The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-07-21
Value of Friends.

Our enjoyment in this world is very
much determined by our friendship. No
indiyidua. is happy who does not pos
sess friends. He may become Cr@sus-
rich, hold the title to many houses and
grounds, carry on an extensive trade,
and order regiments of employees to do his
bidding, and without friends he will be
Il discontinued, comfortless man. Our
Maker designed that friendships should
be great source of pleasure. Whoever
does not enjoy that pleasure falls short
of the destiny which God intended for
him. "There is nothing" wrote Mon
tagne, to which nature seems so much
to have inclined us as to society,""
Meander of old declared "him to he
happy that had the good fortune to
meet with but the shadow of friend
Aristotle used to say that good legisla-
tors have more respect to friendship
than to Justice" Without friends, says
Bacon, the world is but a wilderness"
No recipe openeth the heart but true
friend, to whom you may impart griefs,
fears, hopes suspicious, counsels, and
whatever lieth upon the heart to OPP
press it. No man imparteth his joys to
his friend, but he joyeth the more and
no man imparteth his griets to his
friend, but he grieveth the less. Friend
ship maketh, indeed, fair day in the
affections, from storm and tempests !;
but it maketh daylight in the under
standing. out of darkness and confusion
of thoughts" And in another connec-
ton, Bacon observes 1.-THE best way to
represent to life the manifold uses of
friendship, is to cast and see how many
things there are which a man cannot do
himself and then it will appear that it
was a sparing speech of the ancients to
say that friend is another himself; for
that friend is far more than himself"
No two men were placed in positions
where they could better appreciate the
value of true friendship than Montaigne
and Bacon. They have written from
experience.
BY how much we withdraw ourselves
from the companionship and sympathy
of our race, by so much we are liable to
become selfish and morose. Profound
melancholy did not settle upon Chateau
BRAND until he had wholly retired from
the world. After shutting himself up
so long in his Walden shanty." it is
not surprising that Thoreau should have
come to speak of his fellowmen as vul.
gar mortals, and sour on humanity
generally. No one must expect to OBJ
tain happiness by withdrawing himself
into his library or absorbing himself
wholly in business or professional pur-
suits. They will, of course, furnish
some enjoyment, but not of that order
which come from heart in sympathy
with those about him.
When adversely and trials, come, then
friends, as so many know by experience,
perform offices which no money can Sc
cure. They are as balm TO the wounded
breast, and bear up the faintng soul
through Affections. Words Of solace fall
from their lips, and they are to us more
precious than jewels. 1t should, there
fore, be the aim Of all persons entering
upon life to make for themselves a circle
of true friends, not acquaintance who
will drop you when adversely comes,
but fast, staunch friends, who will stand
by you come what may. Intimate re-
lations should be established with those
neighbors whose companionship will be
agreeable and beneficial, and every OPP
portunity should be improved for bring
ing about the era of good feeling which
ought TO prevail in neighborhoods and
settlements.-Hearth and Home.