and that He only who made hearts can unite them." Says the wise Lord
Bacon: "It is a good discretion not to make too much of any man at the
first; because one cannot hold out that proportion," and that is so, for
some of the strongest bonds of friendship ever felt have been woven
without thought of pleasure on either side at the commencement.
"Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their
death they were not divided." "I am distressed for thee, my brother,
Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was
wonderful, passing the love of woman."
"Very few friends," says Sydney Smith, "will bear to be told of their
faults; and, if done at all, it must be done with infinite management
and delicacy; for if you indulge often in this practice, men think you
hate, and avoid you. If the evil is not very alarming, it is better,
indeed, to let it alone, and not to turn friendship into a system of
lawful and unpunishable impertinence. I am for frank explanations with
friends in cases of affront. They sometimes