verywhere, but this time how have I
failed! Forgive me," she said to Sorrow, "and when you are weary and
need rest, come to our cottage."

Sorrow gave her a sad but heavenly smile, and the sisters departed to
the next abode.

"Did you ever see them before?" asked the children of their grandparents
after the sisters had gone.

"Often: they have been going round the world for ages," answered
their grandparents.

"But Joy looks so young, grandpa."

"That's because she has naught to do with trouble. She belongs to the
bright side. She carries good tidings and pleasure to all; while Sorrow,
her sister, administers the woes."

"But Joy is good not to leave her sister."

"She cannot," said the grandparent.

"Cannot! Why?"

"Because Providence has so ordered it that Joy and Sorrow go hand in
hand,--pleasure and pain. No two forces in nature which are alike are
coupled. Day and night, sunshine and shadow, pleasure and pain, forever."

"But I should like to have Joy stay with us," said Helen, the youngest,
to her grandparent.

"We shall ever be glad to see her; but we must never treat her sister
coldly or with indifference, as though she had no right to be among us;
because, though in the external she is unlovely, within she is equally
radiant with her sister,--not the same charm of brilliancy, but a softer,
diviner radiance shines about her soul."

"Why, grandpa, you make me almost love her," said Marion, the eldest,
while Helen looked thoughtful and earnest.

The seeds of truth were dropped which at some future time would bear
fruit.

* * * * *

It was a large and elegant house at which the sisters stopped next. A
beautiful lawn, hedged by hawthorne, sloped to the finely-graded street;
while over its surface beds of brilliant flowers were blooming,
contrasting finely with the bright green carpet. They ascended the
granite steps which led to the portico, and rang the bell. A servant
answered the summons, and impatiently awaited their message.

"We would see the mistress of the mansion," said Joy.

They were shown into an elegant drawing-room, so large they could
scarcely see the farther end. It was furnished in a most dazzling style,
and gave none of that feeling of repose which is so desirable in a home.
After what seemed a long time, the lady of the mansion appeared, looking
very much as though her visitors were intruders.

"A lovely day," said Joy.

"Beautiful for youth