Chapter 1

           Where’sPapagoingwiththatax?"saidFerntohermotherastheyweresettingthetableforbreakfast.

           "Outtothehoghouse,"repliedMrs.Arable."Somepigswerebornlastnight."

           "Idon’tseewhyheneedsanax,"continuedFern,whowasonlyeight.

           "Well,"saidhermother,"oneofthepigsisarunt.It’sverysmallandweak,anditwillneveramounttoanything.Soyourfatherhasdecidedtodoawaywithit."

           "Doawaywithit?"shriekedFern."Youmeankillit?Justbecauseit’ssmallerthantheothers?"

           Mrs.Arableputapitcherofcreamonthetable."Don’tyell,Fern!"shesaid."Yourfatherisright.Thepigwouldprobablydieanyway."

           Fernpushedachairoutofthewayandranoutdoors.Thegrasswaswetandtheearthsmelledofspringtime.Fern’ssneakersweresoppingbythetimeshecaughtupwithherfather.

           "Pleasedon’tkillit!"shesobbed."It’sunfair."

           Mr.Arablestoppedwalking.

           "Fern,"hesaidgently,"youwillhavetolearntocontrolyourself."

           "Controlmyself?"yelledFern."Thisisamatteroflifeanddeath,andyoutalkaboutcontrollingmyself."Tearsrandownhercheeksandshetookholdoftheaxandtriedtopullitoutofherfather’shand.

           "Fern,"saidMr.Arable,"Iknowmoreaboutraisingalitterofpigsthanyoudo.Aweaklingmakestrouble.Nowrunalong!"

           "Butit’sunfair,"criedFern."Thepigcouldn’thelpbeingbornsmall,couldit?IfIhadbeenverysmallatbirth,wouldyouhavekilledme?"

           Mr.Arablesmiled."Certainlynot,"hesaid,lookingdownathisdaughterwithlove."Butthisisdifferent.Alittlegirlisonething,alittleruntypigisanother.