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."