Australian Tales - Setis

provision for your old age, when you will be unseaworthy, and I am
going to tell you of a good plan for doing so. Now carefully log down
what follows.
I will assume that I am addressing an active young man of twenty-one
years of age. Well, brother, you may make a comfortable provision for
your wants in old age by means of a deferred annuity. I will simply
explain to you what that means. By paying yearly, the sum of seven
pounds two shillings and sixpence, which is about two shillings and
ninepence a week, or about fourpence-halfpenny a day, you may insure
fifty pounds a year (with bonus additions), to be paid to you as long as
you live, after you have arrived at fifty-five years of age; at which age, I
dare say you will begin to feel you have had enough of sea service. You
can insure for a larger or smaller amount, than fifty pounds, at the same
rate; and a man of any age may make a similar provision; only, of course,
the older he is, the higher rate of premium he will have to pay.
You would have no difficulty in making the above provision, if you
were so disposed, either in Sydney or elsewhere, for you will find
assurance offices in almost every sea port. There are many other
advantages offered to the careful man, besides a deferred annuity, by
those excellent institutions, of which you could acquaint yourselves, by
getting printed rules, or by applying for information to any of the Life
Assurance agents.
The expense cannot be a real obstacle to you, for even at the present
rather low rate of wages, I believe it would be possible for any steady
seaman to save enough to pay an annuity premium, and put something in
the Savings' Bank too. I would strenuously urge seamen in particular, but
landsmen also, to lose no time in making that easy provision for their
life's winter.
Shipmates! my yarn is nearly spun out; but before I whip the end of it,
I want to ask you to read the story — in another part of this volume
— about my poor friend Louis, the sailor, who was washed overboard on
his voyage to New Zealand, and let me urge you to do as I trust poor
Louis did, viz., live in preparation for the awful call, which death will
make upon you, at some time, and you know not the day nor the hour.
You are peculiarly exposed to danger, and like Louis, you may be
washed overboard without warning.
And now, my hearties, fill your sails and go on your voyage; I hope
you may have fair winds and fine weather. But hold — luff up a bit;
listen attentively to these few words before we part company; get such a
chart as I gave to poor Louis (if you have not one) a Holy Bible — study
it carefully, and frequently; steer by its directions; and if you do so, when
the stormy seas of life are passed, you shall enter with flowing sheets the
placid haven of Rest above, and there let go your anchors for ever.