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『似乎憂愁，卻是常常快樂的。』（林後六章十節）
憂愁是很美麗的，她的美麗是月光的美麗，她的歌聲好像夜鶯的鳴聲，她的目光帶著並不望快樂的神情。她能夠與哀哭的人同哭，卻不能與快樂的人同樂。
快樂也是很美麗的，他的美麗是夏晨的美麗。他的目光含蓄兒童時代的歡笑，他的頭髮受著日光的閃射。他的歌聲像百靈鳥的歌聲一般翱翔雲上，他的腳步是一個從來不知道失敗的得勝者的腳步。他能夠與一切快樂的人同樂，卻不能與哀哭的人同哭。
憂愁沉思著道：「我倆是絕不能合作的了。」
快樂說：「是啊，絕不能了。我的道路是在充滿陽光的草場上的，玫瑰為我開著芳香的花朵，山鳥和畫眉為我唱歡樂的情歌。」
憂愁徐徐轉過身去說道：「我的道路是在黑暗的森林中的。但是世上最甜蜜的詩歌──深夜的情歌──卻是屬於我的；再會，快樂，再會罷。」
在她說話的時候，他們覺得有一個人體立在他們旁邊；雖然看不清楚是誰，卻知道是一位君王，他們跪倒在祂面前，感覺非常懼怕。
憂愁輕聲說道：「我看祂一定是快樂的王，因為祂頭上戴著許多冠冕，手上和腳上帶著勝利的釘痕。我在祂面前，一切的憂愁都化為不熄的愛和歡樂了，我願意把我自己奉獻給祂。」
快樂低聲說道：「你錯了，憂愁，我看祂是憂愁的王，祂頭上戴著的冠冕是荊棘的冠冕，祂手上和腳上帶著的釘痕是痛苦的傷痕。我也願意把我自己永遠奉獻給祂，因為有祂同在的憂愁一定比我所知道的快樂更加甘甜。」
他倆同聲歡呼說道：『這樣，我們在祂裡面乃是一體，只有祂能將快樂和憂愁合成一體。』
他倆手牽著同在世上跟隨祂走－有時在風雨中，有時陽光中，有時在冬日的凜冽中，有時在夏日的溫暖中－『似乎憂愁，卻是常常快樂的。』－選
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"As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." (2 Cor. 6:10.)
SORROW was beautiful, but her beauty was the beauty of the moonlight shining through the leafy branches of the trees in the wood, and making little pools of silver here and there on the soft green moss below.
When Sorrow sang, her notes were like the low sweet call of the nightingale, and in her eyes was the unexpectant gaze of one who has ceased to look for coming gladness. She could weep in tender sympathy with those who weep, but to rejoice with those who rejoice was unknown to her.
Joy was beautiful, too, but his was the radiant beauty of the summer morning. His eyes still held the glad laughter of childhood, and his hair had the glint of the sunshine's kiss. When Joy sang his voice soared upward as the lark's, and his step was the step of a conqueror who has never known defeat. He could rejoice with all who rejoice, but to weep with those who weep was unknown to him.
"But we can never be united," said Sorrow, wistfully.
"No, never." And Joy's eyes shadowed as he spoke. "My path lies through the sunlit meadows, the sweetest roses bloom for my gathering, and the blackbirds and thrushes await my coming to pour forth their most joyous lays."
"My path," said Sorrow, turning slowly away, "leads through the darkening woods, with moon-flowers only shall my hands be filled. Yet the sweeted of all earth-songs─the love song of the night─shall be mine; farewell, Joy, farewell."
Even as she spoke they became conscious of a form standing beside them; dimly seen, but of a Kingly Presence, and a great and holy awe stole over them as they sank on their knees before Him.
"I see Him as the King of Joy," whispered Sorrow, "for on His Head are many crown, and the nailprints in His hands and feet are the scars of a great victory. Before Him all my sorrow is melting away into deathless love and gladness, and I give myself to Him forever."
"Nay, Sorrow," said Joy softly, "but I see Him as the King of Sorrow, and the crown on His head is a crown of thorns, and the nailprints in His hands and feet are the scars of a great agony. I, too, give myself to Him forever, for sorrow with Him must be sweeter than any joy that I have known."
"Then we are one in Him," they cried in gladness, "for none but He could unite Joy and Sorrow."
Hand in hand they passed out into the world to follow Him through storm and sunshine, in the bleakness of winter cold and the warmth of summer gladness, "as sorrowful yet always rejoicing."
"Should Sorrow lay her hand upon thy shoulder,
And walk with thee in silence on life's way,
While Joy, thy bright companion once, grown colder,
Becomes to thee more distant day by day?
Shrink not from the companionship of Sorrow,
She is the messenger of God to thee;
And thou wilt thank Him in His great tomorrow─
For what thou knowest not now, thou then shalt see;
She is God's angel, clad in weeds of night,
With whom we walk by faith and not by sight.'"
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