Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-10-27
ORIGINAL PAPERS.
For the Spirit Of the Age.
True Friendship"

"True Friendship"
There is a natural characteristic belong
ing to mankind, which through the inn
pulses Of the heart, causes us to form
certain intimacy with ourfellow beings and
this intimacy is often crroneousIy styled .
friendship. How few are there even among
our most intelligent classes OF society,
who nicely discriminate between mere pas
sivo and real friendship. Passive friend /
ship may be butmcrely asoeial intercourse
and communion Of thought real friendship
manifests itself by warm sympathetic !
feeling, which is only felt and realized 10y /
those whoare in deed aud thought true and
devoted iriaals. Sociabiity is not the only
essential evidence necessary to establish in
the mind that confidence and trust which
we are liable 90 rcpose in the bosom of !
friend. Society is truly governed toomuch
by dry and strict formaIities, for us to re-
gard the merry laugh and social converse
Of Gay and giddy throng to be unerring |
evidence Of a mutual and reciprocal feel |
ing Of devoted friendship. The tongue
may spcal, the sentiments OF the heart, yet
every net, deed and thought must necessa-
rily corrobcrate with tho highly polished
words which may cmanate from the seem
iugly devoted heart, else they are but as a
name written upon the sandy shore of the
great deep, only obltcrated by the dash
ing waves Of pride and fortune. One mo-
ment may breathe into our ears the calm
and soothing words Of Joy and consolation
mingled with expressions of kindness and
mutual attachment, while the next may
fiji them with the crashing sounds of scorn,
reproach and contempt One moment
may seem to promise an attachment last
ihg and mutual, the next may seal the linn
itation ofvows uttered but to be broken
advanced but to dcceivc-and cherished
but to be blasted.
True friendship is a reciprocity of feel
ing and thought, exercised and felt by none
but those who are possessed of the higher
and noblor spirit Of mankind, unshielded
by the cloak Of disguise and deception,
wearing upon the counteaance token Of
love and sympathy, made manifest by a
constant willingness to administer to the
necessities Of those whom we would re-
gard as friends. IL is light Of intense
brightness lowering around the path Of
gloom, dcsolation aud despair, turning
darkness into light sickness into health,
pain into pleasure, and sorrow into hap
piucss; turning nighttime day, the gloomy
aud uncertain aspects Of iuturity into asy-
lums Of peace, happiness and prosperity
the weary and trembling steps Of old age
into the vigor of youth, and even death
itself is sweet when the heart is soothed
and calmcd by the administering hand and
consoliug words of some devoted and cher
ishcd friend.
But oh how few are they, among the
mauymilions who people the earth, whom
we can look upon and calf friends Whose
hearts are inspired by those pure emotions
Of the inward man. Who would not fond
~ lean upon the shoulders of prosperity
oaly to tramplc upon the neck Of adyersi-
ty. Who are not smiles and gcutIeness in
the bright rosy morning Of life, vigor and
happiness In the evening OF sorrow and
dcsoIatiou, frowns of contempt and scoru
Who Hy to the standard of necessity to
administer TO the wants of those who, in
brighter days aud happier hours, were re-
glrlcd with the intimacy Of loyal friends
Who would offer, as a sacrifice, their ow,
happiness apon the altar of charity, thai
they might restore to some devoted tricnd
the placid smile of case and couteutmen
which none other than the hand OF adyer
sity has obliteratcd. Hence it is that tru
friendship Is but seldom seen to ming
within the society of pride, vanity aud ar
istocracy. Thus originates the wise an
invaluable maxim" \ friend Is neye
known until needed
When prosperity sheds a bright halo {
happiness around oar hearts, when tn
gltteringrays Of sunshine and pleasure al
constantly Illuminating onr waywar
paths through the wcarisome journey
li.e--whcu toll and care heaps not upo
our shoulders their oppressive burdens, I'm
sorrow ana pain has never entered ii
portals Of peace AMI happiness, we kno
not neither do we feel or realize the ine
timabIe value Of a true friend. Then a
are friends, otherthrough selishmotiyes
pecuniary interest. But when adyersi
with her burthcucd train of mislortun
pain, sorrow and gloom shall east her dal
mantle Of misery and despair upon o.
brows, how sweet it is then to know th
we have one friend, at least, who is cy
ready and willing TO shed sympathisil
tear for the lonely and desolate heart. O
who will weep, when we weep and reioi
when we rejoice All here is the tr
test of friendship-the evidence of not
heart, the conviction Of devoted attac
ment. This IS the hour to try the rea,it
Of the constant and undiminished fdel
and adherence OF those who il fairer d;
aud happier hours would fain have be
called thy friends.
When thou art minging with the hi
and polished society Of the gay and lau