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we know our friends.
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The boat strikes the beach, they are safe,they are singing
With joy that each one hath escaped with his life;
But Donald is foremost, out from the boat springing,
To clasp to his bosom his Ellen, his wife!


We Know our Friends.
We know our friends, not when the glad sun's shedding
A glory o'er the path which we pursue;
Not when on thornless flowers our feet are treading;
Not when our skies are clear and cloudless blue;—
For then by changeless friends we are surrounded—
At least we think so,—and believe, should e'er
Our bosom be by this world's sorrows wounded,
Kind hands should be upraised to dry the tear,
And soothing voices our bowed spirits cheer.

We know our friends, not when we're in possession
Of fortune's gifts; for then we favourite's are
With all, and all are friends—so by profession:
Yet, let a cloud of gloom our prospects mar—
Let's gaze around when fickle fortune's left us,
When adverse winds arise and rain descends,
And tribulation hath of joy bereft us,
Nor hope a ray to mental midnight lends—
And where are those we deemed our changeless friends?