158 THERE IS NO HURRY.

till next year—and devoting this money to the
insurance.”

It is difficult to believe how any woman,
situated as Mrs. Adams was, could have object-
ed to a plan so evidently for her advantage and
the advantage of her family; but she was one
of those who never like to think of the possibi-
lity of a reverse of fortune—who thrust care off
as long as they can, and who feel more pleasure
in being lavish as to the present than in saving
for the future.

‘‘ J am sure,” she answered, in the half-petted
half-peevish tone that evinces a weak mind—
‘‘T am sure if any thing was to happen to you,
I would break my heart at once, and my family,
of course, would provide for the children. I
could not bear the idea of reaping any advan-
tage by your death; and really the jobs are so
very inferior to what they used to be—and Dr.
Leeswor, next door but one, has purchased such
a handsome chariot—you have at least twice
his practice; and Why, dear John, you
never were in such health; there will be no ne-
cessity for this painful insurance. And after
you have set up your own carriage, you can be-
gin and lay by, and in a few years there will be
plenty for the children; and I shall not have
the galling feeling that any living thing would
profit by your death. Dear John, pray do not
think of this painful insurance ; it may do very
well for a man like your brother—a man with-