Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-07-02
FRIENDSHIP.


or kindred thoughts, deep sympathies,
| An untold fancy spells which throw
| Oerardentm minds and faithful hearts
A chain whose charmed links so blend
It's force Is these fond words-My Friend.
| How much is included in the sim.
pie word friendship, and how often il
it used without meaning. 1t Is is moi
q word to-day it is of 9 lifetime. II
Is the connection between the past
and the present, and it is often times
a guide to the future. While we live
in the present either in enjoyment OF
sorrow, there Is consolation when we
give ourselves up to memory and al
low 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 as
being the residence ofsome witch or
giant, are dear to us now, because
they once 50 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 we trace
the names of the many friends who
with us enjoyed the past. AS We
read each name there, we muse In si-
lence and ask ourselves where is he
who wrote 1t in all the flush of boy
hood when care had not harassed
his true heart when even hope had
scarcely agitated his mind when the
veil of mystery still hung over the fu-
ture. A still voice waited on the
breeze through the open door, whis-
pers, He is dead !n We are silent !;
we live over again with him our days
Of friendship-days that can never re-
turn days that have been swallowed
up by the silent past. Memory 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. Itis, that in those days we
knew what friendship was. A friend
then did not love Us for any worldly
motive; he was drawn to us by the
attraction one pure heart has for
another. When the world intrudes
friendship is alloyed but where
heart is bound to heart by motives
that soar above all worldly taint, then
true friendship exists.
Let US ask ourselves, since man
hood dawned upon US, how many re-
al friends we have met. We have
met with those who enjoyed with US
our moments Of happiness, but did
they cling to as in our hours of sor.
row +? Did they, knowing our inno-
cence, overcome public opinion, and
stand firm to us when the world
charged us with an offence? When
thief tongue OF the slanderer had
been used against us ? Have those
who offered US the hand of friendship
when Fortune smiled upon us, with
drawn it when adversity smote us p
If from childhood we have had q real
friend we should cherish him fondly
q friend who would chide us when
we were direlict in duty one who
would never hide from US our faults
never feed our vanity with fattery,
nor oar pride with false adulation, Is
8 friend that is worthy Of our love.
"He ought not to pretend to friendship's
Who recFons not himself and friend the
same"
Are we not ready to correct In our.
selves what may Re wrong, when 1t
comes to our knowledge? If we "pre-
tend to friendships name," should
we not correct q friend or be correct.
ed by one? Though the words Of q
friend may pierce to the heart, and
goad almost to anguish still they may
Be offered for our benefit, and should
be 80 accepted. We should not be Of
Tended by them, but should be pleased
with the open candor fhim who Of
fers to correct US. Friendship must |
not be alone in name there must be
approaching the divine,
and when 1t is understood in its prop
sr meaning the human family will
be happier.