THE TOUCHSTONE OF FRIENDSHIP
THERE were two boys studying together in a school. They were very attached to each other; their friendship was very intimate. But, as years rolled by their careers led them in different directions. One became a philosopher, the other, a minister. Each progressed in his own sphere with the passing of time.
Once the minister’s wife called on the philosopher. During the course of conversation, she asked, “why don’t you ever come to see your old fried?”
The philosopher replied, “There are throngs of people who come to see my old friend. So, if I don’t, it won’t make much difference. But I assure you, l’ll come to see him when he loses his seat in the elections. Those who bow low to him now will not take the trouble to look at him, then. When my friend’s heart is filled with disappointment and heavy with distress, I will be there to dress his wound with th4 balm of encouragement and comfort.”
Friendship lies, not in swelling the crowd of merry-makers, but in giving comfort to the lonely heart.
THE INNER LIGHT | NOT BY PRAYER ALONE | FIRE AND WATER | COME IN-COME IN | THE WORLD : A MIRROR ! | NOT A GRAVEYARD | THE BRUTE IN MAN | THE WEIGHT OF A FLOWER | VISION | TRUST BEGENTS TRUST | INSATIABLE | SEEING THE INVISIBLE | DIALOGUE | THE TOUCHSTONE OF FRIENDSHIP | ELEGANCE OF SPEECH | CONSTRUCTION-NOT DESTRUCTION | NOT IN THE EYE-IN THE HEART | CONTENTMENT | VOICE AND VISION |THE MAGNETISM OF LOVE |THE SMILE OF GOODWILL| BEHAVIOUR |THE PRICE OF ACQUISITION | THE BETTER-HALF| LIGHT AND DARKNESS| THE WAY TO KNOWLEDGE