Паутина Шарлотты

           "Why,itwasoldTempleton!WhosavedCharlotte’slifebyscaringthatArableboyawaywitharottengooseegg?Blessmysoul,IbelieveitwasoldTempleton.Whobityourtailandgotyoubackonyourfeetthismorningafteryouhadfaintedinfrontofthecrowd?OldTempleton.HasiteveroccurredtoyouthatI’msickofrunningerrandsanddoingfavors?WhatdoyouthinkIam,anyway,arat-of-all-work?"

           Wilburwasdesperate.Thepeoplewerecoming.Andtheratwasfailinghim.SuddenlyherememberedTempleton’sfondnessforfood.

           "Templeton,"hesaid,"Iwillmakeyouasolemnpromise.GetCharlotte’seggsacforme,andfromnowonIwillletyoueatfirst,whenLurvyslopsme.IwillletyouhaveyourchoiceofeverythinginthetroughandIwon’ttouchathinguntilyou’rethrough."

           Theratsatup."Youmeanthat?"hesaid.

           "Ipromise.Icrossmyheart."

           "Allright,it’sadeal,"saidtherat.Hewalkedtothewallandstartedtoclimb.Hisstomachwasstillswollenfromlastnight’sgorge.Groaningandcomplaining,hepulledhimselfslowlytotheceiling.Hecreptalongtillhereachedtheeggsac.Charlottemovedasideforhim.Shewasdying,butshestillhadstrengthenoughtomovealittle.ThenTempletonbaredhislonguglyteethandbegansnippingthethreadsthatfastenedthesactotheceiling.Wilburwatchedfrombelow.

           "Useextremecare!"hesaid."Idon’twantasingleoneofthoseeggsharmed."

           "Thiththtuffthticksinmymouth,"complainedtherat."It’thworththancaramelcandy.