Паутина Шарлотты

           ThentheystaredatUncle.Thentheystaredatthetagagain.Lurvytookoutanenormoushandkerchiefandblewhisnoseveryloud-soloud,infact,thatthenoisewasheardbystableboysoveratthehorsebarn.

           "CanIhavesomemoney?"askedFern."Iwanttogooutonthemidway."

           "Youstayrightwhereyouare!"saidhermother.TearscametoFern’seyes.

           "What’severybodycryingabout?"askedMr.Zuckerman."Let’sgetbusy!Edith,bringthebuttermilk!"

           Mrs.Zuckermanwipedhereyeswithherhandkerchief.Shewenttothetruckandcamebackwithagallonjarofbuttermilk.

           "Bathtime!"saidZuckerman,cheerfully.HeandMrs.ZuckermanandAveryclimbedintoWilbur’spen.AveryslowlypouredbuttermilkonWilbur’sheadandback,andasittrickleddownhissidesandcheeks,Mr.andMrs.Zuckermanrubbeditintohishairandskin.Passersbystoppedtowatch.Prettysoonquiteacrowdhadgathered.Wilburgrewbeautifullywhiteandsmooth.Themorningsunshonethroughhispinkears.

           "Heisn’tasbigasthatpignextdoor,"remarkedonebystander,"buthe’scleaner.That’swhatIlike."

           "SodoI,"saidanotherman.

           "He’shumble,too,"saidawoman,readingthesignontheweb.

           EverybodywhovisitedthepigpenhadagoodwordtosayaboutWilbur.Everyoneadmiredtheweb.AndofcoursenobodynoticedCharlotte.

           Suddenlyavoicewasheardontheloudspeaker.

           "Attention,please!"itsaid."WillMr.HomerZuckermanbringhisfamouspigtothejudges’boothinfrontofthegrandstand.Aspecialawardwillbemadethereintwentyminutes.Everyoneisinvitedtoattend.Crateyourpig,please,Mr.