Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1878-01-24
WHO Is YOUR FRIEND?

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cause they are seen and felt most
when all around is darkness and
gloom. Have you a crowd Of friends? !?
Thel you are void of friends. So
long as friendships are such queer
and uncertain things, most of those
we term friends are like your own
shadow, that keeps apace as you
come into sunshine and disappears
anon. They slaughter, apparently
for your benefit, time, purse and self,
but really to take more than they
give. They bestow anything that
costs them nothing with ready will
to draw you under hundred obliga-
tions in return. Self love seems to
insist on being the gamer in what is
often more of a traffic than true
friendship.
Who is your friend? is a serious
question with every one active in
life's busy mart. The number of our
apparent friends are far in excess of
those whom we deem true to us as
suca; and those we regard as faithful
can be reduced so that the number
will he incredibly small to us. The
bee gathering honey disturbs none of
the beauty and fragrance Of the flow
er. So our true friends do us harm
as they partake Of our bounty.
What reciprocity in the intercourse !?
JOY for joy, while friendship for an
end is soon at an end. No rule seems
70 govern friendship. Its channels
are often unaccountable. Nationali-
ty, religion or association are no
guarantees Of friendship. Human
ma >ure crops out Of everybody. Not
one in hundred is fit to be q friend,
and the number that educate them
selves for that much coveted relation
ship is rare indeed. Clear sky and
bright sunshine bring you troops Of
friends; but let fortune take a turn
and clouds overcast your armament,
now many can you count as true, even
among the group you were special
benefactors to? Your devotion to
them in prosperity's hour widens the
breach amazingly; while your bright
est cheer comes now from those whom
you asked most of in better days,
and who were not purchased for q
season. Gratitude grows old quick
er than anything else. Human ma
turs always expects it to come, and
seldom means to bestow it. True
friendship is happiest when giving
rather than receiving. 1t 10 prudent
rather than noisy; looks for mutual
benefits and seeks a generous strife
to bestow alternate acts of kindness.
Old shoes are generally preferable
for tender feet; new ones are not
easily broken in. So friendships we
have tried are the best and most re-
liable in these days when the false so
largely prevail. Yet friends are to
be made as we plod along life's fitful
course. A friend is good relation
to have; old ones drop out and we
play a game of chance to fill their
places. Our friend, we can trsst all
to him, heart and purse. lie beu ays
not and holds our interest sacred as
his own. In fortune he is no better
than when the sky is not so clear. He
eats the bread of sorrow with us
mingles his tears with ours and light
ems the burden that crushes lis so
near to earth. He chides lovingly;
shields from bitter attacks and helrs
us up life's steep and rugged way
that would be too much for us if alone.
AS we leap from adversely and ascend
with firm step he is proud of AS
waves to us signals of approval, and
warns tenderly of lurking dangers !;
he helps us in every way. Frank,
true and honest, he is noble bsHe-
factor.
WHATS the use of friends unless
you can use them," is no base adage
Friends should be used. They are
of little use unless used, and he is a
poor friend or no friend who sees no
reciprocity growing out of true friend
ship. Mutual burden-bearing 10 an
essential test of fellowship. Friends
are committed to mutual aid, sym
pathy and regard, otherwise there is
mere traffic with human feeling for
sordid ends, and hence is cold and
selfishness. 1t is deceitful, and
stings in the end. Servitude is no.
tceable sometimes of one friend to
another. 1t is often the only bond
that makes an apparent friendship
that ends with the service. Friend
ship is Of slow growth, walks among
the old, srching elrns that vie will
each other to shelter some beautiful
walk. The higher the growth tn,
wider do they spread their branches
intermingling closer with the yeari
that roll over them. Such is tn,
friendship to be coveted, lasting an,
enduring for common good.
Young men, let rum alone. Yol