The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-06-15

Its force IN these fond words-My Friend.
How much is included in the simple
word friendship, and how often is it used
without meaning 1t is not a word of to
day; it is of lifetime. 1t is the connection
between the past and the present, and It is
we live in the present either in enjoy
ment or sorrow, there is consolation
when we give ourselves up to memory and
allow her to fly back with us to the days
that are no more when she takes us by
the hand and leads US to each scene that
made happy our youthful days. Each
nook and corner of the old household-the
very dark corners which, when youths, we
dreaded Us being the residence of some
witch or giant, are dear to us now, because
they once SO terrified us. The old school
house, that now shelters . new generation,
has more charms for us than ever. We visit
it; we look along the dust covered walls !;
who with US enjoyed the past. As we
read each name there, We muse in silence
and ask ourselves where is he who wrote
it in all the flush of boyhood when care
had not harrassed his true heart ; when
even hope had scarcely agitated his mind ::
when the veil Of mystery still hung over the
future. A still voice waited on the breeze
through the open door whispers, "He is
dead p We are silent We live over again
with him our days of friendship-days that
can never return days that have been
swallowed up by the silent past. Mem
DRY alone does not bind US to these scenes;
there is something more something that
bids the heart beat quick, and send each
pulsatiOn through the frame. 1t is that in
those days we knew what friendship was.
friend thendid not love US for any worldly
motive he was drawn to US by the attrac-
ton one pure heart has for another. When
the world intrudes, friendship is alloye /;
bat ,-,lDr 1,~o l.
tives that soar above all worldly faint,
then true friendship exists.
Let us ask ourselves, since manhood
dawned upon US, how many real friends
have we met. We have met with those
who enjoyed with US our moments of happi.
ness, but did they cling to us in our hours of
sorrow 7 Did they, knowing our innocence.
to us when the world charged US with an
offence f--when the foul tongue of the SLAM
derer had been used against us 7 Have
those who offered Us the hand of friendship
when Fortune smiled upon us, Withdrawn
it when adversity smote US If from
should cherish him fondly friend who
would chide US when we were derelict in
duty one Who would never hide from US
our taults-never feed our vanity with
fattery, nor our pride with false adulation,
is friend that is worthy of our love.
Ne opsht mot to pretend to fsiGndships name
Are we not ready to correct in ourselves
what may be wrong, when it comes to our
knowledge If we "pretend to friendships
name," should we not correct a friend or
be corrected by one7 Though the words
of friend may pierce to the heart, and
goad almost to anguish, still they may be
offered for our benefit, and should be SO
We should not be offended BY
them, but should be pleased with the open
candor of him who offers to correct us.
must not be alone in name
there must be something approaching the
divine, and when it is understood in its
proper meaning the human family will be
happier.