A BIRTH-DAY STORY. Yet, be it less, or more, or soon, or slow, It shall be still in strictest measure even Tow'rd which Time leads me, and the will of Heaven; As ever in my great Task-master's eye.' 19 "And now," said Mr. Singleton, suddenly checking himself, as he turned to William and his brother and sisters, "it has just struck me that our birth-day talk and associations have led us into a conversation somewhat too grave for our young hearers; and we are bound to consult their taste to-day." Come," said Lucy England, "I will try what I can do towards their entertainment. They used to be fond of a story—at least, my god-daughter used to like to listen to one; suppose I tell you something I once heard related by a dear friend of mine, a Mrs. Russell, about a birth-day. I will call it "At the back of one of the largest and finest streets at the west-end of the Metropolis ran a mews, where the carriages and horses of the great folks who lived in the grand street used to come to their stables. Over one of those stables were two small but comfortable rooms, in which lived the family of John Green, who was coachman to the Earl of Belmont. John Green's family consisted of his wife and one little daughter, whose name was Patty. One fine May-morning, her mother called to Patty to help her sort out all the clean linen she had washed in the course of the week (for Mrs. Green was a laundress, by which she helped her husband to earn a living for themselves and child), and to place it in the different clothes-baskets that stood around, 22 CONTRASTED BIRTH-DAYS. his tail, and looks up in my face, really as if he knew I am going to crown him.'’ 66 6 Why should you dislike your lessons more on your birth-day than any other day, Lady Emily ?' said Mrs. Russell; 'surely, my dear, you cannot wish to idle the whole day away, merely because it is your birth-day? I should think that would be rather tiresome than pleasant to you.' 666 "O, but the carriage will be here soon to take us out, you know,' said Lady Emily, yawning; 'for you ordered it early on purpose, as it was my birth-day, which was very kind of you; and so, you know, it is hardly worth while to begin anything till it comes. Do, my dear Mrs. Russell, come here and look at what I am looking at,' added she, after a moment; 'Do you see that pretty little window down there, with the mignonette in the green box, and the convolvulus running up strings on each side of it just look; 'I can see into the snug little room beyond the window, and I see such a nice little girl trotting about the room, and she seems to be helping her mother to do something or other. How happy she looks! O,' said Lady Emily, throwing herself back in her chair, 'how delightful it must be to be running about all day, and doing just as one likes, instead of having a parcel of troublesome lessons to do!' "The May sun poured its beams into the room, and fell upon the young lady as she pouted and glanced towards the table on which lay the books and drawings, and thus illumined THE SECOND PICTURE.' "Good gracious! look, Mrs. Russell, pray look!' exclaimed Lady Emily, suddenly leaning forward, and gazing eagerly; the poor little girl is crying, actually crying! What can be the matter with her, I wonder?' CONTRASTED BIRTH-DAYS. 23 "She does not seem to be so happy as you fancied her, my dear Lady Emily,' said Mrs. Russell, quietly. "O what can we do for her? She seems such a good little girl,' said the really kind-hearted young lady. "The carriage is at the door, my lady,' said a footman, who came into the room at this moment. But Lady Emily did not hear him, she was so engaged in watching and pitying her young neighbour; while Mrs. Russell went to the servant and spoke a few words to him, who then left the room. "Should you like to know what she is crying for, Lady Emily, and do what you can to relieve her distress ?' asked Mrs. Russell. 66 6 'Oh, yes, that I should!' exclaimed she. Why, I do believe, my dear Mrs. Russell, that you have sent for her. Oh, that is delightful!' "Directly the door was opened, Lady Emily went towards it, and taking by the hand the little girl who had entered, said, 'I'm so sorry for you. What made you cry? and what is your name?' 66 6 'Patty Green, Miss,' was the answer. "But what made you cry, Patty Green? You were looking so happy at first, while I was watching you from that window, and all of a sudden you began to cry. What could it be for ?' "Why, Miss-my lady, I mean-it was very silly of me; but I couldn't help it. I did so wish to have a ride in a carriage once in my life, on my birth-day.' "Is to-day your birth-day, Patty? How odd! Why, it's mine, too. Do you mean to say you never had a ride in a carriage in your life? How very odd! Well, you shall have one to-day. May she, dear Mrs. Russell? May I take her with us ?' said Lady Emily, eagerly. 24 66 6 BIRTH-DAY IN DESTITUTION. Certainly, my dear; let us go.' "Away rolled the carriage-Patty at the very height of her joy, Lady Emily extremely entertained to witness her delight, and Mrs. Russell rejoiced to see the warmth and interest her young pupil took in the pleasure of anotherthat purest of all sources of gratification. "On they went, through the park, up Parliament-street, by Charing-cross, along the Strand, till all at once they turned down a dirty, narrow street, and stopped at the door of a poor, mean-looking house. "What are we stopping here for ?' asked Lady Emily. "Come with me, my dear Lady Emily, and you, too, Patty,' said Mrs. Russell; and she led the way into the house, and up a flight of dark stairs, and then up another, and then still another, till she stopped at the door of a poor garret. It was partly open, and she entered, followed by the two little girls, who were soon weeping bitterly at what they saw. On a miserable bed lay a sick child, whose thin white face told a sad tale of want, and young despair. All around spoke of utter destitution; stripped of all its necessaries—one piece of furniture after another sold to buy food-the room, though small, looked drearily vacant and wide. Not the smallest vestige of provision, or the least sign of those minor comforts which form necessaries in a sick room. On a chair near the bed sat a woman, the very picture of hopeless grief. Her eyes were fixed on the face of her dying child, and she scarcely removed them to glance at Mrs. Russell as she came in. "I have heard about you, my poor woman,' said she, approaching the unhappy mother, and am come to see what can be done for you.' "Done for me?' said the woman, wildly, and in a tone hoarse with starvation and sorrow; 'but him!-him-he will die. He must; no doctor has told me so, for I can't pay for one; but I know he must. Oh, so young, so young! my only child-my only companion left to me in this worldand on his birth-day, too!' "Mother!' said the boy, turning his face towards her, and trying to stretch his hand out; but it fell feebly on the bed. "Mrs. Russell said a few words of comfort to the poor woman, assuring her that she had sent for a medical man, who would soon be there; and bidding her be more calm, for the sake of her child. To him she leaned down, and softly whispered consolation. 'I want for nothing, ma'am,' said he, in answer to her question; 'I shall soon be dead, and then I know you will comfort mother, and give her food enough. Yes,' said he, suddenly, after a pause, 'yes, there is one thing I should like: I should like to be taken away from this hot and stifling town, and put where daisies may grow on my grave.' "The May sun streamed through the broken, half-closed shutters, and threw a strange, bright ray upon this sad "THIRD PICTURE.' "But to turn to my last one. "It was a fine, glowing afternoon, and a little party were assembled in a neat garden belonging to a small cottage in the outskirts of London. A feeble boy, whose cheeks were beginning to assume a faint glow of returning health, was lying on a bench, on which his mother had just placed him, while a little girl was busily employed in wrapping a thick cloak about his feet. A lady, and another little girl were looking on with faces of joy and kindness. "He is doing purely now, my lady,' said the poor woman; 'Dr. Benson says it was nothing but want of proper air and food. And Oh! I thank the good God that |