Паутина Шарлотты

           "

           ButTempletonworkedawayatthejob,andmanagedtocutthesacadriftandcarryittotheground,wherehedroppeditinfrontofWilbur.Wilburheavedagreatsighofrelief.

           "Thankyou,Templeton,"hesaid."IwillneverforgetthisaslongasIlive."

           "NeitherwillI,"saidtherat,pickinghisteeth."IfeelasthoughI’deatenaspoolofthread.Well,homewego!"

           Templetoncreptintothecrateandburiedhimselfinthestraw.Hegotoutofsightjustintime.LurvyandJohnArableandMr.Zuckermancamealongatthatmoment,followedbyMrs.ArableandMrs.ZuckermanandAveryandFern.Wilburhadalreadydecidedhowhewouldcarrytheeggsac-therewasonlyonewaypossible.Hecarefullytookthelittlebundleinhismouthandhelditthereontopofhistongue.HerememberedwhatCharlottehadtoldhim-thatthesacwaswaterproofandstrong.Itfeltfunnyonhistongueandmadehimdroolabit.Andofcoursehecouldn’tsayanything.Butashewasbeingshovedintothecrate,helookedupatCharlotteandgaveherawink.Sheknewhewassayinggood-byeintheonlywayhecould.Andsheknewherchildrenweresafe.

           "Good-bye!"shewhispered.Thenshesummonedallherstrengthandwavedoneofherfrontlegsathim.

           Shenevermovedagain.Nextday,astheFerriswheelwasbeingtakenapartandtheracehorseswerebeingloadedintovansandtheentertainerswerepackinguptheirbelongingsanddrivingawayintheirtrailers,Charlottedied.TheFairGroundsweresoondeserted.Theshedsandbuildingswereemptyandforlorn.

           Theinfieldwaslitteredwithbottlesandtrash