The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-06-16
FRIENDSHIP.
Prison Mirror.

FRIENDSHIP.
Prison Mirror.
So much has been written on thi
topic that it seems 10 be somewhat
threadbare, and yet great deal ma,
still be said about it. To have a friend
some one on whom we can rely in
dark hours as we'll as in bright ones
is one of the choicest blessings any
person can have. We may have a
fsseat many so-called friends who
hover around us in prosperity, who
each day seem to give US some re.
newed proof of their attachment fol
us. They win our confidence, hold
our secrets, are very careful never to
say or do anything that would wound
our feelings, they tickle our ears with
1attery-in a word, seem to be linked
by every tie that binds people in friend
ship, and this too without really ex-
pecting anything, but your friendship
in return. But there comes test by
and by and we find they have left us
and gone over to the other side. That
test comes when we are in trouble.
When sorrow or misfortune overtakes
US, it is then and only then that we
are able to pick out our true friends;
and then, oh what disappointment
when we had so depended on that
friend to help us in our need. No sad
der condition ever falls to mortal man
than to be friendless; homeless is as
nothing compared to it. But to have
friends, tried and true, a man or
woman can never 60 far astray without
doing it wilfully, for true friend will
be as anxious to point out our faults
to US and aid us in correcting and
avoiding their dangers as they are to
help us rise again when once we have
fallen.
knew of an instance not many
years ago which illustrates the true
value of friendship. A certain man
was behind in his accounts with the
corporation for which he was working.
They required new bond at the
beginning of the year and being un-
| able to furnish it he was ordered to
make up his accounts for inspection
preparatory to turning the books over
to his successor. What was he to do
if his shortage was found out2 1t was
ruin; total and complete. He went
to friend and told him all. That
friend took hold of the matter, pro-
cured for him satisfactory bond, and
got the company to still retain him in
its employment. By this noble act
he and his family were saved. He
was enabled in a short time to make
up his shortage and to-day still holds
his position and is trusted and we'll
liked by his employers. But mark
the reverse. Shortly afterward the
friend, in speculation lost his own
money and that of others with it, got
into trouble, was arrested on a charge
of embezzlement, and lodged in Jail
Did he go to his old friends aid7 No;
he had forgotten the past; he joined
the creditors in denouncing his for.
mer friend, and even went so far as
to inform the public that his old friend
had taken him in to the tune of fsevera'
hundred dollars, which afterward
proved a lie as the SPECTATORS natter
were settled up and he was saved from
prison by being proven innocent o
embezzlement. When the trustee ap
pointed asked the pretended friene
to file his claim he was compelled t
acknowledge he had none. But die
his old friend retaliate and expos
} him1 Not he; he even forgave hin
the wrong, and even I would no
know of the circumstance of the short
} age if had not been employed t
draw the bond spoken of, thus learning
the secret. Now, this pretended frienG
would under most circumstances, hav'
remained true had it not been for fea
of being on the unpopular side. Public
opinion he could not face, though b.
was really sorry for his friend. Ant
l venture to assert that if the RECORD
of friends who have proven false o
tickle to the inmates here (atter takin,
, from the list those of US who did no
merit friendship could be seen, W
, would find four -ffths Of our frien d
!. who deserted us, did it in favor Q
public opinion. 1t takes man wit
; a good deal Of nerve 20 face publ
, opinion, and as public opinion, is a
, many times wrong as right, we al
very apt to lose Our friends at tn
time it is wrong.
Oh for friends like our mothers.