The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-03-17


3. In the next place, there are some
things in his friendship which render us
sure Of not being deceived, when we put
our confidence in him. True friendship
must not be of hasty growth As quaint
old Master Fuller says, E" Let friendship
creep gently to height; if it rush to it,
it may soon run itself out of breath" 1t
lis even so. | think it was Joana Bailie
said
"FricndShip is no plantofh hasty growth.
Though planted in esteem's deep fixed soil,
The gradual culture of kind intercourse
Must bring it to perfection"
In vain thou trusteSt the gourd over thy
head, Q Jonah it will not be of much use
to thee it came up in night, it may
withcr in night. 1t is the strong still
oak, of ages growth, which shall abide
the tempest; which shall alike put out its
wings to shield thee from the sun, and
shall atterward find the hovel in its
heart, if necessary, in It's grey o age,
when It's branches tremblo in the blast
Friendship is true when it begins but we
must have mans friendship long before
we can say Of him that ne Il stick closer
than brother. x , ;" :; x
/. But note, further, the friendship
which lasts does not take its rise in the
chambers of mirth, nor is it fed and fat
tened there. Young lady, YOU speak of
a dear friend whom you acquired last night
in ball room. Do not, [ beseech you,
misuse the word he is not a friend if he
was acquired merely there; friends are
better things than those which grow in
the dollhouse Of pleasure. Friendship is
more lasting plant than those. You
have friend, have you? Yes and he
keeps a pair Of horses, and has a good es-
tablishment. All . but your best way to
prove your friend is to know that he will
be your friend when you have not so much
as mean cottage; and when, houSeless
and without clothing, you are driven to
beg your bread. Thus you would make
true proof of a friend Give me friend
who was born in the winter time, whose
cradle was rocked in the storm; he will
last Our fair weather friends shall fee
away from us. had rather have a robin
tor d friend than a swallow for swallow
abides with US only in the summer time
but a robin comcth to us in the winter
Those are tight friends that will come the
nearest to us when we are in the most
distress; but those are not friends who
speed themselves away when III times
come. <
), Again, a friend acho IS ocquircd
By .fotly is "egcr a lasting triend. Do a
foolish thing, and make q man your friend :;
It's but a confederacy in vice, aud you
will soon discover that his friendship is
worthless the friendships you acquire by
doing wrong, you had better be without
O. how many silly friends there are
springing up, the mere fruit Of a senti-
mcntaltsm, having no root whatever, but
like the plant Of which our Saviour tells
US . 1t sprang up because it had no
depth Of earth"
Under this head may | likewise observe,
that the Friendship ofignora"ce Is not a
cc,y desirable oue | desire no man to
call himself my friend, if he doth nct
know me. Let him love me in proportion
to his knowledge Of me. If he loves me
for the little he knows, when he knoweth
more be may cast me aside. "That mar" ;"
says one, "seems to be very amiable
man" Il am sure | can love him." says
another, as he scans his features. Ay,
but do not write " friend yet; wait wee
bit, until you know more of him Just see
him, examine him, try him, test him, aud
not till then enter him on the sacred list
of friends Be friendly to all, but make
none your friends until they know you,
and you know them. Many friendship
born in the darkness of ignorance, hath
died suddenly in the light Of better ac-
ouaintance with each other. You sup
posed men to be different from what they
were, and when you discovered their real
character you disregarded them. | re-
member one saying to ne, " | have great
affection for you, sir" and he mentioned
a certain reason. | replied, Only dear
fellow, your reason is absolutely false; the
very thing you love me for, | am not, and
hope | never shall be-" And SO | said,
:" | really cannot accept your friendship,
if it be founded upon a misunderstanding
of what | may have said. ."-Spuryeon.
Fron. &" Street TAonghts," by the Rer. Henry u.
DerLer