The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-10-07
STONE INSTEAD OF BREAD.
The Story of a willful Son Who was
Dlsinhcrited, x

There died year ago near the village
Of Bayside, N. Y, a very rich man. His
name was William c. Buhrman, and he
kept the most modest little store In q
picturesque neighborhood called "The Al
ley" He left four sons and to three OF
them large fortune. To the fourth no
left stone. That stone had history.
Mr. Buhrman was man who believed
in economy. for all his riches. Since the
year 1928 the little general store, feed
emporium and the grist mill beside 1t
have fourished. They were left Mr..
Buhrman by his father. himself rich
man. The son took up the thread Of the
business life where bis father left it and
continued famously. He loaned money
to the farmers and took mortgages on
their farms. In those days farming on
Long Island was paying enterprise.
The railroads had not then put western
commodities into competition with those.
Of the east, to the detrlment of the latter.
Rich men went there to make their
summer homes, and they are there today.
Mr. Buhrman never became ambitious
away from home. He worked-nay, he
slaved-at his business morning and
night and brought up his sons to do like
wise. One of these, however, rebelled
against the vigorous regime Of life set
down by the father. There was bitter
quarrel between Mr.. Buhrman and his
son one day. In the heat of it the young
man so far forgot himself as to pick up a
big rock and heave it at the old gentle-
mans head. Then he went away.
The man of gray hairs said nothing. He
simply picked up the rock he had skill
fully lodged, tied it in bandanna hand
kerchief and tucked it high in his safe
among the bonds, deeds, railroad stock
and mortgages. Once in awhile he would
take it out and examine it. saying to hin- \
self: Il shall leave my three sons 500, ,-6
900 each. This son shall get what be IN.
tended for me-this chunk Of granite q 4
He kept his word.
The years rolled on, The breach wan
never healed between father and soIi.
and the stone still nestled there among
the hundreds of thousands, One day the 4
man of riches died. His will was read.
aud his promise was kept. The son who
had rebeled against the parental dictum Y
received the stone. the other sons some. 4
thing like 100000 each. In the old safe
and elsewhere there was found nearly
100000 in ready cash. The rest Of tho
fortune was in lands taken on the fore
closed mortgages; railroad stocks, bought !.
Mt hundreds and now worth thousands;
real estate in city and country, town lots
and granaries, bank stock and electric
trolley shares. The three sons received it
ALL
But within the last year, since the old
mans death, something has come over
the three sons. They have built them.
selves beautiful villas, one of them with
in Il stones throw Of the old building
where the father and grandfather made
the Buhrman hundreds of thousands,
by the side of the beautiful lake. They
spent the winters in New York and the
summers at home. but they were not
happy. Blood is thicker than water, and
the stcne which the old man treasured in
his just and righteous way was nothing
TO them.
They sent for the erring brother. He
did not come. Finally they went to him,
finding hm in poverty, but defiant and
self reliant still. He had served very
hard pcnance for the one rash deed Of his
life, and the brothers realized it.
They offered to divide equally with
him - to make him co-legatee with
themselves. Lawyers were brought into
the matter, and quietly, without any,
blowing of trumpets, the three big heart
ed, manly fellows opened their purses
and put their flesh and blood on his feet
for ife.-New York Herald. ss