On Being Friends

On Being Friends

Mike, a rough-and-ready kind of boy, and Jonathan who was just the opposite,were the best of friends. Jonathan had a severe heart condition that prohibited him from engaging in any kind of strenuous activity.The story that follows is part of a longer story called" On Being Friends."*As the episode below opens Mike and Jonathan are taking a shortcut through the woods on their way home from school.

1. Jonathan and Mike broke out of the woods, and there was the pond-frozen over. Mike became excited and said that he hoped to be able to go skatingthe next day, which was Saturday. He said to Jonathan, "I 'm going to test the ice to see if it's okay for skating."
2. Jonathan didn't think that was a good idea. He said, "No, Mike. Don't do that. The police will test the ice, and they'll put a sign up if it's safe to skate." "I'm going to test it anyway." Mike replied."I won't go far."Then he picked up a slender branch about eight feet long and handed it to Jonathan.
3. "Here, Jon, you hold this branch on one end, and I'll hold the other end. If the ice cracks or breaks, you can pull me in." Then, seeing the doubt on Jonathan's face,he continued, "It's going to be okay, Jon. I won't be out there more than a few feet."
4. Jonathan still had misgivings but Mike seemed sure of himself, so Jon didn't protest anymore. He just warned Mike to be careful and not to let go of the branch. Mike stepped gingerly onto the ice. "See,"h e said. "It's solid." Then he ventured the length of the branch, one step at a time. Suddenly, the ice cracked.
5. Mike screamed and down he went into the icy water, over his head. Then be bobbed u p. Jonathan was almost pulled onto the ice when Mike went down, but somehow he managed to stay on shore and hold on to the branch.
6. Mike was trying desperately to get back on the ice, but although he tried again and again he couldn't make it. He was rapidly becoming cold and numb; he couldn't survive much longer.
7. Jonathan kept tugging on the branch, but to no avail. Finally, Mike's stiffened hands gave up the branch. He shouted, "Jon! Go for help. I can't get out! I can't get out!" Jonathan didn't know what to do. The nearest house was'about half of a mile away. He knew he couldn't run that far, and he had the awful feeling that Mike would slip under the ice and never be found if he left.
8. He decided that there was only one thing to do try to save Mike himself. He picked up a rock somewhat smaller than a soccer ball. He was going to break a path through the ice to Mike;then Mike could swim and walk out. The next step was when Jonathan showed his true intelligence. Instead of pounding the ice starting from the shore, he laid himself on the ice and wriggled out to the edge of the ice that surrounded Mike.
9. H e did it that way because h e knew that if he started from the shore and worked outward he would be in frigid water. He also knew that he wouldn't be able to stand that-his heart would give up. After he reached the open water by Mike he laboriously lifted the rock over his head and pounded it on the ice. Crunch, a piece of the ice broke off.
10. Then, he wriggled a little backward toward the shore. Crunch, another piece. Wriggle. Crunch, another piece. With each piece Mike moved a little closer to the shore. Jonathan was becoming exhausted; he didn't have much wind or strength left, but he did have determination. Wriggle, crunch, and still another piece broke off. Mike was now up to his waist because the bank of the pond sloped upward, and he was able to help Jonathan. He took the rock from his friend and began breaking the ice with all his strength.
11. Suddenly, the ice gave way and Jonathan was in the water. But now Mike could walk out because there was an open path to the shore.H e pulled Jonathan with him until both Iay exhausted and gasping on the beach.Jonathan was all but done in.
12. Mike knew they couldn't stay on the shore. Jonathan would die if Mike didn't fetch h elp. Then, Mike showed his real mettle. He took off his coat, laid it on the ground, and dragged Jonathan until he was lying on the coat. Then he used the coat as a sled to pull Jonathan over the snow-covered ground.
13. After prodigious effort Mike hauled his friend within a quarter mile of the nearest house. He didn't have the strength to pull anymore. So he told Jonathan to stay there, that he was going to run to the nearest house and get help. Mike covered the distance to the house in Olympic- record time. He pounded on the door, roused the people, and told them the problem.
14. Mike and the man of the house ran to where Jon was lying. Meanwhile, the man's wife called the emergency squad. The man, a strapping fellow, picked Jonathan up and ran for the house. Mike, with the welcome siren of the emergency vehicle in his ears, trailed behind. When they reached the house, the man's wife was waiting with blankets in her arms.
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How to Tell Bad News

How to tell bad news.

Mr. H. and the Steward.

Mr. H. Ha! Steward, how are you, my old. boy? How
do things go on at home ?
Steward. Bad. enough, your honor; the magpie is dead.
H. Poor Mag ! So he's gone. How came he to die ?
S. Overeat himself, sir.
H. Did. he ? A greedy dog; why, what did he get he
liked so well ?
S. Horseflesh, sir; he died" of eating horseflesh.
H. How came he to get so much horseflesh?
S. All your father's horses, sir.
H. What ! are they dead, too ?
S. Ay, sir; they died of overwork.
H. And why were they overworked, pray ?
S. To carry water, sir.
H. To carry water ! and what were they carrying water
for ?
S. Sure, sir, to put out the fire.
H. Fire ! what fire ?
S. O, sir, your father's house is burned to the ground.
H. My father's house burned down ! and how came it
set on fire ?
S. I think sir, it must have been the torches.
H. Torches ! what torches ?
S. At your mother's funeral.
H. My mother dead !
S. Ah, poor lady! she never looked up, after it
H. After what ?
S. The loss of your father.
H. My father gone, too ?
S. Yes, poor gentleman ! he took to his bed as soon as
he heard of it.
H. Heard of what ?
S. The bad news, sir, and please your honor
H. What! more miseries! more bad news!
S. Yes, sir; your bank has failed, and your credit is
lost, and you are not worth a shilling in the world. I
made bold, sir, to wait on you about it, for I thought you
would like to hear the news.

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