e earth.

Ever since she has been the brightest light in the group; and at night,
when the clouds rising from the earth obscure all the others, the star on
the brow of Hope is shining with a heavenly lustre, and seen by all whose
gaze is upward.

VI.

JOY AND SORROW.

Many years ago, two visitors were sent from realms above, to enter the
homes of earth's inhabitants, and see how much of true happiness and real
sorrow there were in their midst. Hand in hand they walked together, till
they entered a pleasant valley nestled among green hills. At the base of
one of these stood a cottage covered with roses and honeysuckles, which
looked very inviting; and the external did not belie the interior.

The family consisted of a man and wife somewhat advanced in years,
an aged and infirm brother, and two lovely young girls, grandchildren
of the couple.

The pleasant murmur of voices floated on the air,--pleasant to the ear
as the perfume of the roses climbing over the door was to the sense of
smell. It chimed with the spell of the summer morning, and the sisters
knew that harmony was within.

"Let us enter," said Joy.

Sorrow, who was unwilling to go into any abode, lingered outside.

Within, all was as clean and orderly as one could desire: the young
girls were diligently sewing, while before them lay an open volume, from
which they occasionally read a page or so, thus mingling instruction with
labor.

Joy entered, and accosted them with, "A bright morning."

"Very lovely," answered the girls, and they arose and placed a chair
for their visitor.

"We have much to be grateful for every day, but very much on such a
day as this," remarked the grandmother.

"You're a busy family," said Joy.

"Yes, we all labor, and are fond of it," answered the woman, looking
fondly at the girls. "We have many blessings, far more than we can be
grateful for, I sometimes think."

"Yes, I tell mother," broke in the husband, "that we must never lose
sight of our blessings; in fact, they are all such, though often in
disguise."

At that moment Sorrow looked in at the open door. It was so seldom
that _she_ was recognized that she longed to enter.

"You have a friend out there: ask her in," said the woman.

Joy turned and motioned her sister to enter. She came in softly, and
sat beside Joy, while the woman spoke of her family, at the desire of
each of the sisters to know of her causes of happiness.

"Yes, they are all bless