Паутина Шарлотты

           Oneevening,justbeforeChristmas,snowbeganfalling.Itcoveredhouseandbarnandfieldsandwoods.Wilburhadneverseensnowbefore.Whenmorningcamehewentoutandplowedthedriftsinhisyard,forthefunofit.FernandAveryarrived,draggingasled.Theycoasteddownthelaneandoutontothefrozenpondinthepasture.

           "Coastingisthemostfunthereis,"saidAvery.

           "Themostfunthereis,"retortedFern,"iswhentheFerriswheelstopsandHenryandIareinthetopcarandHenrymakesthecarswingandwecanseeeverythingformilesandmilesandmiles."

           "Goodness,areyoustillthinkingaboutthatol’Ferriswheel?"saidAveryindisgust."TheFairwasweeksandweeksago."

           "Ithinkaboutitallthetime,"saidFern,pickingsnowfromherear.

           AfterChristmasthethermometerdroppedtotenbelowzero.

           Coldsettledontheworld.Thepasturewasbleakandfrozen.Thecowsstayedinthebarnallthetimenow,exceptonsunnymorningswhentheywentoutandstoodinthebarnyardintheleeofthestrawpile.Thesheepstayednearthebarn,too,forprotection.Whentheywerethirstytheyatesnow.Thegeesehungaroundthebarnyardthewayboyshangaroundadrugstore,andMr.Zuckermanfedthemcornandturnipstokeepthemcheerful.

           "Many,many,manythanks!"theyalwayssaid,whentheysawfoodcoming.

           Templetonmovedindoorswhenwintercame.Hisrattyhomeunderthepigtroughwastoochilly,sohefixedhimselfacozynestinthebarn

           behindthegrainbins.Helineditwithbitsofdirtynewspapersandragsandwheneverhefoundatrinketorakeepsakehecarriedithomeandstoreditthere.