Паутина Шарлотты
Chapter 20
Thismiraclehasneverbeenfullyexplained,althoughlearnedmenhavevisitedtheZuckermanpigpentostudyandobservethephenomenon.
Inthelastanalysis,wesimplyknowthatwearedealingwithsupernaturalforceshere,andweshouldallfeelproudandgrateful.Inthewordsofthespider’sweb,ladiesandgentlemen,thisissomepig."
Wilburblushed.Hestoodperfectlystillandtriedtolookhisbest.
"Thismagnificentanimal,"continuedtheloudspeaker,"istrulyterrific.Lookathim,ladiesandgentlemen!Notethesmoothnessandwhitenessofthecoat,observethespotlessskin,thehealthypinkglowofearsandsnout."
"It’sthebuttermilk,"whisperedMrs.ArabletoMrs.Zuckerman.
"Notethegeneralradianceofthisanimal!Thenrememberthedaywhentheword’radiant’appearedclearlyontheweb.Whencecamethismysteriouswriting?Notfromthespider,wecanrestassuredofthat.Spidersareverycleveratweavingtheirwebs,butneedlesstosayspiderscannotwrite."
"Oh,theycan’t,can’tthey?"murmuredCharlottetoherself.
"Ladeezandgentlemen,"continuedtheloudspeaker,"Imustnottakeanymoreofyourvaluabletime.OnbehalfofthegovernorsoftheFair,Ihavethehonorofawardingaspecialprizeoftwenty-fivedollarstoMr.Zuckerman,togetherwithahandsomebronzemedalsuitablyengraved,intokenofourappreciationofthepartplayedbythispig-thisradiant,thisterrific,thishumblepig-inattractingsomanyvisitorstoourgreatCountyFair."
Wilburhadbeenfeelingdizzieranddizzierthroughthislong,complimentaryspeech.
