WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BLACK KITTEN.

W3HEN the black kitten set out for his walk he was as clean
and tidy as a kitten could be—his fur was shiny and smooth,
and he was purring softly to himself; but when the black
kitten came back to his mother, his tail was stretched straight
in the air, his fur was ruffled, and he was very frightened.
“What is the matter?” said his mother. ‘What has
happened?” cried all his brothers and sisters. “I was
walking quietly along,” said the kitten, “when I saw two
black giants coming towards me, and I jumped out to try
and catch their paws, which were very black and shiny.
One of the giants picked me up by my tail, and held me
up in the air. Of course, I miaowed, because I thought
my tail would come off, and I should be a disgraced kitten ~
for ever; but the black giants only laughed. I was trembling
and kicking, and I don’t know what the black giants would
have done to me next, if,a white giant had not saved me
from them. She caught me and cuddled me. Then all the
giants talked loudly. The white giant kept on saying
‘It was cruel,’ and the black ones that ‘It was only fun.’

I don’t like giants’ fun, mother,” said the black kitten: