Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-08-01
WINNING A FRIEND.
A story That Is Refreshing In These
Money Grabbing Days.

Money Grabbing Days.
Here is a little story which never
before has been told in print. but
which is surely as well worth the tell
ing as the histories of wars and crimes
and sharp tricks i'm the money market
with which our papers and minds are
filled nowadays.
n certain shrewd HebrewNnerchant
whom we shall call Lejee. built few
years ago huge department store in
one of our large cities. 1t was planned
to occupy whole block. But the cor
ner lot. forty feet square. was owned
by an old German matchmaker named
Weber, who refused TO sell il.
mo. l will not give up my house."
he said. II bought 1t when property
here was cheap. aud | have lived and
worked here for fifty-two years. | will
not sell it,
"But," Lejee patiently reasoned
"you virtually gave up business years
ago. You make or sell no watches
now. Your sons have other pursuits
You don't live in the bouse-only sit
In this office all day long. looking out
OF the window"
The office was n small corner room
In the second story. with an open FIRE
place around which were set some
old Dutch tiles. a battered walnut
desk was fitted into the wall. and be-
fore it stood an old chair and a sheep
skin cover
The old mans face grew red. "You
are right" he said az don't work
here. l have enough to live on without
work. But | am an old man and want
to live in this room. 1t is home to me-
When my wife and l first came here,
we were poor L worked I'm the shop
below, but we lived here. Grcta fried
the cakes and wurst over that fire;
the cradle stood In that corner. Little
Jan was born here; his coffin was car
ricd out of 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 L looked out of that window
and talked of the changes in the street
below"
Lejcc was silenccd for the time. but
began his arguments again the next
day. doubling his offer
THE lot Is worth that TO me-" he
said, "as | own the block, but to no.
body else. You are throwing away
large sum which would be great
help to your sons that you may in
dulge bit of sentiment. Have you
the right to do thatT'
Weber was hard pushed. His boys
were struggling on with small meaus:
this money would set them on their
feet would enable them to marry.
What right had he 70 spoil their lives
that he might sit and dream of old
times2 The next day he gave his con-
sent, and the sale was made.
The old man lived i'm the suburbs; he
never came TO that part OF the town
while the building was in progress.
When it was finished and the huge de-
partment store was thrown open TO
the public, Lejec ono day asked him
TO como in. lie led him through tho
great crowded salcsrooms. piled one
on top OF another for nine stories, and
then drew him Into n narrow passage
and dung open door.
There Is your little Office Just as you
left it," hc said. 1--WE have built around
IL md beside 10 and over Il. but not n
BRICK in II has been touched. There
IRE your fire with the old tiles and your
desk. aud your chair was brought back
today. IL is your office. Mr. Weber,
and IL you will sit here as long as you
live and think OF them that nre gone
aud watch the changes in the street
below l shall feel there is blessing
on the big house, because / have a
friend I'm it."-Congrcgationalist.