The Washington herald., 1914-05-30

Throughout the years OF his prosper
ity The Man lived in a town that has
wonethe name of The Little City OF
homes because of the exceeding great
beauty of its houses with their sur
rounding lawns Of velvety green, and the
loneliness of its flowers.
In all the Little City of Homes there
was no more popular citizen than The
Man He lived at his club, which is the
most exclusive in the town, and one of
the most exclusive in the country. He
had no membranes and was conse-
quently free to spend his money with a
lavish hand, and soon won the reputa-
ton of being "a good fellow" which
reputation he took mighty good pains
to merit.
He had to seek no one TO. compan-
tonship because he had so many friends
that he found it a difficult matter to
satisfy ali of their demands upon his
time, but, being a sociabie chap, he did
his best, and folk said that never m all
the time that they could remember was
there ever one who had so many
friends.
So The Mans life ran along as joy
ously as sunlit day in June, and he
took il ali as matter of course.
As he sat one evening at his club IN
group of other men the conversation
turned TO the matter of friendship. =.
Some one asked The Man if it ever
occurred to him to thank God for his
great number of friends.
He was astonished.
why" he answered, how ridicu-
lous.. Everybody has friends"
But, suggested the speaker, mot
like yours. / never knew man who
had so many friends as you have. And
the best of it is that they are genuine.
Why, / don't believe that there is a
member of this club who would not
share his very last penny with you if
ever you needed it"
Whereupon they all agreed that that
would be a true test-an except The |
Msp-who insisted that he was perfect |
ly sure OF his friends, and needed no |
test whatever.
Decided tn Go Away.
1t was several years after this con-
versation that The Man decided that
he required broader outlet for his tai
ents. The City of Little Homes was !
delightful place to live; he had been
very happy there; he knew that no man
possessed more friends than he, but in
the matter over he came to the
conclusion that he had grown too big
for his environment. His mind had
lately been unsettled, his soul yeaned
for broader life, and he must go.
He invited fifty of his closest friends
to farewell banquet at his club, where
each expressed undying loyalty to and
friendship for The Man, and babe him
Godspeed in the new life to which he
was going. - - - - > 1-->-'S
Each man told him that if ever he had ,
need of friend he would know where
TO 6nd not one but scores, and The Man
said It was a mighty good feeling to go I
away with this certain knowledge-this
security in his friends-and that night
as he lay awake looking out through
his open window up at the starlit sky il
came into his heart to thank God for
his friends, when, of sudden, he re-
membered that conversation of several .
years back, when he and group of his I
closest associates had discussed friend |
ship, and what they had said OF the test,
The Man began going over .
all the men he knew and loved, trying to ,
decide how many of them would meas
ure up to the test.
For many, many years after The Man ,
left The Little City of Homes folk
talked of his farewell banquet at which ,
friendship and good will sat beside '
every guest. Many there were who I
heard often from The Man during the {
first few years of his absence, and by
and by when the letters became less :
frequent The Mans friends supposed I
the activities of business were demand I
ing much of his time, and so gradual Z
lid the decrease Of messages come about 4
that It caused snllli comment when t
number of years went by in which no I
one in The Little City of Homes lad
heard word from The Man. 5000
His Return. q
1t was a night in June when he came
back. Never was the city morely lovely.
The perfume of flowers greeted The
Man as he stepped from the train and
illed him with a sense of comfort. He
squared his stopped shoulders uncon- '
'ciously, and smile chased a seam or :,
|i s11EsA 5,