Sonnet To A Friend

Friend of my earliest years and childish days,
 My joys, my sorrows, thou with me hast shared,
Companion dear, and we alike have fared
 (Poor pilgrims we) through life's unequal ways;
It were unwisely done, should we refuse
 To cheer our path as featly as we may,
Our lonely path to cheer, as travellers use,
 With merry song, quaint tale, or roundelay;
And we will sometimes talk past troubles o'er,
 Of mercies shown, and all our sickness healed,
And in his judgments God remembering love;
 And we will learn to praise God evermore
For those glad tidings of great joy revealed
 By that sooth messenger sent from above.