A father's love for his son

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A father's love for his son

 

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art.

They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael.

They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

 

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war.

He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier.

The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

 

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door.

 

A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said,

Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life.

He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet

struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you,

and your love for art.'

 

The young an held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really

a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.

 

'The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the

young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the

personality of his son in the painting.

 

The father was so drawn to the eyes

that his own eyes welled up with tears.

He thanked the young man and offered

to pay him for the picture.

 

'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your

son did for me. It's a gift.'

 

The father hung the portrait over his

mantle. Every time visitors came to his

home he took them to see the portrait

of his son before he showed them any

of the other great works he had collected.

 

The man died a few months later..

 

There was to be a great auction of his

paintings. Many influential people gathered,

excited over seeing the great paintings and

having an opportunity to purchase one for

their collection.

 

On the platform sat the painting of the son.

 

The auctioneer pounded his gavel.

'We will start the bidding with this picture

of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'

 

There was silence.

 

Then a voice in the back of the room

shouted, 'We want to see the famous

paintings. Skip this one.'

 

But the auctioneer persisted..

'Will somebody bid for this painting?

Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'

 

Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see

the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!'

 

But still the auctioneer continued.

 

'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'

 

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime

gardener of the man and his son.

 

'I'll give $10 for the painting.'

 

Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

 

'We have $10, who will bid $20?'

'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.

 

'The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.

They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel.

 

'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'

 

A man sitting on the second row shouted,

'Now let's get on with the collection!'

 

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.

 

''What about the paintings?''

 

I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret

stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this

time.

 

Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting

would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.

The man who took the son gets everything!