ured to amuse
them. As he was by nature extremely pliant and engaging, they were all
peace and harmony whenever it fell to his lot to entertain them. They
would jump and play about the house, as boys do in school when they are
left to themselves.

The surly Pollux acted a very different part. He would sneak into a
corner, and bark all day at the strangers. If any one of them happened
to pass too near him, he would then be sure to snarl and grin, and would
often start up, and bite their ears or tails. If his master happened to
take any notice of either of the strange dogs on account of their
good-nature or handsomeness, Pollux would howl as loud as if thieves
were actually breaking into the house.

This odious disposition of Pollux did not escape the notice of Mr.
Howard, who gradually began to neglect him; while Castor, on the
contrary, was every day increasing in his master's favour.

As Mr. Howard was one day sitting at table, it suddenly entered his mind
to make a more particular trial of the temper of these two dogs than he
had hitherto done. Both happened to be attending at table, but Pollux
was nearest his master; for the good-natured Castor, in order to avoid
strife and contention, always let him choose his place.

Mr. Howard threw a nice piece of meat to Pollux, which he devoured with
much greediness. Castor showed no signs of uneasiness at this, but
patiently waited till his master should think it was his turn. Soon
afterwards, Mr. Howard threw Castor a bone, with hardly any meat on it:
but he took it without showing the least mark of discontent. The surly
Pollux, however, no sooner saw his brother engaged on a meatless bone,
though he had feasted on his own delicious morsel, than he fell upon
him, and took it from him. The good-natured Castor made no opposition,
but gave up the bone without a murmur.

My readers must not from hence imagine that Castor was a coward, or was
in the least afraid of the strength of his brother; for he had lately
given sufficient proof of his courage and resolution, in a battle he had
been drawn into by Pollux, whose intolerable moroseness had brought on
him the vengeance of a neighbouring dog. Pollux, after engaging his
antagonist only a few minutes, though he had provoked the dog to try his
strength, ran away like a coward; but Castor, in order to cover the
retreat of his brother, and without any one to take his part, fought him
like a hero, and at last forced him to run away