From the London Punch.
ASKING A LOAN-AND THE AN
SWER
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from q Gentleman 10 q FTaeud, S0Rclflng |


has acceptance and bond.


My DEAR RICHARDS: In this our heeting
life how few are the opportunities afforded
us of really testing the hearts of our friends


Sorry, indeed, should be of my own nature
we're Of the barren creed of those who
from the depth of the would wisdom,
smile knowingly at friendship, as though,
like the word phoenix, it spoke of something
very fine, but very fabulous, spicy monster,
building in the clouds, aud never known to
descend upon earth. No; should be a.


mong the most insensible of my kinda
very savage of social life--dld fail to wor-
ship friendship in my innermost heart as a


virtue illustrated by one of the noblest of


created men. Forgive me if do not name


him; for true worth, like the rose, ,ciH blush
at its own sweetness!


Truly, tits pleasant to hear men abuse the


world, as though, forsooth, they themselves


were the only shining exceptions from the


general selfishness they condemn. When |


hear man cry out, sit is a bad world,n


must of course lump him with the aggregate
| iniquity; for how can he have the enormous


vanity to select himself as the one pure Ad-


am from naughty millions? No; Richards,


be it my faith to think the best of the world;


be ii my special felicity to know that Ishold


the heart--ay, as though it were in my hand


--of the truest and the best of friends. But


what, indeed, is friendship, if ii be not ac-


tive? What, but harp, or the divinest of


Cremonas, resting in silence--all the melo-


dious, ravishing sounds that wait our spirits


to the clouds, sleeping in their strings, a


dumb sleep? So is twith the heart of a


true friend until touched by the wants of his
teompanion.


My Dear Richards, enclose yon bin
OF hundred and fifty pounds. That bill,


like the harp or fiddle have spoken of, is
now as dead thing. But only write across
it Accepted, John Richards and it will have


voice of gold--yes, it will ring with SOW
ereigps. Oh, friendship, thou divinest al


chemist, that man should ever profane thee!
Send the bill back by post, as must have
the cash tomorrow.


have many acquaintance, any of whom
g would have gone through the little form (for
ii is only form) ask of you. But no:


should have thought such an act on my part
a treason to our friendship. You know, my
dear boy, that | am apt TO be imaginative;
, and thus, it is sweet and peculiar pleasure
, TO me TO fancy both our names indissolubly


linked together-the union legallzed by a
f five shilling stamp--each adding value to the
other by being paired. Thus it almost seems
to me that we merge two souls into one
5 that in very truth, by the potent spell ol
: friendship, we are no longer single, but
bound together by bond unknown to those
pagans Of the ancient time, Orestes and Py.
5 ladies', Damon and Pythias!


: Yes; with slight flourish of the pen, we
2 shall feel what once thought impossible, {
D greater interest in one another. We shal
know that our names, written upon accredit
d cd paper, pass in the world as symbols O
= gold; you will have turned ink drops into
: ready money, and shall havereceived it,
t The roses that wreathe around the stamp are
D to my minds eye, Richards, the very Types
: of our kindred minds. Do not, however, faI
to post the bill tonight.


: There isl believe he callsit bond Oh
$ my account for three or four hundreds (,
y which troublesome attorney wants you
= name. Come and breakfast with me oil
r Monday, my dear boy, and it shall be read,
II for you. Heaven bless you. Your friend /,
J, the EIdCe Oh OuOS.


,r MONTAGUE ST. GEORGE.
Is P. s. have pate de foie gras, whic'
e don't think you ever tasted, from Palis, 70
e Monday. It's made of geese'sliyer. The
L put the live goose before the fire and max
e ii drink and drink Rather cruel, but there
= no mistake in the liver.


The friends Answcr, refusing both Accept
ly Gnce and Bond.


i'd My DEAR MeNTAGUE: Your letter ha
'r. given me great pleasure. You know ho'
r highly | have always thought of friendship
le it is, as you say, divine thing. Indeed, t
ir my mind, so divine that it should never, n
at never, be mixed up with money.


OF Nevertheless, however we may differ O
a. this little point, it is impossible for me
IN speak as feel on your letter. 1t is charm
e ingly written. There is beauty, fervc
T. in your sentiments about friendship, that col
ID vince me you have felt IFS treasures, and al
i'd therein, though poor in the worlds esteem
0, rich as an emperor. My dear friend, cult
le vate this style of writing. | am certain th
Sc money is to be made by it.


al agree with you as TO your opinion I
I'd this world. 1t is glorious world; and glo
d, ious, indeed, are some of the people in it,
oi- The friendship that has so long subsisted b
as tween us must make me acknowledge th
DR.. Your smile of friend and iddleis perfe
ed and touching. What, indeed, are they DO
tai made for, if not to be played upon?
Id Your picture of the unison of souls wht
ed both the souls hands are to the same bill,
d. beautiful, affecting. have read the passai
ex over twenty times 1t has neither one wo