The daughter was an interested listener, and at the close broke in with--"It seems to me that there is no such thing as perfect happiness after all. We are always being disappointed in relation to some hope or desire, and when we engage in that which affords pastime or amusement, there is invariably a penalty following. Is not this true, Mr. Durant?" "I could scarcely dispute with a lady, even if there were grounds for it," said he, gallantly. "But I prefer you would," she said, "because you appear to know all about these things and I desire to learn. Why is it, for instance, that after enjoying myself greatly at a dance or other late entertainment, injured nature afterward cries out for revenge, and takes it? So with all things it seems to me. The pleasure experienced in meeting a dear friend is beclouded by the knowledge that there must be a parting soon; and death is ever near as if to remind us of the fact that life, happiness, honor, wealth, youth, are all fleeting and unsubstantial." "Very true." "Why Claire," said her mother, "you are becoming a regular pessimist. Surely at your age there is no need to borrow trouble about death or anything else." "I do not borrow it, mamma, it comes. Pain follows pleasure, sorrow treads upon the heals of happiness, and misfortune is the constant attendant of fortune. There is, as I said, no perfect happiness, so it seems to me." "Pardon me," said the missionary, "but you did not finish your sentence. Shall I do so for you?" "O, by all means," replied the girl with eager delight. "Well, then," he continued, "doubtless what you meant to say was that there is no such thing as perfect happiness in either the contemplation or realization of things which in themselves are fleeting and unsubstantial--that is, the things of the world. Every movement of the machinery of a steamer, for instance, creates friction, which in turn indicates an eventual breaking down, and so it is with all temporal things; thus we cannot rely upon them for permanent good, and in addition they are constantly subjecting us to peril. "It is impossible to create perfect results out of imperfect conditions; therefore, there can be no complete or unbroken happiness come out of earthly surroundings, for the reason that all such things are changeable and fleeting. And yet there is such a state as perfect joy unclouded and endless." "But not in this life, as you yourself have shown." "Yes, in this life." "I thought you referred to this life as uncertain and ephemeral and as such curtailed or extinguished its own joys." "That is true, also. But yet endless and supreme delight is to be found in it." "Where and how, pray?" "In observing principles and practicing truths which lead to immortality, and which confer upon us the title-deeds to homes where pains and penalties are unknown, where all is peace, contentment and love." "Oh, yes, I did not think of that."