When Prose Becomes Poetry - The Last Words Of Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson To Andrew Jackson Poem by Bill Grace

'Andrew, if I should not see you again, I wish you to remember and treasure
up some things I have already said to you. In this world you will have to make
your own way. To do that you must have friends. You can make friends
by being honest andyou can keep them by being steadfast. You must keep
in mind that friends worth having will, in the long run, expect as much from
you as they give to you. To forget an obligation or be ungrateful for a kindness
is a base crime, not merely a fault or a sin, but an actual crime. Men
guilty of it sooner or later must suffer the penalty. In personal conduct be always
polite but never obsequious. None will respect you more than you respect yourself.
Avoid quarrels as long as you can without yielding to imposition. But sustain your
manhood always. Never bring a suit in law for assault and battery or for defamation.
The law affords no remedy for such outrages that can satisfy the feelings of a true man.
Never wound the feelings of others. Never brook wanton outrage upon your own feelings.
If you ever have to vindicate your feelings or defend your honor, do it calmly.
If angry at first, wait till your wrath cools before you proceed.'