SOWING AND REAPING.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 117, 4 February 1873, Page 3

SOWING AND REAPING.

Just as the earth is entrusted with the seed which shall, 'noath the influence of the summer sun and refreshing rainfall, brinsj forth the golden harvest, so m like manner must the candidate for position in the agency field be willing to labour patiently and wait for the fruit of his toil. Perchance » icuon of depipssion may follow the Agent's exeitions, just u continued irost or a lasting drought tax the faith of the j^ttbandsman, butharyeat fimo Yfi}l surely come, and with it t^A»U rcynrd, x nL» there are plants which are of much slower growth than othflrt, even in the same ioil, «o there will bo fo j\ 1 men whose perception of the necessity of assurance is ilonr and gradual. The agent must, however, not forget whore he hai sown hi» seed, else other hands will gather the harvest whL-h has rij p led through his ear'y toil. Seed must germinate if properly sown and tended, and so the Life Assurance solicitor cannot labour in vain, though the process of maturing may seem tedioua and dmbtful. " Procrastination Again," is the title of a paragraph in a monthly now before us, and the illustration is the following- —" A young man of Oollmgaville, United States of America, who was crushed by an engine, a»d die 4 of lockjaw recently, had jmt previously talked of life insurance, and pretty much decided to take a policy, but didn't do it. Fatal delay ! " Now the risk o,f svjch delays is so evident, that the representative of the Assurance Company will act wisely to put forth every effort that the truth ho inculcates may le practically followed up — at the earliest moment. There wiU always be some who will "tako their time;" tins class, however, for the encourageireiit of the agent, we hava invariably found to bo those who contr buto tho larger policies, and give the least trouble in all subsequent transnctions. Thus it is, again, in tho world of natuio, the tree which attains the greatest strength and height is the slowest in its growth, and vice versa. T.he effect of life assurance is to induce thrift, to avert distress, to relieve the shock o fsudden and unexpected changes, to distribute and equalise the burdens of life, and to benefit mankind at large rather than any particular class. That it will accomplish this has been airaitted ; but the -igent has still a province to fill in enforcing these truths, and by continued attention assisting their practical development. We ha^ c walked in the garden in spring, when all •was beaut v to the eye, and music to the ear, and noticed with delight how the rich blossoms gare promise first of the plentude of summer, and then of the mellow autun n. On the morrow we visited the scene ; it was now one of desolation, a killing frost had nipped, in a night, all thepiomi-eof yesterday, and blackness, corruption, and blight now r.'igned where beauty was so recently conspicuous. Now we do not mean to teach that m like manner shall disaster attend the efforts put forth by the agent, but we must record tho fact that a degree of disappointment will manifest itself. As in other business arrangements, so in this, the results ■will not always be free from blamiah — the thorns will be mingled with the roses. Dady experience and past history alike proclaim that, as in the seed time, so will the harvest be. " Sow well, and you will reap well," is a maxim thai is universally true. The Life Agent who devotes himself unreservedly to his duties, who presses his cause early and late, amidst favourable and depretsmg surroundings, such a one will not fail to pbtain a proportionate reward The sowing may be effected in tho midst of many discouraging elements, the beginning may be extremely limited, but a detcaunned will can surmount all impediments, and, amid apparently arid pastures, cnltivate a large and prosperous property. Thus Samuel Budgett, •' the Successful Merchant," reared a princely fortune on the foundation of one single penny, the proceeds of the sale of a horse's shoe which he had found. Life Assurance itself was' once a small and strugglin? filing ; but now it has attained a zenith of splendour and power. It« success has been wonlerful. Wo see for it in the future a brilliant career of usefulness. We 'bid it God speed on its high and sacred mission. K<<gular endeavours on the part of those who are ranged under its banner will exalt alike tho object aud the man. The star of promise was never brighter. The life policy is simply an embodiment of that principle winch, out of the present plenty, would provide against the future risk. No other provision is positively secure and certain ; it is jio speculation, for many of the best men in the world are its supporters It is the eogis of our families. Accumulating years will bring increased prosperity: and in the face of a resolute agent, the myriad forms of doubt w ill vanish ; rivals and opponents will find they may learn from his example, but cannot slacken his enthusiasm, or damp Ins zeal ; as well ruight they attempt "To si cm the mountain stream with sand, Or fetter flame with flaxen hand " "The Life Agent," by P. Sajle, jun., F.S S.