Page:The Art of Helping People Out of Trouble (1924).pdf/94

 at our house, 'could have made hang himself?' 'Why, just his having a multitude of acquaintance,' replied Dr. Johnson, 'and ne'er a friend.

Most people want to unburden themselves of the things that are troubling them. The person in difficulty may share his secret in part here and in part there, or he may select some one to whom he reveals the whole story. In one way or another he will seek to relieve himself of the load he has been carrying. All he asks is that his confidant be a person who will understand him and with whom he can feel secure.