Selecting the Farm 



63 



For twenty years I punctually paid the premiums. 

 The day of maturity came, and, after pondering 

 over the "choices" for settlement, I made mine, 

 by the terms of the policy and the written agree- 

 ment of the company, signed by its agent. When 

 the day of settlement came, the company repudi- 

 ated the act of its agent, made out its own figures, 

 stated briefly that so it would settle, and "begged 

 to hear from me. ' * My vision of twenty years faded. 

 Three thousand dollars went with that dream. 

 I expostulated. The company explained that 

 rates of interest had fallen in twenty years and 

 earnings had not been so large as were expected. 

 But now it was issuing a new, a different kind of a 

 policy to the old line endowment. Would I not 

 be examined by the company's physician and take 

 out another policy? I could make a better invest- 

 ment under the new plan. My curiosity was 

 aroused. I took the examination and was 

 congratulated on my arterial pressure which 

 (the company's physician said) indicated a 

 man twenty years younger. I settled with 

 the company and thought pleasantly on my 

 arteries. Meanwhile my fruit-farm had been 

 in the making; this explained the arterial pres- 

 sure. Instead of taking out another policy — on 

 the new and improved model — I bought more 

 fruit-farm, not wholly unmindful of arteries. 

 But I will be just. T do not overrate the fruit- 

 farm nor underrate the insurance company; 

 I think on my arteries. It was the fruit-farm 



