The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-08-28
"Summer Friends.''

All fourishing people have them. They
come, like the house-fy, in dog-days," to
these who are prosperous, and they hang
around, and f1atter, and caress, and make
themselves agreeable so long as prosper
| ity endures, and then they take them
selves of, and are heard of no more.
"Summer friends" come to you just
after legacy from rich uncle or aunt
takes you out Of second-class tenement
house, and lands you high and dry in a
brown stone front, with front stairs and
back stairs, hot and cold water, and all
the modern conveniences," as the real
estate broker has it.
How delighted they are that they have
formed your acquaintance How they
regret that the suspicious event had not
taken place before. You have missed so
many good times together. It is so strange
that you should never have met before.
Belonging to the same religious denomi-
nation, too!
They think your house perfection
Such elegant wall paper! Such charm
ing curtains! So much good taste every
where. And then your children-the lit
tie dears how bright and intellectual
they are! So different from those young
ones Of Browns, over the way! Such
classical features! And such a sweet ex-
preston on their faces! They do not
wonder that you are proud Of them.
| Then your horses and carriages come
IN for share of admiration. II your
horses be black, then black horses are the
favorites of your summer friends, and if
they be white, then white horses are
equally delightful. Indeed, SO highly
do they eulogize your quadrupeds that
you feel as if you must order out the
establishment at once and give these
amiable people an airing.
You, summer friends will come to your
dinners and drink your costly wines, and
lounge on your elegant chairs, and lean
their oily heads against your immaculate
walls, and leave thumb-marks on your
photograph books, and echo every word
you say, just SO long as you have money
and influence.
| They are a set of parasites, who sponge
their living out of people who are weak
enough to be fattered by them.
Let the report circle that you are bank
rupt, that the auction flag is floating from
your windows, and notice how many of
them will stand by you in your trouble.
Try them, and see if any among them
will lend you five dollars, and if you find
such one, "freeze to him." and fight
for him, if necessary.
Sometimes we have almost been led to
believe that the sentiment known as true
friendship has entirely died out in this
world, and that in its stead deception
and trechery reign. But once in awhile
we are startled by the exhibition OF some
grand and wonderful example OF devo-
ton on the part of somebody's friend, and
then our faith in humanity comes back
| to us.
Summer friends are always ready to &c
with the current. They believe just
as the majority do, and no matter how
generously you may have behaved by
them, if you get going down hill, they
will lend helping hand to expedite
your descent, just as readily as will your
enemy. IF SANDER assails your name,
they look knowing, and say it is just
what they have long expected.
Thew are pests they are vultures
they are worse than open enemies, for
you know how to meet an antagonist, and
do not hesitate to strike blow for blow.
But the man who has professed himself
your friend, who has sat atyour table, and
shared the pleasures of your freside, when
he turns upon you, in the time Of trial,
what can YOU do with him?--K0te Thorn,
N. Y Weekly.