Australian Tales - Setis

short pause, and in a tone which plainly evidenced that he was not
making the inquiry in an inquisitive or meddling spirit.
“Well, I've never thought much about it, and that's the truth, sir,”
replied Peter. “I'm a strong healthy man, thank God, I haven't had a day's
sickness for the last ten years, and I don't think I am in danger of dying
yet awhile. The young ones will grow bigger, and by-and-bye they'll be
able to shift for themselves, as thousands of other children have to do.”
“That is true to some extent,” said the gentleman. “But you look like a
sensible man, so you don't want me to remind you of the uncertainty of
life, even with the strongest of us; and you know, too, that thousands of
poor children make very bad shifts for themselves. You heard of that sad
accident to the workmen on the railway line, last week, I dare say.”
“Yes, sir, I did. Ah, that was a bad look out for those poor navvies, and
for their wives and families too.”
“They were men of the strongest class, and yet you see death passed by
many weaker men to clutch them. I fear their families will be very badly
off.”
“Yes, that they will, sir,” said Peter, “and these are hard times for poor
lone women to struggle along, and support young families. I pity them,
poor things!”
“I hope you will excuse me for putting such a plain question to you,”
said the gentleman, “but if you were taken off by death, as suddenly as
those navvies were, would it not be a hard struggle for your wife to bring
up your young family comfortably?”
“Ay, that it certainly would,” said Peter, with a sigh, “but I hope she
will not have to do it, poor lass, for she is not one of the strongest women
in the colony.”
“I hope she will not, indeed,” said the gentleman, “but as it is awfully
possible, would it not be humane of you to provide as far as you can,
against such a calamity?”
“There is no doubt about that, sir, and I'd do it too if I knew how; but I
can't work harder than I do, and I don't know that I am over extravagant
in anything. All the money that I could put in the savings bank wouldn't
be much good to them, I'm afraid.”
While Peter was speaking, the gentleman took a piece of paper and a
pencil from his pocket, and began to jot down a number of figures.
Presently he said, “Will you excuse me asking your age?”
“I shall be thirty-six next August,” replied Peter, who was rather
puzzled to conceive what the old gentleman was doing with his pencil
and paper, and had some idea that he was making his will, and was going
to leave little Bobby a good legacy. In a few minutes he handed the slip
of paper to Peter, remarking as he did so, “You will see by these simple
calculations, that for £8 11s. 3d. a year — which is less than sixpence a
day — you may insure £300 to be paid to your wife and family at your