LONG    LIVE    .  .  .    FRIENDSHIP    .  .  .    !  !  !
 
 

               Horror gripped the heart of the World War I soldier as he saw his lifelong friend fall in 
               battle. Caught in a trench with continuous gunfire whizzing over his head, the soldier asked his
               lieutenant if he might go out into the "No Man's Land" between the trenches to bring his fallen 
               comrade back.

               "You can go," said the Lieutenant, "but I don't think it will be worth it. Your friend is probably 
               dead and you may throw your own life away."

               The Lieutenant's words didn't matter, and the soldier went anyway.

               Miraculously he managed to reach his friend, hoist him onto his shoulder, and bring him back to their 
               company's trench. As the two of them tumbled in together to the bottom of the trench, the officer 
               checked the wounded soldier, then looked kindly at his friend.

               "I told you it wouldn't be worth it," he said. "Your friend is dead, and you are mortally wounded."

               "It was worth it, though, sir," the soldier said.

               "How do you mean, 'worth it'?" responded the Lieutenant. "Your friend is dead!"

               "Yes sir," the private answered. "But it was worth it because when I got  to him, he was still alive, 
               and I had the satisfaction of hearing him say, "Jim, I knew you'd come."

               ------------------------------------------
 
               Epilogue:

               "A true friend is the greatest of all blessings
	        and the one which we take the least thought to acquire."