The Washington herald., 1917-03-12
Folk We Touch in Passing
THE FRIEND.
By JULIA CHANDLER.

| 1ho hoy, As ne $1,000 AT inc IooI OIL
the Mountain OF Life. had no knowl-
edge of what lay between him and its
summit save that which had come to
him second hand-from The Mother.
TOnce she told him about The Enemy
but he had quite forgotten what she
had said until one day he was con-
scious of companionship.
Looking up he saw u presence, small
like himself.
| who are you?" asked The Boy won
deringly.
your Friend" answered The Pres
ence.
what is your name7- questioned
The Boy.
Temptation" answered The Pres
ence. with an inviting smile.
why" exclaimed The Boy indig-
nantly. you are not my friend. You
are The Enemy. My mother told me
about you and I know what have to
do"
| Whereupon The Boy buckled on the
armor of his mothers teaching and
gave the intrduer a sound trouncing.
And when he told The Mother she
smiled down into his face proudly and
bade him be ever on the watch.
For" said she. THE Enemy will
come often and without warning. Also
he will wear guises that 1t will be diff
l
ceived and always remember one thing
HE IS NEVER BIGGER THAN YOU
ARE. Sometimes 1t will seem other
wise; the combat will look unequal
but II you will listen to the voice OF
your Better Self there will be no
question Of victory.
And The Boy declared he was not
afraid.
Now It came about as The Mother had
CoNH oTNfo mi ha P0N
as he climbed the Mountain of Life. but
1t was not until The Mother had passed
through the Open Door and he had left
the path OF childhood that he realized the
full import OF her words.
| There was one thing that puzzled The
Man even as It had puzzled The Boy. and
that was the never ceasing insistence OF
The Enemy that he was The Friend
THAT Is" said The Enemy, upon con-
dition."
l. What condition." asked TIE Man.
Whereupon The Enemy smiled and in.
vited him to battle along a new line. In
college 1t was through the taunting voice
Of comrades that The Man ''be a good
fellow" Finding that without avail The
Enemy summoned his most potent temp
tation and introduced The Man to The
Wrong Woman. He was young; The
Wrong Woman was exceeding fair and
for a little while he forgot to buckle on
the armor of his Better Self" or tc
look to see II The Enemy was around
One day when he was deep In consid-
Grafton Of marrying The Wrong Woman
he felt the Presence
"Ah!" sighed The Man" thought
had done with you"
| mot so long as you have need OF me -
answered The Enemy.
| Need Of your cried The Man. 81
have no need OF you. You are my most
hostile foe. am sick of your prattle
about friendship"
Whereupon the face Of Termination
changed to that OF The Wrong Woman
and The Mans Better Self tore aside the
obscuring veil.
But he was young This was his first
love. and he could not obey the voice of
his Better Self until he had fought 81
grim battle with The Enemy that II
left him well nigh PROSTATE
In the end The Man won. and the
Enemy left him. as usual, with an as
surfng smile OF friendship.
| 1t was not until The Man had married
and lived many happy years with The
Right Woman. whose love blessed his
home and found himself on the other side
OF The Mountain, standing upon the
threshold of The Open Door. that he un-
derstood the enigmatical assurance OF
| The Enemy.
| iurmB MS eyes from their sweet vision
or The Mother who beckoned him, The
Man looked upon the face Of The Enemy,
"Ah" cried The Man. in tone Of exulta-
tion, Il shall be rid Of you now"
| Whereupon Temptation smiled and
answered him:
You have need Of me no longer ]
HAVE MADE YOU STRONG ENOUGH
TO GO ON ALONE. AM THE FRIEND
OF EVERY MAN WHO HATH POWER
TO OVERCOME ME-"
Copyright lsr7)