In an obscure country village lived two little girls of nearly the same
age, named Annie Grey and Charlotte Murray; their homes were not very
distant from each other, and they were constant companions and
playmates.

Charlotte Murray was the eldest of five children, and her parents,
though poor, were kept removed from want by constant frugality and
industry. Her father labored for the neighboring farmers, and her mother
was a thrifty, notable housewife, somewhat addicted to loud talking and
scolding, but considered a very good sort of woman.

Charlotte was ten years old, and assisted her mother very much in
attending to the children, and performing many light duties about the
house. She was healthy, robust and good-natured, but unfortunately had
never received any religious instruction, more than an occasional
attendance at church with her mother, and thus was entirely ignorant of
any higher motives of action than to please her parents, which, though
in itself commendable, often led her to commit serious faults. She did
not scruple to tell a falsehood to screen herself or brothers from
punishment, and would often misrepresent the truth for the sake of
obtaining praise. Charlotte was also very fond of dress, and as her
parents' means forbade the indulgence of this feeling, she loved to
decorate herself with every piece of faded ribbon or soiled lace that
came in her way.

Annie Grey was the only child of a poor widow, who supported herself and
daughter by spinning and carding wool for the farmers' wives. Mrs. Grey
was considered much poorer than any of her neighbors, but her humble
cottage was always neat and in perfect order, and the small garden patch