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For Auld Lang Syne
A Book Of Friendship
Selected by
RAY WOODWARD
Affectionately Dedicated to
My Father,
FRED E. WOODWARD.
Friendship is essentially the same bond, whether it unites persons ofintellect and refined tastes, or those more unfortunate ones, who,perhaps, have no conception of their mission in the world, or of theirduty to society. Its manifestations may be wholly different, but the twofriendships will have some points in common. In both instances thefriends are drawn close together and are united by that bond which hasbeen so beautifully written about throughout the ages.
The abstract theorizing of one philosopher can never satisfy theindividual in regard to the varied manifestations of friendship, and itis therefore interesting and profitable to note what various writershave said about this world-wide force under the varying conditions ofthe past and the present. It would be a well-nigh hopeless task toattempt to gather within the compass of a single volume all that hasbeen written about it. The present volume present some selections thatexpress in a measure what is implied by the word Friendship.
For Auld Lang Syne
It is a noble and great thing to cover the blemishes and to excuse thefailings of a friend; to draw a curtain before his stains, and todisplay his perfections; to bury his weaknesses in silence, but toproclaim his virtues upon the housetop.
—South.
* * * * *
E'en as a traveller, meeting with the shade
Of some o'erhanging tree, awhile reposes,
Then leaves its shelter to pursue his way,
So men meet friends, then part with them forever.
—Hitopadesa.
* * * * *
A true friendship is as wise as it is tender.
—Thoreau.
* * * * *
As ships meet at sea—a moment together, when words of greeting must bespoken, and then away upon the deep—so men meet in this world; and Ithink we should cross no man's path without hailing him, and if heneeds, giving him supplies.
—H. W. Beecher.
* * * * *
A friend is more necessary than either fire or water.
—Proverbs.
* * * * *
A long novitiate of acquaintance should precede the vows of friendship.
—Lord Bolingbroke.
* * * * *
A beloved friend does not fill one part of the soul, but, penetratingthe whole, becomes connected with all feeling.
—Channing.
* * * * *
A reverse of fortune is a mighty sifter of friendship. So is distance.Go a little way out of town, and see how many people will take thetrouble to come to see you. Well, we must be patient and forbearing. Itis a question of intensity of need. Friendly relations depend uponvicinity amongst other things, and there are degrees; but the best kindof friendship has a way of bridging time and space for all that.<