The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-03-07

he Is in difficulties and needs US. 1t is
easy to be his friend then. because
that is just the condition that friend
ship loves; 1t is far more diff cult to
be his friend when he Is prosperous
and seems to have no need Of US.
It may seem that this friendship In
adversely is a very noble thing; GER
tainly there may be much beauty.
much tender self-sacri6ce and loving
service in its manifestation. But let
us not flatter ourselves too easily.
The trouble of a friend makes it's
appeal to u vanity; we feel that We
are needed. and this 10 always a graft
flying knowledge; we feel that we are
OF Importance and that Is ever a pleas
ure to our self-esteem. But when
everything is we'll with our friend, ap.
parently he has what he wants and
is Independent Of us. Naturally, that
is q time when shams of friendship
flourish. for their aim is to get and not
to give; true friendships aim is to
get by giving.
OF course the difference In our
friends condition is really only super.
f1cial: he truly needs our friendship al.
ways. as much in prosperity as in trou.
BILE. But we are disconnected by ap.
%pearances: If we ever draw away from
him, cool toward him, 1t is when he is
In the sunshine, not when the clouds
are around him. His prosperity may
ALLEVIATE US; his trouble calls US back
to him. And this fact should cause
us a cry limited pride. Our attitude
In his prosperity is the real test.
W. may therefore say that a mans
prosperity is the greatest trial Of his
friends-that is. Of his true friends.
1t ought to be true that friendship
shares the Joys as well as the sorrows
Of life, but in the case of the joys the
sharing Is more difficult. 1t Is not diff
fcult to go about seeking pleasure to-
gether. to travel. to have a good time
together; it is not difficult to share
each others love of art or music or
literature or science. Comradeship in
these things may become very close,
very stimulating and satisfying; but
mere c~omradeship, good fellowship lie
not quite enough for friendship.
Can we be truly glad when our
friend Is doing better than we are
In any n of these pursuits, when he
succeeds, while, perhaps, we are do.
ing poorly, when he wins applause
that is denied US? Is it not easy to
think that his success is a little be.
yond measure and ours is a little be-
low? Or II fortune comes to him as 1t
has never ONE to US; II riches are
poured into his hands, so that he can
and do whatever he has a mind to;
is 1t then so easy to remain his loyal
and devoted friend, assuming that we
are far above any desire to sponge
upon his wealth? Can we bring our.
selves, in proper spirit. to accept his
help instead Of having the proud Joy
Of giving help? Are we not liable to
imagine an air Of superiority in him !
Our very self-respect renders us sen,
sitive. quick to be hurt. apt to imagine
that his prosperity has changed our
friend for the worst. 1t may be pos.
slble that 1t has; which proves that he
never needed our friendship more. For
prosperity Is the supreme test Of q
man. because it's tendency is to ener
vate and weaken; adversely rouses
and rallies all that is strongest In US
S%elflshly, we like our friend to be
worse of than we are; to be in need
of u better natures. The good things
cling to us; 1t is merely a perversiou
Of our better natures. The good things
in US may SO easily be wrongly EN-
ployed. The true friendship, because
the more unselfsh, may be showr
when our friend does not appear t.
need US, when he can give to US rath
or than we to him. 1t is not always
more blessed to give than to receive;
sometimes the position Is reversed
Besides which there are more ways O
giving than one, and the prosperous
friend may really be in sore want Of
our sympathy. our tender affection an6
counsel; he may also long for our &C
ceptance Of that which it will be 8
Joy to him to expend upon US. Tt
give nobly 10 a very fine thing; 1t ii
an equally fine thing to accept nobly
1t 10 easy to be true to our friend
when he IL in trouble. when he ii
down, when others fly from him, wher
others despise and neglect him. Thu
response to such q call is one O
friendships deepest Joys. But in times
when We can do nothing for him
when he makes no claim upon us
when he is In tho sunshine and al
things go we'll with hint is ther
that tho sitting of our friendship
comes. II We a pass the test of hi
prosperity We need not be much afraie
Of his adversely. This is what is mean
to be his friend through thick ant
thta-
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