欢乐家庭theHAPPYFAMILYReally，thelargestGREenleafinthiscountryisadockleaf；ifoneholdsitbeforeone，itislikeawholeapron，andifoneholdsitoveronesheadinrainyweather，itisalmostasgoodasanumbrella，foritissoimmenselylarge.Theburdocknevergrowsalone，butwheretheregrowsonetherealwaysgrowseveral：itisagreatdelight，andallthisdelightfulnessissnailsfood.Thegreatwhitesnailswhichpersonsofqualityinformertimesmadefricasseesof，ate，andsaid， Hem，hem！howdelicious！fortheythoughtittastedsodelicatelivedondockleaves，andthereforeburdockseedsweresown.Now，therewasanoldmanor-house，wheretheynolongeratesnails，theywerequiteextinct；buttheburdockswerenotextinct，theyGREwandgrewalloverthewalksandallthebeds；theycouldnotgetthemasteryoverthemitwasawholeforestofburdocks.Hereandtherestoodanappleandaplum-tree，orelseoneneverwouldhavethoughtthatitwasagarden；allwasburdocks，andtherelivedthetwolastvenerableoldsnails.theythemselvesknewnothowoldtheywere，buttheycouldrememberverywellthattherehadbeenmanymore；thattheywereofafamilyfromforeignlands，andthatforthemandtheirsthewholeforestwasplanted.Theyhadneverbeenoutsideit，buttheyknewthattherewasstillsomethingmoreintheworld，whichwascalledthemanor-house，andthattheretheywereboiled，andthentheybecameblack，andwerethenplacedonasilverdish；butwhathappenedfurthertheyknewnot；or，infact，whatitwastobeboiled，andtolieonasilverdish，theycouldnotpossiblyimagine；butitwassaidtobedelightful，andparticularlygenteel.Neitherthechafers，thetoads，northeearth-worms，whomtheyaskedaboutitcouldgivethemanyinformationnoneofthemhadbeenboiledorlaidonasilverdish.theoldwhitesnailswerethefirstpersonsofdistinctionintheworld，thattheyknew；theforestwasplantedfortheirsake，andthemanor-housewastherethattheymightbeboiledandlaidonasilverdish.Nowtheylivedaverylonelyandhappylife；andastheyhadnochildrenthemselves，theyhadadoptedalittlecommonsnail，whichtheybroughtupastheirown；butthelittleonewouldnotgrow，forhewasofacommonfamily；buttheoldones，especiallyDameMotherSnail，thoughttheycouldobservehowheincreasedinsize，andshebeggedfather，ifhecouldnotseeit，thathewouldatleastfeelthelittlesnailsshell；andthenhefeltit，andfoundthegooddamewasright.Onedaytherewasaheavystormofrain.Hearhowitbeatslikeadrumonthedock-leaves！saidFatherSnail.therearealsorain-drops！saidMotherSnail. Andnowtherainpoursrightdownthestalk！Youwillseethatitwillbewethere！Iamveryhappytothinkthatwehaveourgoodhouse，andthelittleonehashisalso！Thereismoredoneforusthanforallothercreatures，sureenough；butcanyounotseethatwearefolksofqualityintheworld？Weareprovidedwithahousefromourbirth，andtheburdockforestisplantedforoursakes！Ishouldliketoknowhowfaritextends，andwhatthereisoutside！thereisnothingatall，saidFatherSnail. Noplacecanbebetterthanours，andIhavenothingtowishfor！Yes，saidthedame. Iwouldwillinglygotothemanorhouse，beboiled，andlaidonasilverdish；allourforefathershavebeentreatedso；thereissomethingextraordinaryinit，youmaybesure！themanor-househasmostlikelyfallentoruin！saidFatherSnail. Ortheburdockshavegrownupoverit，sothattheycannotcomeout.Thereneednot，however，beanyhasteaboutthat；butyouarealwaysinsuchatremendoushurry，andthelittleoneisbeginningtobethesame.Hashenotbeencreepingupthatstalkthesethreedays？ItgivesmeaheadachewhenIlookuptohim！Youmustnotscoldhim，saidMotherSnail. Hecreepssocarefully；hewillaffordusmuchpleasureandwehavenothingbuthimtolivefor！Buthaveyounotthoughtofit？Whereshallwegetawifeforhim？DoyounotthinkthattherearesomeofourspeciesataGREatdistanceintheinterioroftheburdockforest？Blacksnails，Idaresay，thereareenoughof，saidtheoldone. Blacksnailswithoutahousebuttheyaresocommon，andsoconceited.Butwemightgivetheantsacommissiontolookoutforus；theyruntoandfroasiftheyhadsomethingtodo，andtheycertainlyknowofawifeforourlittlesnail！Iknowone，sureenoughthemostcharmingone！saidoneoftheants. ButIamafraidweshallhardlysucceed，forsheisaqueen！Thatisnothing！saidtheoldfolks. Hassheahouse？Shehasapalace！saidtheant. Thefinestantspalace，withsevenhundredpassages！Ithankyou！saidMotherSnail. Oursonshallnotgointoanant-hill；ifyouknownothingbetterthanthat，weshallgivethecommissiontothewhitegnats.Theyflyfarandwide，inrainandsunshine；t