The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-05-18
WRITTEN FOR THE INDEPENDENT PRESS.
My Old Professed Friend.


EDWARD passed me; but, as l learned, he
was Fastening on to his recent acquaintance,
Mrs. SoMERs, truly lovely and intelligent
lady, and her son, a most gentce and polite
gentleman. l thought EDWARD was doing
well in associating with, and making the ac-
quaintance of the SoMERs family. But, on
learning the reason why he passed me so
cavalierly, the other day, there was not a
little astonislmcnt in the reason to a calm
and unsuspccting mind. was strongly re-
minded of the saying Of an old author
which ! read in my childhood, and which
my father greatly admired. The sentence
runs thus: "Ihine owm friend and thy
tather's friend, torsakc not" The impress
sion made on reading this, (proverb, we
may call it,) remains on my mind, and has
in it great deal Of good, strong and excel
lent common sense.
But when we look off into the world rs
it now is and presents itself to our view,
we are constrained to believe that the above
provcrb is entirely forgotten, as one of OBJ
solefe character. An old friend for such,
according to our provcrb, must he fathers
fr'end-has something of the quality of an
old book-has become nasty and it is
time, in this age of progress and steam, to
bc casting old things aside and getting
something fresh. EDWARD, as I learned,
supposed he had gotten all that was or could
he profitable out of myself. However cor
rect his Judgment on this point, his decis
ION suggests an unenviable sequence with
regard to himself, viz that the SoMERs
family may soon be deserted, too, when new
faces appear. The present age has but one
admiration, and that is bestowed on some
thing neo, just made, or just imported
True, there are two old things at present
much admired-olM corn, and old wheat ::
and people run after them and embrace
them as their friend and their fathers friend
But we are not talking about corn and
wheat, but about professcd friends.
We do not intend to come out and say,
i'll so many words, that there is no such
thing as true friendship, and yet We are
somewhat skeptical. We often hear the
sweeping remark made, but to agree to its
truth would be to reproach ourselves, and
the good opinion we have of our dear self
and this we are reluctant to part with. We
believe that we are flesh and blood, lust
like our neighbors, and as the good Book
says Observation-Disclosures the new
notions of some old Jogies, for it is posi-
tive fact that old people have young no.
tions, else why do old men get young
wives !)-"That God hath made of one
blood all nations of men for to dwell on
all the face of the earth, and hath deter
mined the time before appointed, and the
bounds Of their habitation." But old folks
do not believe, or all of them do not, all the
Bible says, for some of them say that all
the nations Of the earth are not one blood,
but many. Now, if we could believe this,
we should be inclined hence to account for
the great fondness discernable for new
things-new acquaintances, new friends, we
say if there be such being on earth as
friend-and with all our skepticism, we say
we believe there are many. But II is sad
truth, that there should be so few true and
trustworthy friends, reliable at all times and
in all emergencies. The day of adversely
lowers, and we look out for friends and
sympathy, but find neither, and we feel sad,
and almost weary of life, and quite so of
tho world.
There are many professed friends, but the
most of them will sell you for dollar, and
some even for less. Professions are not to
be trusted; they are seldom, if ever, relia-
BILE. Men sell their professed politics for
little popularity; change their Church con-
nection fat least many do) for worldly gain ;
change their friends for worldly advantage
and their religious faith for distinction.-
Professions of friendship are mostly empty,
and unworthy Of confidence, for, like a
windy cloud, they soon pass away, My old
professed friend, where is he? He has not
evaporated, but has to me become obsolete.
I would call him back, but for me he has
no ears, no eyes, and no hand. My old
friend, my fathers friend, I would not for
sake without most cogent reasons And
yet would utter this,cautiously,, for I, too,