A MAN that owned a fine Dog, and by a careful selection of its mate had bred a number of animals but a little lower than the angels, fell in love with his washerwoman, married her, and reared a family of dolts.
'Alas!' he exclaimed, contemplating the melancholy result, 'had I but chosen a mate for myself with half the care that I did for my Dog I should now be a proud and happy father.'
'I'm not so sure of that,' said the Dog, overhearing the lament. 'There's a difference, certainly, between your whelps and mine, but I venture to flatter myself that it is not due altogether to the mothers. You and I are not entirely alike ourselves.'
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