Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-10-09
How a Shrewd Jew
Won a Sincere Friend,

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Here is a little story which rar,
fore has been told in print. but ~
is surely as well worth the ,all,n- -''1
the histories of wars and crjno- :,
sharp tricks in the money marks, ~ -
which our minds are filed nowos..-
says a writer in the Congrecarions,:.NA
A certain shrewd Hebrew maroba-'
whom we shall call Keiee. bunt -
years ago. a huge department stO,a :
one of our large cities. Ii was 49,
ned to occupy whole block. Bu, a,
corner lot, forty feet square. WAS ov,,-s
BY an old German MATCHMAKER man,
Weber, who refused to sell il
NO. l viii not give up nv bou,. i,
he said. Il bought it when prono.-
here was cheap. and I have Lived a.
worked here for fifty-two years. | VIII.
not sell it,"
But" Lejee patiently reasoned IN,
virtually gave up business years s,.
You make or sell no watches nav
Your sons have other pursuits y,-
don't live in the house. only sit in mi,
office all day long, looking out of tsa
window"
The Office was a small corner mn
in the second story. with an open brA
place around which We're set some cs
Dutch tiles. A battered walnut dsS,
was fitted into the wall and before /,
stood an old chair and a sheepski,
cover.
The old mans face grew red. 'Ysv
are right" he said. Il don't wo,s
here. l have enough TO live on withou.
work. But l am an old man and wan.
to live in this room. 1t is home 10 ne
When my wife and first came here Va
were poor. worked in the shop b.
low, but we lived here. Greta fried he
cakes and wurst over that fire: lie
cradle stood in that corner. Little Jan
was born here; his coffin was carrlai|
ont Of that door. Greta is dead "a.
many a long year. But when sit here
and look out Of the window l think shs
is with me. For thirty years she ani
I looked out Of that window and talkail
Of the changes in the street below
Lejee was silenced for the time h-.I
began his arguments again the laIt|
day. doubling his offer.
The lot is worth that to me" 4
said. ''as own the block, but to 10
body else. You are throwing away d
large sum which would be a great hslp
to your sons that you may indulge
bit of sentiment. Have you the rist.|
to do that?"
Weber was hard pushed. His b0HI
We're struggling on with small means
this money would set them on ther
feet, would enable them TO marry. WIT
right had he TO spoil their lives that Z
might sit and dream of old times: II
next day he gave his consent and IL
sale was made.
The old man lived in the suburbs z
never came to that part Of the toE1
while the building was in progress
When It was finished and the huge q
partment store was thrown open 10 u
public Lejee one day asked him
come in. He led him through the gia
crowded salesrooms, piled one Cd "a
Of another for nine stories. and ns
drew him into a narrow passage an
flung open n door.
There is your little Office Just
you left it," he said. We have 0ul
around it, and beside it. and oVei
hut not a brick in II has been tOncne1
. There is your fire with the old tiles 81
your desk. and your chair was blous-
back to-day. 1t is your office, Mr. "s0
er. and If you will sit here as long
you live and think Of them tnaI
gone, and watch the changes ID
street below, l shall feel there
, blessing on the big house DecauS
/ d, IL