Паутина Шарлотты

           Oneachweb,workingbusilywasoneofCharlotte’sdaughters.

           "CanItakethistomean,"askedWilbur,"thatyouhavedefinitelydecidedtolivehereinthebarncellar,andthatIamgoingtohavethreefriends?"

           "Youcanindeed,"saidthespiders.

           "Whatareyournames,please?"askedWilbur,tremblingwithjoy.

           "I’lltellyoumyname,"repliedthefirstlittlespider,"ifyou’lltellmewhyyouaretrembling."

           "I’mtremblingwithjoy,"saidWilbur.

           "ThenmynameisJoy,"saidthefirstspider.

           "Whatwasmymother’smiddleinitial?"askedthesecondspider.

           "A,"saidWilbur.

           "ThenmynameisAranea,"saidthespider.

           "Howaboutme?"askedthethirdspider."Willyoujustpickoutanicesensiblenameforme-somethingnottoolong,nottoofancy,andnottoodumb?"

           Wilburthoughthard.

           "Nellie?"hesuggested.

           "Fine,Ilikethatverymuch,"saidthethirdspider."YoumaycallmeNellie."Shedaintilyfastenedherorblinetothenextspokeoftheweb.

           Wilbur’s’heartbrimmedwithhappiness.Hefeltthatheshouldmakeashortspeechonthisveryimportantoccasion.

           "Joy!Aranea!Nellie!"hebegan."Welcometothebarncellar.Youhave,chosenahalloweddoorwayfromwhichtostringyourwebs.IthinkitisonlyfairtotellyouthatIwasdevotedtoyourmother.Iowemyverylifetoher.Shewasbrilliant,beautiful,andloyaltotheend.Ishallalwaystreasurehermemory.Toyou,herdaughters,Ipledgemyfriendship,foreverandever."

           "Ipledgemine,"saidJoy.

           "Ido,too,"saidAranea.

           "AndsodoI,saidNellie,whohadjustmanagedtocatchasmallgnat.

           ItwasahappydayforWilbur