Palladium Of Virginia And The Pacific Monitor

FROM THE WESTERN CAROLINIAN

FRIENDSHIP A LA MODE.

When shone upon, by fortune's smile,
I could not walk a half a mile,
With but a friendly greeting:
But now, when fortune frowns on me,
I travel on in poverty,
Without one friendly meeting.
All eager then my hand to take.
And shake and squeeze, and squeeze and shake
With 'how d'ye do?' good morrow:
But now they pass with askance eye.
With nod, nor smile they pass'd me by
And leave me with my sorrow.
"My friend's a word of common place,
Like smiles upon a coquette's face,
Used but to deceive us:
Or like the song that echo sings,
An empty sound, from whence it springs?
It reaches but to leave us.
Had I a fortune, as ere awhile,
When'r such friends as these did smile
I'd draw my purse-strings tighter.
And every shake or squeeze they gave,
A closer draw the strings to save
My purse from growing lighter.
Whene'r a man with flattering praise
Great stress upon my action lays
Or says that I am witty:
My form genteel my person strait,
And easy manners easy gait,
I do his weakness pity.
Whene'ra service I've received,
(Some trifling debt, or want relieved,)
I'm heartily most grateful:
But when 'tis babbl'd to the crowd..
And blazon'd forth with trumpet loud
The deed becomes most hateful
And if I meet a stranger here,
Who says he'll be friend sincere.
I'm tempted much to doubt him.
And if he takes me round the neck.
I'm then convinc'd there's not a speck
Of sincerity about him.
And fawning fondness, too; 'tis such,
That one had need of friendship much
To keep disgust from blasting.
The tender bud, ere, it shall blow,
And intor ripened friendship grow.
Or acquaintance made it lasting