, to
which my brother early turned a light-hearted attention; for I knew
that undue exercise tends to curve the legs.

My tail was my special care. Regardless of comfort, I twisted myself
into the shape of a capital O, and, holding the end of my tail gently,
but firmly, in my teeth, I stretched myself and it.

So much pains devoted to such a noble object could not be thrown away. I
became the handsomest setter in the three counties.

My brother, in the meantime, grew expert in the coarse sporting
exercises to which he devoted his energies. He had no pride. He tramped
the mud of the fields; he tore his ears in bramble bushes; and I have
seen him so far lose all sense of our family's dignity as to grovel at
the feet of his master, and raise one of his paws, to indicate that
birds were near--common birds; I believe they are called partridges.

"You might as well," I said to him bitterly--"you might as well have
been born a pointer."

"Why not?" he said. "I know a pointer," he went on, laughing in his
merry, careless way--"I know a pointer who lives at the Pines Farm. A
capital fellow he is."

"My dear boy," I said, "just come and squeeze my head in the door a
little, will you? and let me tell you that for one of our family to
associate with a pointer is social ruin--common, coarse, smooth-coated
persons, related, I should suppose, to the vulgar plum-pudding dog."

My brother only laughed; but he was a good-natured fellow, and pinched
my head in the door until my forehead could stand the strain no longer.

I was sent to the Crystal Palace Dog Show; and, as I looked round on the
hundreds of dogs of all families and nationalities, I breathed a sigh
of contentment, and blessed the fate that had made me, in this England
of ours, a well-born English setter. My brother was not at the Show, of
course; but I think even he would have admired me if he could have seen
how far superior I was to all about me. Of course, I took the first
prize. My mission was fulfilled: my family pride was satisfied. The
judges unanimously pronounced me to be the most perfect and beautiful
sporting dog in the whole Show. My master, wild with delight, patted my
silky forehead, and then turned aside to talk with a stout gentleman in
gaiters.

I thought of what my life would be--one long, joyous round of shows,
applause, pats on the head from a grateful master, delicious food and
first prizes.

But my master's base nature--his ancestors came ove