lend my knife, nor give it, either," returned William. "Get your
own."

"You are the most disobliging fellow I ever saw," retorted Edgar, angrily,
rising up and going into the house to get his own knife. "Don't ever ask me
for a favor, for I'll never grant it."

This very unbrotherly conversation took place just beneath the window near
which Mr Harris, the father of the lads, was seated. He overheard it all,
and was grieved, as may be supposed, that his sons should treat each other
so unkindly. But he said nothing to them then, nor did he let them know
that he heard the language that had passed between them.

In a little while Edgar returned, and as he sat down in the place where he
had been seated before, he said,

"No thanks to you for your old knife! Keep it to yourself, in welcome. I
wouldn't use it now, if you were to give it to me."

"I'm glad you are so independent," retorted William. "I hope you will
always be so."

And the boys fretted each other for some time.

[Illustration: THE TWO BROTHERS AT PLAY.]

On the next day, Edgar was building a house with sticks, and William was
rolling a hoop. By accident the hoop was turned from its right course, and
broke down a part of Edgar's house. William was just going to say how sorry
he was for the accident, and to offer to repair the damage that was done,
when his brother, with his face red with passion, cried out--

"Just see what you have done! If you don't clear out with your hoop, I'll
call father. You did it on purpose."

"Do go and call him! I'll go with you," said William, in a sneering,
tantalizing tone. "Come, come along now."

For a little while the boys stood and growled at each other like two
ill-natured dogs, and then Edgar commenced repairing his house, and William
went to rolling his hoop again. The latter was strongly tempted to repeat,
in earnest, what he had done at first by accident, by way of retaliation
upon his brother for his spiteful manner toward him; but, being naturally
of a good disposition, and forgiving in his temper, he soon forgot his bad
feelings, and enjoyed his play as much as he had done before.

This little circumstance Mr Harris had also observed.

A day or two afterward, Edgar came to his father with a complaint against
his brother.

"I never saw such a boy," he said. "He won't do the least thing to oblige
me. If I ask him to lend me his knife, or ball, or any thing he has, he
snaps me up short with a refusal."