Паутина Шарлотты

           Wilburdidn’twantfood,hewantedlove.Hewantedafriend-someonewhowouldplaywithhim.Hementionedthistothegoose,whowassittingquietlyinacornerofthesheepfold.

           "Willyoucomeoverandplaywithme?"heasked.

           "Sorry,sonny,sorry,"saidthegoose."I’msitting-sittingonmyeggs.Eightofthem.Gottokeepthemtoasty-oasty-oastywarm.Ihavetostayrighthere,I’mnoflibberty-ibberty-gibbet.Idonotplaywhenthereareeggstohatch.I’mexpectinggoslings."

           "Well,Ididn’tthinkyouwereexpectingwoodpeckers,"saidWilbur,bitterly.

           Wilburnexttriedoneofthelambs.

           "Willyoupleaseplaywithme?"heasked.

           "Certainlynot,"saidthelamb."Inthefirstplace,Icannotgetintoyourpen,asIamnotoldenoughtojumpoverthefence.Inthesecondplace,Iamnotinterestedinpigs.Pigsmeanlessthannothingtome."

           "Whatdoyoumean,lessthannothing?"repliedWilbur."Idon’tthinkthereisanysuchthingaslessthannothing.Nothingisabsolutelythelimitofnothingness.It’sthelowestyoucango.It’stheendoftheline.Howcansomethingbelessthannothing?Ifthereweresomethingthatwaslessthannothing,thennothingwouldnotbenothing,itwouldbesomething-eventhoughit’sjustaverylittlebitofsomething.Butifnothingisnothing,thennothinghasnothingthatislessthanitis."

           "Oh,bequiet!"saidthelamb."Goplaybyyourself!Idon’tplaywithpigs."

           Sadly,Wilburlaydownandlistenedtotherain.Soonhesawtheratclimbingdownaslantingboardthatheusedasastairway.

           "Willyouplaywithme,Templeton?"askedWilbur.