It is to be hoped that you have friends, if not make some immediately, because you will always need them. Now, when you have a friend go to him and counsel with him, and stick to him closer than to a brother. You should not give all your ideas away or consult with everybody about your affairs. You should keep close mouthed about them, but when you are in doubt consult a friend. We repeat: consult a FRIEND, not one who calls himself your friend, and wants to borrow money, or use you for a purpose, but a real friend upon whom you can rely. Such a counselor will not betray you, but will be your other head and study your needs and help you in your troubles. The word “friend” is a high and noble word and possesses a meaning not common to other relations between man and man. Thus, Abraham was the “Friend of God.” SELECT YOUR OWN COMPANY “A man is known by the company he keeps.” This is a proverbial saying and it is a true one. You have only one life to live, and you must be as careful of that life as a man is of his gold. Good companions help you on the upward path; evil companions drag you down. Men possess free will, but a misuse of it brings speedy punishment. Opportunity meets you and asks: “Who are your companions?” Not being able to deceive Opportunity, you tell the truth and answer: “Oh, I go around with the boys. We stand around the street corners; smoke cigarettes; hang around the billiard and pool rooms; play craps occasionally, and—” But Opportunity does not wait to hear any more, it vanishes and keeps away from you, leaving you free to follow your own head. It has come to be a test of quality made by every employer, to judge an applicant by the company he keeps. “Tell me who your companions are and I will tell you who you are.” There is no mind reading about this, it is common sense. In these days when there is so much vice and crime; when men have become suspicious of their next door neighbor, a wise man is careful whom he trusts. If you associate with an element that is suspicious you can not complain if you are yourself suspected. It is not necessary to go about with your hands folded in an attitude of prayer, or pretend to be overly virtuous and honest, all you need is to be a man, open and above board, and decent in your associations with others. KEEP YOUR NERVE Most of our troubles are imaginary, nine-tenths of them never coming to us as we expected. They are mostly matters of nerve weakness. We start something during the day, and lay awake at night worrying for fear it may not turn out successfully. We brood over phantoms and scarecrows, for that is what most of our worries are. If you have started anything right, and your conscience is at rest, why do you worry? There is no reason for it. Or if you have used your best judgment and made your best effort to make your venture a success, go to rest, put your trust in God and you will sleep.