Паутина Шарлотты

           IwovemywebsforyoubecauseIlikedyou.Afterall,what’salife,anyway?We’reborn,welivealittlewhile,wedie.Aspider’slifecan’thelpbeingsomethingofamess,withallthistrappingandeatingflies.Byhelpingyou,perhapsIwastryingtoliftupmylifeatrifle.Heavenknowsanyone’slifecanstandalittleofthat."

           "Well,"saidWilbur."I’mnogoodatmakingspeeches.Ihaven’tgotyourgiftforwords.Butyouhavesavedme,Charlotte,andIwouldgladlygivemylifeforyou-Ireallywould."

           "I’msureyouwould.AndIthankyouforyourgeneroussentiments."

           "Charlotte,"saidWilbur."We’reallgoinghometoday.TheFairisalmostover.Won’titbewonderfultobebackhomeinthebarncellaragainwiththesheepandthegeese?Aren’tyouanxioustogethome?"

           ForamomentCharlottesaidnothing.ThenshespokeinavoicesolowWilburcouldhardlyhearthewords.

           "Iwillnotbegoingbacktothebarn,"shesaid.

           Wilburleapttohisfeet."Notgoingback?"hecried."Charlotte,whatareyoutalkingabout?"

           "I’mdonefor,"shereplied."InadayortwoI’llbedead.

           Ihaven’tevenstrengthenoughtoclimbdownintothecrate.IdoubtifIhaveenoughsilkinmyspinneretstolowermetotheground."

           Hearingthis,Wilburthrewhimselfdowninanagonyofpainandsorrow.Greatsobsrackedhisbody.Heheavedandgruntedwithdesolation."Charlotte,"hemoaned."Charlotte!Mytruefriend!"

           "Comenow,let’snotmakeascene,"saidthespider."Bequiet,Wilbur.Stopthrashingabout!"

           "ButIcan’tstandit,"shoutedWilbur."Iwon’tleaveyouherealonetodie.