The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-03-03
You And |.

on ana i.
! We are forced to ask ourselves many
questions to which we are unable to give
/ definite or satisfactory replies. Among
! these, it cannot be that many of US escape
from puzzled inquiry regarding our in
ability to talk as unrestrainedly anC
freely with two or three friends, though
they may be almost equally dear, as we
do when only one pair of kindly eyes look
/ into ours, one hand rests caressingly
upon our shoulders, one voice responds
| to ours.
1t is battling investigation which we
make i'll our effort at mental selfinspec.
ton The lover talks of we and us. and
| it seems fitting and natural, although VIC
may smile little sympathetically at the
emphasis he lays upon the pronouns Of
unity; the friend draws a chair closer
gives sigh of satisfaction, and says
with happy appreciation of their blissful
solitude deux: Nov that you and
are by ourselves" and Immediately un.
locks the door of that chamber of the
heart which involuntarily and perhaps
even unconsciously is dedicated to one
only.
1t becomes a delightful source of inter.
est to analyze our reasons for loving our
friends after such varying fashions. What
is it that makes it easy and spontaneous
to eagerly say to one what we cannot
say to others? Why do we hasten to
bring out, as it were ''in a lordly dish,
OF our best mental store for him or her
who claims it, and still not defraud that
other dear heart for whom we keep the
best flower in our garden; nor yet the
quite different nature to whom we are
also fondly faithful and for whom we re.
serve what is in its eyes the best we have
to give? Neither would value the bond
which binds US to her neighbor.
1t is as if we prepared within US sepa,
rate Judgments for those whom we love
/ and to each of whom our friendship is
! Loyalty true, so that when they come to-
( gether to visit US in some common place
| of meeting, we talk ard clasp hands, and
after a certain cordialfashion are glad to
see each other; but when at last, one and
another having left them, two remain
they say one to the other, You and |, y
and perhaps kiss each other with q
tenderness which seems to imply attec'
tionate possession. Now they can speak
freely.
Talking, very cheerful, entertaining
and not unsympathetic talking, is
easy enough among congenial people. and
it is all very invigorating and stirs the
brain with welcome ripples of vitality
but the conversation which draws friend:
together and forges strong links of ad
herence, is for zone to one"
Absorbing waves of unanimou:
thought, which are not individual moi
the outcome of personal conviction, will
often stir a group of friends to {
wholly sympathetic fervor, but this viii
come from a united feeling of anger OF
horror, or of admiration concerning
things that are of worldwide interest
Then there arises ready power and in
clination to speak freely from the heart
but in our everyday intercourse tina
comes with the entrance and exits of oul
visitors, more than two rarely speak will
undisguised frankness, rarely comfort on
another very much.
What silences we keep. year after year,
With those who are most near to us ant
We live beside each other day by day,
And speak of myriad things. but seldom sa-
The full sweet word that li's just in on
| reach
Beneath the. commonplace OF common
speech"
Exactly in proportion to our earnest
ness of feeling arises timidity i'll sayin;
1.-THE full sweet word" which trembles OIL
the lips and longs for utterance. If an.
one in the familiar family circle SHOULD
smile at our intensity, or, worse still
should say suddenly what an extra
ordinary ideal" it would make US reti
cent for all time to conc. We must hav
some sure ground to stand upon befor
we speak of things we fcel-things w
aspire to-or fear or grieve about. Blu
when with full assurance of understand
ing sympathy we can stretch out GU
hands and, meeting warm grasp, say
"As you and believe-as you and de
sire''-then friendship drinks deeply fror
full cup Of satisfaction.
Years may pass on in silent enduI
ance which never seeks expression o
utters a complaint, and suddenly, i'll
moment, the unlooked-for advent of on
long absent, to whom life has reveale
the same form of trial and who ha
carried the same burden, will open tn
the one friend who comprehends become
also the one friend who can strengthe
and console.
Although many loving ones may hav
stood ready to aid what they neither III
derstood nor could heal, their inexpel
fence checked confidence. Never could
truly suffering nature reveal its pal
where more than one listened to its story
1t is sometimes the resource of light an
tickle nature to tell their griefs or vexs
tons into every willing ear, but genuir
suffering waits until it sees its owns r.
= Election in eyes that see because the
vision is clarified by the same experienC
and the voice so long silent speaks wit
eager relief: you and know what tn
l means that I carry in my heart and thu
will abide with me while live"
There those among US, and often the'
are men aud women to whom the worl