342 TTENRY KIEKE WHITE's REMAINS. 



all recollection of mj features. I called upon him, but 

 Germanicus was not at home. Again and again I gave 

 a hesitating linock at the great man's door — all was to 

 no purpose. He was still not at home. The sly mean- 

 ing, however, which was couched in the sneer of the 

 servant the last time that, half ashamed of mj errand, 

 I made my inquiries at his house, convinced me of what 

 I ought to have known before — that Germanicus was at 

 home to all the world save me. I believe, with all my 

 seeming humility, I am a confounded proud fellow at 

 bottom ; my rage at this discovery, therefore, may be 

 better conceived than described. Ten thousand curses 

 did I imprecate on the foolish vanity which led me to 

 solicit the friendship of my superior, and again and again 

 did I vow down eternal vengeance on my head, if I ever 

 more condescended thus to court the acquaintance of 

 man. To this resolution I believe I shall ever adhere. 

 If I am destined to make any progress in the w^orld, it 

 will be by my own individual exertions. As I elbow 

 my way through the crowded vale of life, I will never, 

 in any emergency, call on my selfish neighbour for as- 

 sistance. If my strength give way beneath the pressure 

 of calamity, I shall sink without his whine of hypocriti- 

 cal condolence, and if I do sink, let him kick me into a 

 ditch and go about his business. I asked not his assistance 

 while living — it will be of no service to me when dead. 

 Believe me, reader, whoever thou mayest be, there 

 are few among mortals whose friendship, when acquired, 

 will repay thee for the meanness of solicitation. If a 

 man voluntarily holds out his hand to thee, take it with 

 caution. If thou find him honest, be not backward to 

 receive his proiFered assistance, and be anxious, when 

 occasion shall require, to yield to him thine own. A 

 real friend is the most valuable blessing a man can 

 possess, and, mark me, it is by far the most rare. It is 

 a black swan. But, whatever thou mayest do, solicit 

 not friendship. If thou art young, and would make thy 

 way in the W'Orld,bind thyself a seven years' apprentice- 

 ship to a city tallow-chandler, and thou mayest in time 

 come to be lord mayor. Many people have made their 



