You go to school and you make many friends. You go to the park and play with others. They all become your friends. If it is so easy to make friends, then why do people say that it is very difficult to find a true friend? Who is a true friend? A true friend stands by you even when you are in trouble. He does not leave you if you become poor. He does not speak against you behind your back. He is always ready to help you. You read the story of the King of Dwarka and the poor Brahmin who were childhood friends. Do you remember their names? You must be loyal and truthful to your friends. You must share their joys and pains. I am a very loyal friend. So make me a friend and find out. I’ll play with you and give you company wherever you go. A Tale of Friendship Damon and Pythias lived in Rome about two thousand years ago. They were great friends and so loyal to each other that everyone admired them for their great friendship. Dionysius was the king of the city. He was a very cruel ruler. Whenever anybody said a word against the king he was punished severely. One day the king’s soldiers overheard Pythias talking against the king. He was arrested and brought before the king. The king was so angry that he sentenced Pythias to death. A day was fixed for the hanging. Poor Pythias was thrown into prison. When Damon heard this, he rushed to the prison. “Is there anything I can do for you, Pythias?” he asked. “I am prepared to die. I wash to see my old mother and sister before I die. I want to make arrangements for their comfort, and then I shall die peacefully.” Damon went to the king and begged him to allow Pythias to go. “If you are so bothered about your friend, why don’t you take his piace in the prison? Only on this condition can I let him go. But do remember one thing. If your friend does not return, you’ll be hanged in his place. So now you can decide what you want do for your friend,” said the cruel king. Damon happily agreed to this plan and Pythias was set free to see his mother and sister. The appointed day dawned, but Pythias had not returned. The king sent for Damon and made fun of him. Damon was not upset. His face was calm when he said, “If my friend has not come back, I know that it is no fault of his. Something beyond his control must have prevented him from reaching the city in time.” The king had a wicked smile on his face and asked the soldiers to take Damon to be hanged. The king wanted everyone to leam a lesson from this incident. Soon Damon was taken to the place where he was to be hanged. Many people gathered to see the cruel sight. They whispered how Damon had been a trusting fool. Just then a man came running shouting, “Please stop. Wait, wait please!” All eyes turned to that direction. It was Pythias. He threw his arms around Damon’s neck and exclaimed “Thank God. I am not too late. I tried my best to reach in time but there were too many obstacles in my way. Now I am here, my friend. Thank you for trusting me.” When people saw this sight, their hearts were touched and all eyes filled with tears. “Never in my life have I seen such faith and loyalty between friends,” said the king. “You both may go free. I am a king with riches and power and I command great armies, but I would willingly give up my crown and my kingdom for the love and loyalty of one true friend.”