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A BAD FIRE

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 23, 1877

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 50, No. 9.

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A BAD FIRE.

By Sel.

“Jones, have you heard of the fire that burned up the man's house and lot?”
“No, Smith; where was it?”
“Here, in the city.”
“What a misfortune to him! Was it a good house?”
“Yes; a nice house and lot—a good home for any family.”
“What a pity! How did the fire take?”
“The man played with fire, and thoughtlessly set it himself.”
“How silly! Did you say the lot was burned, too?”
“Yes; lot and all; all gone, slick and clean.”
“That is singular. It must have been a terrible hot fire—and then I don't see how it could have burned the lot.”
“No; it was not a very hot fire. Indeed, it was so small that it attracted but little attention, and did not alarm anybody.”
“But how could such a little fire burn up a house and lot? You haven't told me.”
“It burned a long time—more than twenty years. And though it seemed to consume very slowly, yet it wore away about one hundred and fifty dollars' worth every year, till it was all gone.”
“I can't understand you yet. Tell me where the fire was kindled, and all about it.”
“Well, then, it was kindled on the end of a cigar. The cigar cost him, he himself told me, twelve and a half dollars per month, or one hundred and fifty dollars a year, and that in twenty-one years would amount to $3,150, besides all the interest. Now the money was worth at least ten per cent, and at that rate it would double once in about every seven years; so that the whole sum would be more than $20,000.That would buy a fine house and lot in any city. It would pay for a large farm in the country. Don't you pity the family of the man who has slowly burned up their home?”
“Whew! I guess you mean me; for I have smoked more than twenty years. But it doesn't cost so much as that, and I haven't any house of my own. Have always rented—though I was too poor to own a house. And all because I have been burning it up! What a fool I have been!”
The boys had better never set a fire which costs so much, and which, though so easily put out, is yet so likely, if once kindled, to keep burning all their lives.—Sel.