Паутина Шарлотты

           "Yes,itis,"agreedCharlotte."ButIcan’thelpit.Idon’tknowhowthefirstspiderintheearlydaysoftheworldhappenedtothinkupthisfancyideaofspinningaweb,butshedid,anditwascleverofher,too.Andsincethen,allofusspidershavehadtoworkthesametrick.It’snotabadpitch,onthewhole."

           "It’scruel,"repliedWilbur,whodidnotintendtobearguedoutofhisposition.

           "Well,youcan’ttalk"saidCharlotte."Youhaveyourmealsbroughttoyouinapail.Nobodyfeedsme.Ihavetogetinownliving.Ilivebymywits.Ihavetobesharpandclever,lestIgohungry.Ihavetothinkthingsout,catchwhatIcan,takewhatcomes.Anditjustsohappens,myfriend,thatwhatcomesisfliesandinsectsandbugs.Andfurthermore,"saidCharlotte,shakingoneofherlegs,"doyourealizethatifIdidn’tcatchbugsandeatthem,bugswouldincreaseandmultiplyandgetsonumerousthatthey’ddestroytheearth,wipeouteverything?"

           "Really?"saidWilbur."Iwouldn’twantthattohappen.Perhapsyourwebisagoodthingafterall."

           Thegoosehadbeenlisteningtothisconversationandchucklingtoherself."TherearealotofthingsWilburdoesn’tknowaboutlife,"shethought."He’sreallyaveryinnocentlittlepig.Hedoesn’tevenknowwhat’sgoingtohappentohimaroundChristmastime;hehasnoideathatMr.ZuckermanandLurvyareplottingtokillhim."Andthegooseraisedherselfabitandpokedhereggsalittlefurtherunderhersothattheywouldreceivethefullheatfromherwarmbodyandsoftfeathers