Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-05-19
For the Sunday Appeal
Eriendship-s.The Wine OF LIfe.o


Is there stronger tie than friendship, one
which binds the human family together more
closely and fondly together? l think not
Goldsmith certainly erred when he wrote:
Friendship is but a name,
A charm that lulls to sleep;
shade d s that fol follows , Tea y, or fame
True, there are mock friends, who, after
having received fully the deepest purest at
lection of loving, loyal heart, basely be-
tray the tender, holy trust we have reposed
in them; who, when the dark clouds of adj
chill winds blow drearlly around US, when the
Marah waves of sorrow surround our frail
life-bark, threatening to drift it out into the
black depths of the boundless Dead sea be-
yond, leave US alone to battle with the
raging storms, just when we need their low
ing sympathy and kindness most. However,
we should not Judge all by the falsity of this
contemplate class of people; not deem all
the inhabitants of this vast mundane sphere
hypocrites because these wretches are so pow
erfully invested with the foul quality, deceit,
but count the deception las thorn among
roses, as chatf among wheat, and do as the
florist and farmer-separate the good from
the bad" Such baseness deserves not the
sacred name of friendship, and those SUM
mer friends" who are so plentiful, so ex-
tremely kind and fond when the
bright-hued howerets of prosperity
bestrew our pathway, so scarce when the
storms of sorrow overtake us, richly merit
the intense scorn and thorough detestatIon
of every noble minded, right feeling person.
True friendship is one of the most sacred
emotions of the human heart; it includes
pure love, perfect confidence and tender SYM
pathy-the magic charm of life-for There
never was any sel6shness in true affection, be
it friendship or love-" and lack of faith and
sympathy Is surely species of the genera
IL, 1G
roses in life's vast desert, where we may
pause for sweet rest ere we again take up our
burden of liie," with renewed vigor and
frightened hopes. Friendship is no vain,
evanescent emotion that springs suddenly
into existence, and, like Flower nipped in
the bud" by heavy frosts, is soon withered in
the May-day of its freshness, and numbered
with the things that were" The germ is
implanted In the golden spring time, -four
ishes wonderfully during the summer, and
in the autumn of life yields rich harvest of
joy and happiness. To those adrift upon the
murky seaof life, friendship is truly beacon
light of hope and happiness to guide them
Ger the stormy deep, and at last moor their
tempest-tossed bark into some fair haven of
rest and safety; 1t is the verita6le ''balm of
Gilead, and pours into the darkened cham
bers of their saddened hearts and wearied
souls holy calm. a perfect flood of peace
and happiness. 1t wristbands the attacks
time, and is of so perennial
bloom that the kind Father transplants to
His beauteous kingdom, saying, sit is of so
holy nature that fain would perpetuate it,
plant it here where it may bloom in dewy
and eternal fragrance" Friendship and love
are the flowers of happiness; with them life
can be made psalm of goodness, ''gloria"
OF loneliness and utility, complete food of
heavens brightest sunshine. Without them,
alas! what? Words are inadequate to ex-
press what human existence would be minus
their bright, holy influence dreary waste
of thorns, dark gulf of misery and woe.
Better far than gold or Jewels,
In the night OF grief and pain,
Is the thought thro Joy sorrow,
one true Triend will still remain"
What beautiful examples of true friendship
have been bequeathed to posterity by Damon
and Pythias, Alexander and Septimus, Da-
vid and Jonathan, and through the me iium
of fiction, Rosalind and Celia, Helen and the
countess, Florence Leslie and Lady Ida Vii
hers. etc. My heart echoes the words of that
most eloquent delineator of the female heart
Grace Aguilar: There is always to me
doubt of the warmth, strength, and purity of
her feelings, when young girl merges into
actual life, seeking only the admiration of
the other sex; watching, pining for hus-
band. or lovers, perhaps, and looking down
on all female friendship as romance
and folly. A girl who stands alone, without
acting or feeling friendship, is generally
cold unamiable being, so wrapt in self as to
have no room for any person else, except per-
haps lover, whom she only seeks and val
ues as offering his devotion to that same idol,
SELF" There are some, / doubt not, who
look upon friendship-that attribute of love
divine from mere worldly point of view;
consider 1t theme too light for tongue or
pen, but to such l do not write. Thank God,
there are some of us who can say--of our
souls idols-with Mrs. Osgood's Madeline:
" The very wind less Maynard than his heart
The forest oak les" firm! He loved me not
For the frail roSe-hues and the feeting night
OF youthful loneliness. All! many cheek
OF softer bloom, and many a dazzling eye
More rich than mine may win my wanderers gaze.
He loved me for by love, the deep, the fond
For my unfatering truth; he cannot find,
Rove where he villa heart that beats for him
With Suc1 intense, absorbing tenderness
Such idoldtr0us consistency as mine.
Why should he change, then! ana the sank"
And most devoutly do | thank my indulgent
heavenly Father for blessing me with three
precious friends, who, | k,l0lo, beyond the
shadow of a doubt, are as perfectly true to
me as the seraphim and cherubim that wor-
ship at the great white throne. | knoLc the
angels in heaven love not with purer, holier
devotion than do we. God forever bless my
own noble, loving Sybil, Kathie and Bessie;
my pure, white-souled darlings, my hearts
true friends, my souls companions.