If a friend turns out to be, suddenly,
Not a friend, not a foe, but - so,
If you cannot tell at a glance
If he’s good - or bad, perchance,

Take the kid to the mountains with you,
Do not leave him alone, but go.
If he’s tied to one rope with you
Then you will know him true.

If among the peaks, he is weak,
If at once he lets slack, and goes back,
If a step on the glacier brings a tear
And he hollers in fear -

Then a stranger is he, you see,
Do not scoff, but send him off.
With us such folks we do not bring
And of such we don’t sing.

But if he doesn’t whine, nor pine,
Mad and grim, but kept the fight in him,
When you fell off the edge that night,
He moaned - but held on tight!

If he went as to war where you led,
On the peak he held high his head -
Then as in your own heart and limb
You may trust in him.