Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1902-09-18

Z.
Here is q little story which never
before has been told In prius, but
which is surely as well worth the
telling as the histories Of wars and
crimes and sharp tricks in the mon
ley market with which our papers
and minds are filled nowadays.
4 certain shrewd Hebrew merch-
ant whom we shall call Lejee, built.
lev years ago. huge department
store In one OF the large cities. Il
was planned 70 occupy Q whole block
but the corner lot, forty feet square,
was owned By an old German watch
maker named Weber. who refused
/! fo All T.
No, ] win not give up my house,
i bought it when property here was
cheap, and have lived and worked
here for tifty-two years. will not
sell il.
But, Lejee patiently reasoned,
you virtually gave up business
years ago. You make or sell no
watches now. Your sons have 9TH
er pursuits. You don't live in the
house, only sit in the Office all day
long looking out of the Window
The Office wasa small corner room
in the second story, with an open
fireplace around which were set
some old Dutch tiles. A battered
walnut desk was fitted into the wall,
and before il stood an old chair and
sheepskin cover.
The old mans face grew red.
You are right. he said. i don I
work here. have enough to live
on without work. But | am an old
man, and / want to live i'm this room.
1t is home TO me. When my wife
and first came here we were poor.
| worked in the shop below, but we
lived here. Greta fried the cakes
and wurst over that fire; the cradle
stood in that corner. Little Jan was
born here; his coffin was carried
outIof that door. Greta is dead for
many long year. But when l sit
here and look out of the window,
think she is with me. For thirty
years she and looked out of that
window and talked of the changes
in the street below.
Leiee was silenced for the time,
but began his arguments again the
next day, doubling his offer.
The lot is worth that to me, he
said as l own thesblock, but to no
body else. You are throwing away
large sum which would be a great
help to your sons that you may in
dulge bit of sentiment. Have you
a right to do that p
Weber was hard pushed. His
boys were struggling on with small
means this money would set them
on their feet and enable them to mar
ry? What right had he to spoil
their lives that he might dream Of
old times? The next day he gave
his consent and the sale was made
The old man livedin the suburbs !:
he never came to that part of the
town while the building was in
progress. When it was finished
and the huge department store was
thrown open to the public, Leiee
one day asked him to come in. He
led him through the great crowded
salesroous, piledoneo top of anoth-
er for nine stories, and then drew
him into narrow passage and flung
open a door.
There is your little Office. just as
you left it, he said: We have built
around it, and beside il, and over it.
but not brick in it has been touch
ed. There is your fire with the old
tiles and your desk, and your chair
was brought back today. tits your
Office, Mr.. Weber. and If you will
sit hereas long as youlive and think
of them that are gone, and watch
the changes in the street below, j
shall feel there is blessing on the
big house, because have friend
in it.'-Congregationaist.