Паутина Шарлотты

           HecontinuedtovisitWilburthreetimesaday,exactlyatmealtime,andWilburkeptthepromisehehadmade.Wilburlettherateatfirst.

           Then,whenTempletoncouldn’tholdanothermouthful,Wilburwouldeat.Asaresultofovereating,Templetongrewbiggerandfatterthananyratyoueversaw.Hewasgigantic.Hewasasbigasayoungwoodchuck.

           Theoldsheepspoketohimabouthissizeoneday."Youwouldlivelonger,"saidtheoldsheep,"ifyouateless."

           "Whowantstoliveforever?sneeredtherat."IamnaturallyaheavyeaterandIgetuntoldsatisfactionfromthepleasuresofthefeast."Hepattedhisstomach,grinnedatthesheep,andcreptupstairstoliedown.

           AllwinterWilburwatchedoverCharlotte’seggsacasthoughhewereguardinghisownchildren.Hehadscoopedoutaspecialplaceinthemanureforthesac,nexttotheboardfence.Onverycoldnightshelaysothathisbreathwouldwarmit.ForWilbur,nothinginlifewassoimportantasthissmallroundobject-nothingelsemattered.Patientlyheawaitedtheendofwinterandthecomingofthelittlespiders.Lifeisalwaysarichandsteadytimewhenyouarewaitingforsomethingtohappenortohatch.Thewinterendedatlast.

           "Iheardthefrogstoday,"saidtheoldsheeponeevening.

           "Listen!Youcanhearthemnow."

           Wilburstoodstillandcockedhiscars.Fromthepond,inshrillchorus,camethevoicesofhundredsoflittlefrogs.

           "Springtime,"saidtheoldsheep,thoughtfully."Anotherspring."Asshewalkedaway,Wilbursawanewlambfollowingher.

           Itwasonlyafewhoursold.

           Thesnowsmeltedandranaway.