Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-12-16

AN open CanuOT, calm and clear,
warning word to turn my way
From error s path, il there l stray.
quiet note OF timely praise
To stimulate my darker days,
COmpanionShIp, II with il brings
cup of pleasure void of stings.
In Charles Kingsley's delightful little
book, the Water Babies, - there is Il
wonderful weird water-Spritc who makes
people make themselves. she does not
create anything, but she teaches things
how to create themselves. This is the
Office of the true frend-to tell lis how to
create ourselves and to urge us TO action.
My.true friend never comes to HE with
the belittling and causelesS gossip which
he hears about me. He never
says, 81 know you will not care
and then relates some malicious lie
invented by the mind of envy. He never
tells me anything dlsagreeable unless it is
to warn me or put ne on my guard
against a secret enemy or against my own
imprudence. He tells me the kind and
pleasant words he hears spoken of me,
and takes as much pleasure in hearing
them as do. And he defends me in my
absence, even against an army of ac-
cuserS.
HI will say things to my face which he
would not say or permit to be said be-
hind my back.
Friendship of the highest order should
Danish all wearisome restrictions and
formalities. If l happen TO drop i'll upon
my nearest friend as she is preparing to
90 out with another, she should feel free
TO 90 with no fear that | viii be hurt or
feel sighted. The moment this fear OF
wOunding our friends in such matters
creeps in, it is no longer or not yet an
absolute friendship.
We can bear with the tyrannies, ankle
ties, fears, and tuTmOils of love, because
its Joys and raptures repay lis for all it
makes lis suffer; but the calmer pleasures
of friendship are jeopardized if we permit
these other emotions to mar them.
Love is like the mid-oeean, grand,
beautiful and terrible, full OF delight and
danger: and friendship should be like the
calm bay where we rest, and do not fear;
it cannot give us the eXilaration of love,
and il must not give us the anXietieS.
We feel rested and strengthened after
an interview with q real friend, never IT.
ritated or worried.
The worthy and worth while friend
never chides lis for not loving him enough
nor begs to be loved more: he makes
himself so deserving and so unobtruslva
that we needs must give him gratitude
and affection.
The wise friend never weights us with
his friendship-never burdens us with the
feeling that he cannot live without our
constant devotion. 1t is the privilege Of
love alone to do that.
Love maylean and cling forever,
Aud forever grow more dear.
But friendship must sometimes stand
| upon its own feet, or we tire of il.
If my friendship is absolute, I will
stand by my friend in trouble, danger,
and disgrace-not upholding him in the
latter, but holding him from sinking
lower. If he resentS my restraint,
however and is determined TO sink, l do
not prove my friendship by sinking with
| him, only prove my own moral weak
| ness. Better let go my hold and save my
strength to assist another who wants my
help. 1 do not ask my friend TO 90 down
into the valley of despair with me-he
| will be a truer friend if he stands above
| in the sunlight and strives to life me up
| beside him.
l do not want my friend to constantly
urge me to accept favors, but when, in
| my hour of need, ask favor, l want
him to grant it with the air of one who is
the recipient rather than the giver. And
| always l want him loyal. trusting, and