Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-09-27
Winning a Friend.

Here Is Sttle story which never he-
fore has been told In print, but which is
surely as we'll worth the telling as the
histories OF wars and crimes and sharp
tricks i'll the money market with which
our papers and minds are filled nova
days.
certain shrewd Hebrew merchant,
whom We shall call Lejee. built. few
years aga a huge department store in
one OF our large cities. 1t was planned
to occupy whole block. But the corner
lot, forty feet square, was owned by M
old German matchmaker named Weber,
who refused to sell it,
NO, will not give up my house."
he said. Il bought it when property
here was cheap, and | 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
hive in the house, only sit in this office
all day long, looking out OF the win
dow"
The office was a small corner room in
the second story. with an open fireplace
around which were set some old Dutch
tiles. A battered walnut desk was fit
ted into the wall, and before it stood mn
old chair aud a sheepskin cover.
The old mans face grew red. You
are right, he said. Il don't work here.
| have enough to live on without work.
But ] am an old man. and want to live
In tins room. 1t is home to me. When
my wife and | first came here we were
poor. worked in the shop below, hut
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 out of that
door. Greta is dead for many long
mt MI | al hnp Ia
Of the window, ! think she il with me.
For thirty years she and | looked out
OF that window and talked OF the
changes in the street below"
Lejee was silenced for the time, but
began his arguments again the next day,
doubling his offer.
THE lot is worth that 10 me-" no
said, 'as ] own the block. but to no.
body else. You are throwing away a
large sum which would be great help
to your sons that YOU may indulge bit
" sentiment. Have you the right to
do thatI'
Weber was hard pushed. His boys
were struggling on with small means;
this money would set them on their feet,
would enable them to marry. What
right had he to spoil their lives that he
might sit and dream of old times? The
next day he gave his consent, and the
sale was made
The old man lived in the suburbs: he
never came to that part of the town
while the building was in progress.
When il was finished and the huge de-
partment store was thrown open to the
public, Lejce one day asked him to come
in. lie led him through the great crowd
ed salcsro0ms, piled one on top of an
other for nine stories, and then drew
him into narrow passage and flung
open a door.
There is your little office, just as You
left il" he said. I'VE have built around
it. nIJ beside it, and over il, but not
brick in ii has been touched. There is
your fire with the old tiles and your
desk, and your chair was brought back
today. II il your Office. Mr. Weber. and
If You will sit here as long as you live
and think of them that are gone, and
watch the changes in the street below,
shall feel there is a blessing on the big
house, because | have friend in it,
The Congregationalist.