there was a cry of "Which kittens?"

This was soon answered by Gretchen suddenly calling out, in a tone of
great astonishment--

"There they are, the darlings, fast asleep on my new frock!"

Hedwig then explained everything. The twins were delighted with their
present; but her mother had to tell Hedwig how naughty it was of her to
take anything without having first asked leave.

"But, mother dear, they were going to be killed, and I could not bear
that," said Hedwig.

"Then you should have asked for them, dearie," said mother; "but never
mind now, to-morrow I will walk over with you, and we will explain
everything, and give them back again."

Hearing this, the twins began to cry bitterly. They did not want their
present to be taken from them, and they were not quiet until their
mother promised to see what she could do.

Then the whole family set to work to tidy up the room. Everything was
quickly in order, and the presents were given away. Everybody got just
what they wanted; and Hedwig's mother was very pleased with her ribbon,
and promised to let father share it. Next day her mother went over to
the farm with Hedwig, who begged Aunt Ottilia's pardon, and received the
kittens as a token of her forgiveness.

So, after all the trouble, Hedwig's presents were a great success.

MAGGIE BROWNE.

THE LEGEND OF THE REEDS.

What are the river reeds whispering,
In music so sweet and low?
Ah, these are the words they murmur,
"My tale would you like to know?"

"O reeds by the shining water,
I'll listen all day, all day,
If you will tell me your story
Whilst the river rolls away."

Spake the reed--"I'm a maid named Syrinx,
And there once lived a god named Pan;
He liked me, but I didn't like him,
So away to the woods I ran.

"I ran very swiftly, but swifter
The rough god Pan did pursue,
Then I cried to the gods, on Olympus,
'There are none to help me but you!'

"I came to a shining river,
And thirsty I stooped to drink,
And the kindly gods changed me into
A reed on the river's brink.

"Then Pan grew quite melancholy,
And gathered the reeds, and made
A pipe; and he thought of me ever
When he on his pan-pipe played."

A FEW WORDS ABOUT TATTOOING.

[Illustration: TATTOOED NEW ZEALANDER.]

Some of the readers of these pages, I dare say, saw King Tawhiao, the
Maori chief, who visited England in the summer of 1884. If so, t