall die none the sooner
and thus, living or dead, | shall support
my dear wife," But she thought it i'm
possible to utter a word on the subject.
and so the days went on, until one day,
it became too late forever.


This hale and healthy John was a ter
ribly careless man. His wife used to say
to him, "John, John, you need as much
care as baby. Why will you be so i'm
/


prudent?"


1t did no good to expostulate; he went
on in his old way, confident that it was
all "woman's nonsense" to cover him
self up when all in heat and perspira-
ton, he lay down for nap. Many a
time he caught distressing cold from
such neglect, and at last he caught cold
that was fever almost Immediately. The
fever went to his brain; all that could be
was done for him by his faithful physic-
ian and devoted wife and daughter; but
in few short days this strong man was
corpse, and his wife and daughter he
had so loved and cherished, were penni-
less.


"The man with the sandy mane" proved
himself willing to undertake the care of
the daughter, but che did not want the
mother dreadfully" However, as he
found Susy determined to cling to her
mother, and as, after trying it for few
weeks, be found that it was too much for
his strength to do without Susy, he con,
sented to "marry the two," as he ex-
pressed it; though he did not say so to
Susy, you may be sure. No, he forced
himself to appear to be willing to receive
into his house the mother of his BRIDE
For year or so the widow found her sit
uation as comfortable as any one on earth
would have been to her without her John;
but after that, until her death, which
was not for nearly twelve years, she never
saw a day in which she had not good reason
to mourn that she was a poor, helpless
burden upon her son-in-law. He was
kind enoguh to his wife and children,
but towards his mother-in-law be acted
mean and contemplate part. Susy some
times felt it, but her. husband had the
art to keep generally in her favor, and to
bring her to look upon all he did as cor
rect. Her patient mother, thankful to
see her child happy, never complained
But how thankful she was to lie down
and die, none but herself or her Maker
knew.


Now would it not have been better had
John left his wife the means of independ-
ence? The "man with the sandy name"
would have treated her well enough could
she have paid her board. And oh, how
much miserable pain had been spared her!


| never see such sad widowhood,
such long years of helpless dependence
and silent suffering-which might have
been avoided without feeling that it is
a religious duty for every man who loves
his wife and children, and who knows
that if he were taken away they would
be left to want, to make some provision
for them by paying the small sum needed
to secure a policy of Life Insurance for
at least two or three thousand dollars.
Such policy is at once the cheapest and
safest investment which a man can make
for his family. | trust this true story
may come in time to be a warning to
some men who think little of their dan
ger and their duty, because they are well !
and strong to-day-but who may be in
their graves year, or a month, or
week hence and that thus it may save
their poor wives from the fate of this
lonely and unhappy widow !-Euangelist.