The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1863-05-27
NOT A TRUE FRIEND.
BY HELEN r. CUTLER.

Mr.. Haley moved into a small village
not long ago. He is gentleman of pre-
possessing appearance, of rare intelligence,
as the slight intercourse he has already
had with the people of the village has
shown. He was, on his arrival, stran-
ger to all in. the village except one-Mr.
Pitkin. This gentleman and Mr.. Haley
had been schoolmates, as he said, and a
firm friendship had existed between them
since their school days. Though they
had been separated, correspondence had
been kept up between them, and they had
occasionally met. Mr.. Haley had decid-
ed now to settle in l., because it
was Mr., Pitkin's place of residence, for
the pleasure he thought n renewal Of their
former friendship would afford.
Some weeks after Mr.. Haley had be-
come settled, Mr.. Pitkin happened in one
evening, where several of the village peO-
pie were collected at n neighbors. In
the course of the conversation, some one
mentioned Mr.. Haley, the new conner; for,
in little village everybody knows every
body, and all about eyerybody's business,
and-sometimes little more. Some
one expressed warm commentator of
him as to bis pleasing manners and intel
Iigence and thought they were very for
tunate in having gained such neighbor.
Some of the young ladies praised his fine
looks, and thought he would be such an
acquisition to picnics aud sleigbrides.
Mr.. Pitkin assented to all these praises,
said he was man of remarkable intelli-
gcnce, a man of pleasing manners-'0hen
he chose to be-!
He is friend of yours-an intimate,
believe" some one said addressing Mr..
Pitkin.
"Oh yes" he assented "we have been
like brothers from boyhood. l know him
well. lie is a fine man, an estimable
man, an agreeable man, but for one thing
though l have no trouble with him my
self on that score-I know how to man.
age him. You can never feel any freedom
in conversation with him on account Of
one infrmity."
What is it!" from two or three
young ladies, in surprise and curiosity.
"Do tell" from one or two older ones,
which expression was not so much an en-
treaty to relate as it hight seem, taken
literally, but an exclamation of astonish-
ment.
WE'LL" said Mr.. Pitkin, with appa-
rent reluctance, " the infrmity to which |
allude is one of temper. He is so iras-
chile, so much under the influence Of his
temper, that with those with whom he is
at all familiar, intercourse with him is
rather risky piece of business; at least
with those with whom he is familiar
You have to handle him as carefully as
you would loaded fire-arms-be as eau
tous of causes of offence as you would Of
sparks in a powder magazine, for he will
sometimes fire up Unexpectedly, upon the
slightest opposition.
DO tell" the old ladies CALCULATED
again; some of the younger ones
"Wbat a pity!-I wouldn't have
thought it,"
otis true, It's pity-pity It's true,"
sighed Mr.. Pitkin--" Anger is madness
with my friend, for under its influence he
will say and do things which he would
not in n sober state of mind, for which he
is sorry when the fit is off, noble and gen.
erous man that he is at heart; but he has
estrauged his best friends by this inirmi-
ty, which grows out of strong love of
appreciation. He cannot bear the slight
est shade Of disapproval; in word, van
ity is at the bottom of the matter-a
very harmless thing, generally, except
=. A.