rom evil, and to prompt us to good.
The thought of his sorrow in any moral break-down of ours will often
nerve us to stand firm. What would my friend think of me, if I did
this, or consented to this meanness? Could I look him in the face
again, and meet the calm pure gaze of his eye? Would it not be a blot
on our friendship, and draw a veil over our intercourse? No friendship
is worth the name which does not elevate, and does not help to nobility
of conduct and to strength of character. It should give a new zest to
duty, and a new inspiration to all that is good.

Influence is the greatest of all human gifts, and we all have it in
some measure. There are some to whom we are something, if not
everything. There are some, who are grappled to us with hoops of
steel. There are some, over whom we have ascendency, or at least to
whom we have access, who have opened the gates of the City of Mansoul
to us, some we can sway with a word, a touch, a look. It must always
be a solemn thing for a man to ask what he has done with this dread
power of influence. For what has our friend to be indebted to us--for
good or for evil? Have we put on his armor, and sent him out with
courage and strength to the battle? Or have we dragged him down from
the heights to which he once aspired? We are face to face here with
the tragic possibilities of human intercourse. In all friendship we
open the gates of the city, and those who have entered must be either
allies in the fight, or treacherous foes.

All the fruits of friendship, be they blessed or baneful, spring from
this root of influence, and influence in the long run is the impress of
our real character on other lives. Influence cannot rise above the
level of our lives. The result of our friendship on others will
ultimately be conditioned by the sort of persons we are. It adds a
very sacred responsibility to life. Here, as in other regions, a good
tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil
fruit.

The Choice of Friendship

If thou findest a good man, rise up early in the morning to go to him,
and let thy feet wear the steps of his door.

THE APOCRYPHAL BOOK OF ECCLESIASTICUS.

Whereof the man, that with me trod
This planet, was a noble type,
Appearing ere the times were ripe,
That friend of mine who lives with God.

TENNYSON.

The Choice of Friendship

Our responsibility for our friendships is not confined to maki