The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-04-04

upon the path by which humanity has risen) we
cannot be independent of each other. Most enlight-
ened is he who recognizes this TO the full and
grapples TO himself every human heart that will
pnlsate with friendship. Any farmers lad knows
that several sticks of even weak wood tied well
together, are unbreakable. By the union Of many
threads the failty of fax becomes the strength of
the gigantic cable mighty enough to hold 10000
tons safely riding at anchor though the wind blow
and the waves nge.
Let us realize our failty first and then our power
write unto you who with me, are young ana
enthusiastic, buoyant and purposefll; you upon
whom is descending the necessity of doing as much
as the past has done, giving human progress one
little step forward before your end comes What
write feel: Make friends, bind them to yourself
with bands of IRON loose them not, that you be not
found standing alone, an unsupported mark for
every mischance. This is the day when humanity
is realizing the powers of combination. With God
all things are possible; and not irreverently may
we say with the 4 VIII of purposeful hearts
wrapped up in noble plans, nothing is impossible
In all the wide world, truest vice-gerents of God
are the friends we have. They raise us to a new
plane of existence. They give us new objects ana
standards Their faith in our purity preserves us,
their belief in powers of mind nerves us up to
our best endeavors, their sympathetic encourage
ment bears us up when suffering from temporary
defeat Even does it not often happen in the swirl
and rush of mighty temptation that the high
opinion Of some one who esteems us acts as
lettering influence before the thought of dispeas-
ing the Almighty exerts any power at all.
The writer knows young man who is a living
epistle of the uplifting power of pure friendship
He was vastly discouraged at the seeming outcome
of his life Every plan failed. Every hope vanish
ed. Then his health broke down and he trembled
on the edge of that fateful condition when man
loses hope and noble purpose and drills Ike dead
fish along the stream to aimless oblivion. During
prolonged health tour he arrived in little town
of very Ill repute. Yet here in most hopeless
place he drank the elixir of revived hope. He be-
came known to a worthy family. They made no
particular enquiry 10 his antecedents but as
sumed him to be a noble and purposeful man. He
left them and continued his wanderingE; yet every
where he went the thought of the trust and lofty
esteem of those day-long friends gave life TO his
heart and determination to his thoughts Restored
in health he is once more in the busy haunts of
men. In all moral dangers their friendship hedges
him around like wall of fire, and in all his plans
stands him the coign of vantage that comes
from re,kipdled hope and strong courage
Is all this too serious for newspaper column ?
Then read t on the next rainy Sunday AS substi-
tute for sermon. But if you patient readers have
pondered along thus far follow me little farther.
There are reported to be two Bears IN model
home Bear and "Forbear" In II model friend
ship there Is "Give" wellas Take" It is mighty
difficult trying to look through other peoples
eyes, and therefore many of US are unconscious OF
the influence that we do exert or can exert. The
wise scientist however argues from facts he knows
and from them dednoes other facts. So good
readers, If we are conscious that our friends are
nerving us up, we are safe in concluding that we
can nerve them up If we but fall into the habit OF
expressing our beliefs in their powers and encour.
| aging them with our sincere applause. What big
Help One Another club this earth would be if all
the little groups of human beings that make up the
numberless ranges of influence were urging one
another on to good works and noble.
Station d., Neic York.