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 man held

out    his 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 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 someone bid for this painting?  Who will start the bidding?   $100,

$200?"  Another voice shouted angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting.

   We came to see the Van Goghs, 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 long

time   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."

"$10 is the bid, won't     someone bid $20?" 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 isover."

   "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!"