Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1883 — Friendship. [ARTICLE]

Friendship.

Jones meets me on the pave and says: “Wish you had got Mrs Jones instead of me?”* “What’s the matter, ’Squire?” “Friends,” says Jones. “I can’t bring a man home to dinner but I find in two weeks he’s on Mrs. Jone’s list of deathless friends. She won’t hear a word against him. Next thing she lectures me on the weakness I have for not being true to my friends. •Friendship,* she says, ‘is all there is in life.* ‘Great bread-and-butter!’ says I, ‘there are too many children with mouths ope* here for me to be the deep, intimate, continuous friend of every passing acquaintance. Be moderate, Mrs. Jones.’ ‘My friends,’ replies the Madame, ‘I never will relinquish. I am true to my friends!’ ‘So am I, Mrs. Jones, in reason, but perhaps they can get along with me a few days at a time.’ ‘Ha, spider!’ says Mrs. Jones, ‘mocking at friendship, the only safe thing in life.’ ” Said I: “Jones, what is your medicine for the patient?" “I am going to make an Odd-Fellow of her,” says Jones, “for the motto of that order exactly fills her case; it is Friendship, Love with a little L, and Terruth.”— Gath.