Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-06-21
> For the Fayetteville Observer.
FRIENDSHIP.

cellence is not yet diminished in the
least No one has ever learned the
full extent of this brilliant subject
Let US take a retrospective view O!
the past, and see the different condi-
lions which mankind have been placed
in, and then we clearly see that they
do not appreciate the true merits OF
this word. I am often led to reflect
what would be the condition of man
kind were they destitute of the pure
and refined feelings Of friendship
What relation would they sustain to
each other as rational and intelligent
beings? Would they accomplish the
great and noble purpose for which
they were CT lated? God destined;
from time immemorial, that mortal
beings should be bound by ties Of
friendship. He tells US to Glove one
another" and to Glove our neighbol
as oursef," and had be not intended
this, it would have never been re-
vealed to US. How consoling it is to
the care-worn soiourner through this
"Vale of tears" to know he has a true
friend, one who will rejoice with him
in his hours Of happiness, or shed the
balmy dews of sympathetic affection
over the troubled waters of his soul
Without friendship, soul-cheering ant
heaven-tending in its operations, eartf
would be dreary waste, and man &
hermit. But what is friendship? The
Poet says at is name charm, that
lulls to sleep, and then forsakes ant
leaves the wretch to weep" This
do not think true meaning, for i
such were fact there would be but
little happiness on earth. By nature
men are sociable beings, for you car
find no country, from the Arabian
Deserts to the Polar Regions,in which
men are not found in collective bodies
and in a state of sociability. Their
if men are sociable creatures they
must be formed for friendship
Friendship is link in the chain o
human Happiness; it is the connecting
link between earth and heaven. i
fits man for the enjoyment of his fel
low creatures, and the enjoyment o
heaven hereafter. Oh! it is sweet t.
know We have friend to whom w
can unbosom the hearts dearest Sc
crets with implicit confidence. Whel
the soul is weighed down with grie
and disappointment, how relieving i
is to unburdenit of its burning load
with freedom and confidence to con
rfidential friend.
Friendship has power
To soothe affection in her darkest hour"
When tossed upon bed of afilic
ion, we need some kind friend tt
press our fevered brow, to soothe ou
pillow land to cheer our dropping spirits
The mere remembrance of the tie:
Of friendship which we have contract
ed-the many Glove delighted hours
We have enjoyed with friends that are
gone, affords us a melancholy pleasure
And often as the mind reverts to hal
lowed recollections of By gone days, g
tear from the moistened eye, uncon
sciously trickles down the pallid cheek
We are delighted to see our friends
With what eagerness do we grasp the
hand Of friend who has been absent
while our countenances beam with
joy, and our, hearts glow with friend.
ship.
Although friendship is so requisite
for the happiness of mankind, yet we
find that it, like all mortal things in
this transitory world, is subject to dis
solution. The sylvan chords which
bind fond hearts in unison, are liable
to be severed by the ruthless hand Of
the malicious. We find many who
are ready to pledge their fidelity; who,
alas! upon the first approach of evil,
disunite the channel, which shortly be-
fore bid fair for the conveyance Of
the stream of friendship unruffled by
the breeze of discord. But this world
is not composed of such heartless be-
ings. There are those who are ready
to stand by in the hour of adversely
as well as prosperity, as long as one
glimmering ray of Life keeps our spir-
its from Eternity. Then why should
we cling to this dreary world? Why
not unloose the letters which bind us
here and let the spirit soar to regions
of bliss, where all are friends indeed.
"There thousand nameless ties
Which those who feel them know,
OF kindred thoughts, deep sympathies,
And untold fancy spells, which throw
Ger ardent minds and faithful hearts
A chain whose charmed links so blend
That the light circlet but imparts