Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-31
WINNING A FRIEND.
A story That I" Refreshing In These
Money tsrnblinR Dnys

Here is q little story which never
before has been told In print, but
which is surely ms well worth the tel
ing as the histories of wars and crime
and sharp tricks in the money market
with which our papers and minds ara
filed nowadays.
A certain shrewd Hebrew merchant.
whom we shall call Lejec, built n few
years ago a huge department store fl
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 it.
"No, | will not give up my house"
he said II bought it when property
here was cheap. and have lived ami
worked here for flfty-two years. | viii
not sell it,"
But" Loicc 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 house-only sit
in this Office all day long looking out
Of tho 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. II don't work
here. ]. 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 I first came here,
We were poor. worked in the, shop
| below. but we livedrhere. Greta, fried
/ the cakes and wurst over that fire.
/ tho cradle stood in that corner. Little
/ Jan was born here; his coffin was car
ricd out of that door. Greta is dead
| for many a long year. But when sit
/ hero and lool; 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"
Leicc was silcnced for the time, but
hogan his arguments again the next
LAY, 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 n
large sum which would he a great
I ho,p to your sons that you may in
dulec a bit of 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 con-
sent, 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 it was finished and the huge de-.
partment store was thrown OPEN to
the public, Lejee one day asked him
to come in. He led him through the
great crowded salesrooms, piled one
on top of another for nine stories. and
then drew him into a narrow passage
and flung open a door.
There is your little office Just as you
left It," he said I'VE have built around
1t and beside it and over it, but not a
brick in it has been touched. There
are your fire with the old tiles and your
desk and your chair was brought back
today. 1t is 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 l shall feel there IS a blessing
on the big house, because l have q
friend in 1t. "-ConEregationalis