The Worth of a Friend.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XXIII, 5 December 1903, Page 67

The Worth of a Friend.

“What is the most precious thin? in all the world?** asked the king, think ing that gold or precious stones would l»e the answer. “A friend.” said the sage. Is it true, girls? I><» you think a friend is the most precious thing in the whole wide world? If you cannot say ves to that with a whole heart, then it is very evident that you have never had a friend. Helen is a very popular girl and can count her so-called friends by the score, but she hesitated when T put this question to her. “A friend, the most precious thing in the whole wide world?” she said. “It sounds very pretty, but I’m afraid 1 don’t place my friends at so high a fig ure. You see.” she added, laughing merrily. “I have so many of them and that fact naturally depreciates their value.” Poor Helen! Like so many people who are popular and have an unlimited number of “friends.” she had not one •rue friend among the number. The word “friend.” like the word lady.” and many other good old English words, is very badly abused at times. Girls in particular are apt to abuse it. and to mistake a school infatuation for the strong, deep, and lasting feeling of true friendship. To very few is it given to understand the word in its truest and deepest sense. What are the essential attributes of a real friendship? Some one has well sail ihat the first law of friendship is sincerity. Without sincerity friendship is impossible. If you would have a friend, you must learn to be sincere—and as sincere in small things as in great. The Rambler says. “There can be no friendship without confidence, and no confidence without integrity.” or sincerity, which means the same. Let us then be sincere not only in what we say but in what we •io. Let every word and act ring true. Another attribute of friendship is unselfishness. A friendship, like everything else that is worth attaining, demands a sacrifice. You cannot serve two masters: you cannot love yourself and your friend also. Which will you choose? The highest type of unselfishness is he of whom it is said that he would “lay down his life for his friend.” Yet another attribute of a true friendship. and perhaps the highest, is faithfulness. According t<» Proverb*. “a friend lowth at all times.” Not only in sickness or health, prosperity or povertyin good report or evil, but at all times. What sacrifice would we not make for «uch a friend as that? All my girls have no doubt read ••Ham let” and laughed oft times at old Polon ius. the scheming politician. Yet that *anie old fellow, for all his worldly wisdom. gave a beautiful bit of advice to Laortes. bis son. when he said: •The friends thou hast and their adop tion tried. Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel.” What better wish can I wish for you all than that you may have true friends, sincere, unselfish and faithful? And if you already have them and have “their adoption tried” what better ad-

vice can I give you than that of Polonius? ‘Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel.” Be sincere in your turn, be unselfish and faithful that you may never lose the priceless gift of their love.