hesitate at the crossroads(linger in the wrong path)

cover the flag and stop beating the drum

a fragile frame

the friendship made in earlier poor days

pan gravel for gold(extract something valuable from a conglomerate mass)

criticize mentally(criticism kept to oneself)

fail in the governmental examination

weakness in old age

amicable(collect oneself)

a suddenrainstorm(violent storms)

plow the waves(brave the storm)

Bottle ties

badly bruised

try to stop the departure of a popular official by grasping the shafts of his carriage and lying down in the wheel-ruts

Amicable

wandering without a fixed dwelling

Have a bright future

Fall in despair

Drift off

a beau(a young man of dress; a young spark)