Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed. [Illustration: CHARITY'S BIRTHDAY TEXT.] [Illustration] CHARITY'S BIRTHDAY TEXT. BY THE AUTHOR OF _"Willie and Lucy at the Sea-Side,"_ _"Hungering and Thirsting," Etc._ [Agnes Giberne] [Illustration] LONDON: THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 56, PATERNOSTER ROW; 65, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD; AND 164, PICCADILLY. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. CHAPTER II. CHAPTER III. CHAPTER IV. CHAPTER V. [Illustration] CHARITY'S BIRTHDAY TEXT. [Illustration] CHAPTER I. IT was little Charity Mitchel's tenth birthday. Poor Charity had no mother. Mrs. Mitchel had died many years before, and ever since then Charity had lived in London with her father and her only brother. Edwin—a timid, delicate little fellow—was two years and a half younger than herself; and he was very fond of Charity, who was a warm-hearted, unselfish sister. Their father was usually away all day at his business in the city, but they had a kind nurse to take care of them in his absence, and a governess for some hours every morning. Charity's birthday was quite an event in the quiet household. And though some little girls might think her presents few in number, Charity was more than satisfied, and declared that they were the loveliest things she had ever seen in her life. There was a pretty little workbasket from her father, and a storybook from Edwin—the result of many weeks' saving, and a marker from nurse, besides something else which Charity did not at all expect. She was quite surprised when a fourth parcel was put into her hand, and her father said, with a smile— "From Edwin and me together, my little Charity. I could not resist getting it for you." Charity opened it almost trembling with impatience. When the paper was removed, there lay before her an illuminated card, framed and glazed. First there was a very handsome red and gold "Charity," at the top, and beneath it, "Suffereth long, and is kind," in dark letters, with a delicate blue scroll running around and about them. [Illustration: THE PRESENTS.] "Oh, how lovely! How kind of you!" Charity exclaimed, clasping her hands. "Dear papa, how very, very pretty it is. I can't thank you enough. But, Edwin, you could not have painted this?" Edwin nodded in silence. "Yes, the colouring is his work," said Mr. Mitchel. "I saw the card in a shop the other day, and your name at the top drew my attention. Then I remembered how handy my little boy was with his paint-box, and it struck me that if he could manage to colour it nicely, you would like to have it."