respondence between friends is, in all respects, more valuable, interesting, useful, and pleasant to all parties, for being regular and at stated times. You then know when to write, and when to expect a letter, and there is no wondering why a letter does not come, and no chiding for negligence. Enter into no correspondence, unless it be on occasional business, which will not be so valuable that you wish to continue it; and then have periodical times of writing. To your parents, it should be at least once every month. In these letters, talk out your feelings in that easy, cheerful manner, that you would do were you at home, and entertaining the family circle in the vacation. Every son can show such attentions, and at the same time can keep his own heart warm with the remembrances of home and kindred. It will add to your ease in letter-writing, and it will cultivate some of the noblest and sweetest virtues of which the heart is susceptible.

I would say a few words on the choice and treatment of friends; and, as this subject is treated of by almost every writer, I shall be brief. You must have some, and will have some, with whom you are more intimate than with the rest of your companions. There are two special difficulties attending friendships: first, it is hard to acquire a real friend; and, secondly, it is still harder to keep him. The acquaintance, which is afterwards ripened into friendship, is, of course, in the first place, casual. And those who are first to extend the hand to embrace you, are seldom those whose friendship continues long. Be cautious in selecting your friends, and look long and well before you allow any one to say, that he is your bosom-companion, and that you share each other's thoughts and secrets. In selecting your

friends, you will remember that you will borrow habits, traits of character, modes of thought and expression, from each other; and, therefore, be careful to select those who have not excellences merely, but whose faults are as few as may be. Some rely too much upon friends, and think they will never pass away, and never change. Others, who have known, by experience, that friends may do both, will tell you that friendship is "but a name," and means nothing. Extremes are never in the right. There is much, both of wisdom and beauty, in the following remarks :—

"Sweet language will multiply friends, and a kindly-speaking tongue will multiply kind greetings. Be in peace with many : nevertheless, have but one counsellor in a thousand. If thou wouldst get a friend, prove him first, and be not hasty to credit him; for some man is a friend for his own occasion, and will not abide in the day of thy trouble. Separate thyself from thine enemies, and take heed to thy friends. A faithful friend is a strong defence, and he that hath found such a one, hath found a treasure. A faithful friend is the medicine of life. Forsake not an old friend, for the new is not comparable to him: a new friend is as new wine: when it is old, thou shalt drink it with pleasure. Whoso casteth a stone at the birds, frayeth them away, and he that upbraideth his friend breaketh friendships; for upbraiding, or pride, or disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound, every friend will depart."

No one can long be your friend for whom you have not a decided esteem-an esteem that will not permit you to trifle with his feelings, and which, of course, will prevent his trifling with yours. Great familiarity is inconsistent with any abiding friendship.

"The man who hails you Tom, or Jack,
And proves, by thumping on your back,
His sense of your great merit,

Is such a friend, that one had need
Be very much his friend indeed,
To pardon or to bear it."

You will soon be ashamed to love one for whom

you have not a high esteem. Love will only follow esteem. In order to have or keep a friend, you must not have a particle of envy towards him, however exalted his character or merits. A beautiful writer says, "He who can once doubt whether he should rejoice in his friend's being happier than himself, may depend upon it, that he is an utter stranger to this virtue."

You will always observe that those friendships which are the purest, and the most abiding, are chosen for the good qualities of the heart, rather than for those of the head. I should be sorry to give the impression, that the finest qualities of the heart may not accompany the highest intellectual character; and I am satisfied that there is no good reason why they do not. But it has been shrewdly remarked, "I do not remember that Achates, who is represented as the first favourite, either gives his advice, or strikes a blow, through the whole Æneid."

Prudence is a prime quality in a friend; and zeal and noise are not always indicative of the greatest ability or desire to do you good. But in order to have a true friend, you must determine to be to him just what you wish him to be to you. While I would recommend every young man to commit to memory the whole of Cowper's beautiful description of "Friendship," I would particularly request him to keep the following sentiment uppermost :

"Who seeks a friend, should come disposed
To exhibit, in full bloom disclosed,

The graces and the beauties

That form the character he seeks;
For 'tis a union that bespeaks
Reciprocated duties."

A similarity of inclinations is by no means essential to a perfect and abiding friendship. We admire those traits of character which we do not ourselves possess. They are new to us, and we feel that from them we can supply our own defects.

Although it is considered one great duty of friendship to discover faults, and give reproofs, yet it is a dangerous duty. It must be done very delicately and kindly, and be sure not too frequently. I do not, on the whole, believe it is the appropriate business of a friend to discover faults and reprove you; but it is, to support you in high and noble pursuits, raising your spirits, and adding to your courage till you outdo yourself. Are those families the happiest, where every member is to be tried by a constant or frequent fault-finding? Far from it. If you wish your friend to do well, encourage him, sustain him when in trials or troubles. Cultivate your old friends: but you must seek new ones also; for our changes by removal and death are so frequent, that he who now makes no new friends will soon find himself without any. Need it be said, that a strict and unwavering regard for truth is absolutely essential to having friends? We do not wish to be associated with those whose veracity can, in the least, be suspected. "When speech is employed as the vehicle of falsehood, every man must disunite himself from others, inhabit his own cave, and seek prey only for himself," and in vain ask or seek for a friend.

I have dwelt somewhat on this point, but it is my wish that all my readers may have friends, select, disinterested friends; and I know that they cannot have them, unless they make it a part of their daily habits and business to cultivate their own hearts, and render themselves worthy of being beloved. The tree cannot live and thrive without great care; but if it receive that care, it will bear fruit abundantly for many years.

How

often has the heart of my reader thrilled at the warm greetings of one who said, "Your father and I were friends!" Friendship can lessen no joy by having a sharer. It brightens every one. At the same time, it diminishes sorrow in every shape, by dividing the burden.

"Hast thou a friend?—thou hast indeed

A rich and large supply-
Treasure to serve your every need,
Well managed, till you die."