Kindness given and received aright and knitting two hearts into one is a
thing of heaven, as rare in this world as a perfect love; both are the
overflow of only very rare and beautiful souls.

--_Balzac_.

* * * * *

Kindred passions and pursuits are the natural groundwork of friendship.
Real friendship is of slow growth, and never thrives, unless ingrafted
upon a stock of known and reciprocal merit.

--_Chesterfield_.

* * * * *

Let this, therefore, be established as a primary law concerning
friendship, that we expect from our friends only what is honorable, and
for our friends' sake do what is honorable; that we should not wait till
we are asked; that zeal be ever ready, and reluctance far from us.

--_Cicero_.

* * * * *

Let Friendship's accents cheer our doubtful way,
And Love's pure planet lend its guiding ray,--
Our tardy Art shall wear an angel's wings,
And life shall lengthen with the joy it brings!