Two Dogs

　　A SILKEN-EARED Spaniel, who traced his descent from King Charles

　　the Second of England, chanced to look into a mirror which was

　　leaning against the wainscoting of a room on the ground floor of

　　his mistress's house. Seeing his reflection, he supposed it to be

　　another dog, outside, and said:

　　"I can chew up any such milksoppy pup as that, and I will."

　　So he ran out-of-doors and around to the side of the house where he

　　fancied the enemy was. It so happened that at that moment a

　　Bulldog sat there sunning his teeth. The Spaniel stopped short in

　　dire1 consternation2, and, after regarding the Bulldog a moment from

　　a safe distance, said:

　　"I don't know whether you cultivate the arts of peace or your flag

　　is flung to the battle and the breeze and your voice is for war.

　　If you are a civilian3, the windows of this house flatter you worse

　　than a newspaper, but if you're a soldier, they do you a grave

　　injustice4."

　　This speech being unintelligible5 to the Bulldog he only civilly

　　smiled, which so terrified the Spaniel that he dropped dead in his

　　tracks.