Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1821-02-27

lit. The current Of tenderness Widens as
1t proceeds; and two men imperceptibly
find their hearts warm with good nature
for each other when they were at first
|only 10 pursuit Of mirth or re!axation.
Friendship is like debt Of hoaour; the
moment it is talked OF, ii loses It's real
{ name, and assumes the more ungTateful
form of obligation. From hence we fluid
that those who regularly undertake 10
!. cultivate friendship tiud ingrauiude gen
, Ierally repays their endeavonfs Chat
circle OF beings which dependence gath
lers round us is almost ever untriendly !;
they secretly wish the term of their CON
lnexions more nearly equal; and where
they even have the most virtas, as pre-
|pared to reserve ali their afiSciio:;s s s:;s
their patron, only in the hour Of his de-
feline. Increasing the obligations which
: lare laid upon such minds only increases
their burthen, they fee! themselves una
BILE TO pay the immensity Of slBeir debt,
land their bankrupt hearts are taught a
latent resentment at the haud that is
lstretched out with offers ofseryice aud re-
lief.
1 Plantinus was man who thought that
levery good was to be bought from riches !;
land as he was possessed Of great wealth,
land had mind naturally formed for vir-
tue, he resolved TO gather circle Of the
|hest men round him. Among the number
Iof his dependents was Misidorous, will, a
mind just as fond of virtue, yet DOT less
lproud than his patron. His circumstan-
Ices, however, were such as farced him 10
|stoop 10 the good Offices of his superior,
land he saw himself daily among number
Iof others loaded with benefits and profess
Itations Of friendship. These, 10 the usu-
al course of The world, he thp'l il prudent
Ito accept but, while be gase his esteem,
he could NOT give his heart. a want Of al
Election breaks out in the meat triHing 10
stances, and Plautinus had skill enough
ito observe the minutes. aGs..i;eaas 81 the man
he wished 10 make his FREUD. In these
The ever found his aim disappointed (; for
Musidorous claimed an exchange Of
hearts, which Piautinus, su;ieiled by va
|riety Of other claims, could never think
Iof bestowing.
/ 1t may be easily supposed, that the re-
lserve Of our poor proud Esan was soon
construed into ingra;;sssdss and slch in-.
ldeed 10 the common acceDtation Of the
I gsssFssss,, II Mas. hcgese 81 asidorons ap-
Ipeared, he was marked as the ungratefu'
lman; he had accepted favors, it was said,
aud still had the insolence to pretend to
independence. The event, however, JUS
lifted bis conduct. Plautinus, by misgui-
lded liberaiity, at length became poor, and
lii was then that Musidorous first thought
Of making friend of him. He flew to
the man of fallen fortune, with an offer of
all he had wrought under his direction
with assiduity and, by uniting their tai
tents, both we're at length placed 10 that
Estate Of life from which one of them had
formerly fallen.
/ To this story, taken from modern life,
II shall add one more taken from Greek
T writer Of antiquity Two Jewish SOL
Idiers, in the time of Vespasiau, made ma.
10y campaigns together, aud participation
of danger at length bred an union Of hearts.
They we're remarked through the whole
larmy as the two friendly brothers they
lielt and fought for each other. Their
friendship might have continued without
interruption till DEATH had not the good
fortune Of the one alarmed the pride Of
1.-THE other, which was 10 his promotion to
|be centurion under the famous John,
who headed particular party Of the Jew
fish maIcontents. From this moment their
former love was converted into the most
inveterate enmity. They attached them
lselyes to opposite factions, and sought each
Iother's lives in the conflict of adverse par
tiles. In this manner they continued for
tmore than two years, vowing mutual re-
venge, and animated with an unconquera-
lble spirit of aversion. AT length, howev.
Ter, that party of the Jews to which the
mean soldier belonged joined with the Ro-
Imans, it became victorious, and drove
John into the temple. History has given
Ius more than one picture Of the dreadful
conAagratiou Of that superb edifce. The
Roman soldiers were gathered round il !;
the whole temple was in flames, add thou.
sands were seen amidst them, within its
sacred circuit. II was IN this situation
of things that the now successful soldier
saw bis friend, upon the battlements Of
1.-The highest tower, looking round with
horror, and just ready to consume with
flames. All bis former tenderness now
4 returned he saw The man OF his bosom
lust ready 10 perish, and unable TO with
stand the impulse, he ran spreading his
arms, and crying ont to his friend to leap
down from the top, and find safety with
him. The centurion (from above) heard
. and obeYed, and casting himself from the