5^4 SNAILS. 



paired two small amber temples to grace the corners, 

 I was desirous of having some odd pretty ornament 

 in front; and sea- shells running short before I had 

 finished, I recollected having seen some pretty little 

 snails on the chalk hills there ; and we all went one 

 evening to pick up some, and found variety of forms, 

 and colours, and sizes. We returned home weary 

 enough, and longed for tea, though it was some- 

 what late, and a large boiler was brought in, as we 

 were a round company. I was contriving how to 

 kill the snails in the easiest and most merciful man- 

 ner, when a wag said, ' Stick them on alive/ at 

 which I shuddered, and called him brute. At 

 length I got a large china basin and, putting a hand- 

 ful or two of snails into it, I filled it up with boiling 

 water; and though my heart recoiled at the deed, 

 vet my eagerness to finish my work next morning 

 conquered my compassion. To make sure of giv- 

 ing my snails the coup de-grace, I poured off the first 

 water, and then filled the bowl again with more out 

 of the hot-boiling kettle. I carried the basin into a 

 summer-house in the garden, where I loved to go to 

 work early in a morning, before my friends were 

 stirring, and the next morning I arose sooner than 

 common, and went into the summer-house : but how 

 great was my surprise to find my poor snails crawling 

 about, some on the edge of the basin, some tumbling 

 over, some on the table, and one or two actually 

 eating the paste that was to stick them on! [ 

 was perfectly shocked, and burst into tears, and, 

 picking up every snail carefully, carried them into 

 a field beyond the garden, w r here I make no doubt. 



