Album of the Heart ~ May 21, 1880

 

On the broad highway of action

Friends of worth are far and few

So when one has proved his friendship

Cling to him who clings to you

Lines to a Friend, Eva Wheaton, Soquel, California

Many of the entries in Great Grandmother Flora's Album of the Heart are not original writings, but rather excerpts from poems and songs. Here is the original poem:

Cling to Those Who Cling to You  

There are many friends of summer

Who are kind while flowers bloom

But when winter chills the blossoms

They depart with the perfume

On the broad highway of action

Friends of worth are far and few

So when one has proved his friendship

Cling to him who clings to you

 

Do not harshly judge your brother

Do not deem his life untrue

If he makes no great pretensions

Deeds are great though words are few

Those who stand amid the tempest

Firm as when the skies are blue

Will be friends while life endureth

Cling to those who cling to you

 

When you see a worthy brother

Buffeting the stormy main

Lend a helping hand fraternal

Till he reach the shore again

Don't desert the old and tried friend

When misfortune comes in view

For he then needs friendship's comforts

Cling to those who cling to you

 

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What I find interesting is that ownership of the poem is attributed to a number of authors. And, it's been printed in an interesting array of books and journals. Eva's entry was dated May of 1880 so the earlier citation seems the most reasonable.

• Utah Magazine, The Home Journal of the People, Volume 3, Oct 1869 ~ poem attributed to Dexter Smith
• Standard Book of Song for Temperance Meetings and Home Use, National Temperance Publication Depot, London, Editor T. Bowick, 1878 ~ poem attributed to D. Smith
• Poems for Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, editor W.J. Slater, 1898 ~ Poem attributed to D.M.G.
• Historical Sketches of the Royal Highlanders, author Reverend J.B. Sharp, Volume 1, 1901 ~ poem attributed to or "clipped by" Della Rohrer
• The Railroad Telegrapher, Volume 31, Part 2, published by the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, Jul 1914 ~ poem attributed to Harold C. Keyes
• Boilermaker's Journal, Volume 27, Jan 1915 ~ Poem attributed to Harold C. Keyes

Though the poem was written in the 19th Century, the message is as timeless today as it was then. Flora and Eva were in their early twenties at the time and may have known each other since childhood.