What is a summary of the poem "Be a Friend" by Edgar A. Guest?

This poem is a short, simple, lighthearted one: the kind you'd write in a greeting card, or the kind you'd put on a poster.

Here's a quick summary: In Edgar A. Guest's poem "Be a Friend," the speaker encourages us to show compassion to others and to be both helpful and kind; in return for this effort, we'll experience the "wealth" that comes with having many friends.

Here's a more detailed summary:

In the first stanza, the speaker explains that it doesn't cost any money to be a good friend. We just have to have a cheerful, helpful, generous attitude and be willing to reach out to others.

The second stanza lists some of the "duties" of friendship: we should forgive our friends' little mistakes, encourage them in whatever they're trying to do, and share in their sadness.

Lastly, the third stanza points out that although smart people who only work for their own benefit do earn a lot of money, we can earn a more valuable kind of wealth by being friendly. That is, all of our neighbors will be our friends; that makes us richer than royalty.