As _Tom_ had Reason to venerate his Memory,
he was very particular in his Enquiry, and had this Character of
him;--that he was a Man well acquainted with Nature and with Trade;
that he was pious, friendly, and of a sweet and affable Disposition.
That he had acquired a Fortune by Commerce, and having no Relations to
leave it to, he travelled through _Arabia, Persia, India, Libia_
and _Utopia_ in search of a real Friend. In this Pursuit he found
several with whom he exchanged good Offices, and that were polite and
obliging, but they often flew off for Trifles; or as soon as he
pretended to be in Distress, and requested their Assistance, left him
to struggle with his own Difficulties. So true is that Copy in our
Books, which says, _Adversity is the Touchstone of Friendship_.
At last, however, he met with the _Utopian_ Philosopher, or the
wise Man of the Mountain, as he is called, and thought in him he had
found the Friend he wanted; for though he often pretended to be in
Distress, and abandoned to the Frowns of Fortune, this Man always
relieved him, and with such Chearfulness and Sincerity, that
concluding he had found out the only Man to whom he ought to open both
his Purse and his Heart, he let him so far into his Secrets, as to
desire his Assistance in hiding a large Sum of Money, which he wanted
to conceal, lest the Prince of the Country, who was absolute, should,
by the Advice of his wicked Minister, put him to Death for his Gold.
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