Паутина Шарлотты

           Willthepartywhoaddressedmeatbedtimelastnightkindlyspeakup.Pleasetellmewhereyouare,ifyouaremyfriend!"

           Thesheeplookedateachotherindisgust.

           "Stopyournonsense,Wilbur!"saidtheoldestsheep."Ifyouhaveanewfriendhere,youareprobablydisturbinghisrest;andthequickestwaytospoilafriendshipistowakesomebodyupinthemorningbeforeheisready.Howcanyoubesureyourfriendisanearlyriser?"

           "Ibegeveryone’spardon,"whisperedWilbur."Ididn’tmeantobeobjectionable."

           Helaydownmeeklyinthemanure,facingthedoor.Hedidnotknowit,buthisfriendwasverynear.Andtheoldsheepwasright-thefriendwasstillasleep.

           SoonLurvyappearedwithslopsforbreakfast.Wilburrushedout,ateeverythinginahurry,andlickedthetrough.Thesheepmovedoffdownthelane,theganderwaddledalongbehindthem,pullinggrass.Andthen,justasWilburwassettlingdownforhismorningnap,heheardagainthethinvoicethathadaddressedhimthenightbefore.

           "Salutations!"saidthevoice.

           Wilburjumpedtohisfeet."Salu-what?"hecried.

           "Salutations!"repeatedthevoice.

           "Whatarethey,andwhereareyou?"screamedWilbur."Please,please,tellmewhereyouare.Andwhataresalutations?"

           "Salutationsaregreetings,"saidthevoice."WhenIsay’salutations,’it’sjustmyfancywayofsayinghelloorgoodmorning.Actually,it’sasillyexpression,andIamsurprisedthatIuseditatall.Asformywhereabouts,that’seasy.Lookuphereinthecornerofthedoorway!HereIam.