Паутина Шарлотты

           "Whatinthunder?"hesaid.Settingthepaildown,hepickedupthestickthatAveryhaddroppedandpriedthetroughup."Rats!"hesaid."Fhew!Imighta’knownaratwouldmakeanestunderthistrough.HowIhatearat!"

           AndLurvydraggedWilbur’stroughacrosstheyardandkickedsomedirtintotherat’snest,buryingthebrokeneggandallTempleton’sotherpossessions.Thenhepickedupthepail.Wilburstoodinthetrough,droolingwithhunger.Lurvypoured.Theslopsrancreamilydownaroundthepig’seyesandears.Wilburgrunted.Hegulpedandsucked,andsuckedandgulped,makingswishingandswooshingnoises,anxioustogeteverythingatonce.Itwasadeliciousmeal-skimmilk,wheatmiddlings,leftoverpancakes,halfadoughnut,therindofasummersquash,twopiecesofstaletoast,athirdofagingersnap,afishtail,oneorangepeel,severalnoodlesfromanoodlesoup,thescumoffacupofcocoa,anancientjellyroll,astripofpaperfromtheliningofthegarbagepail,andaspoonfulofraspberryjello.

           Wilburateheartily.HeplannedtoleavehalfanoodleandafewdropsofmilkforTempleton.ThenherememberedthattherathadbeenusefulinsavingCharlotte’slife,andthatCharlottewastryingtosavehislife.Soheleftawholenoodle,insteadofahalf.

           Nowthatthebrokeneggwasburied,theairclearedandthebarnsmelledgoodagain.Theafternoonpassed,andeveningcame.

           Shadowslengthened.Thecoolandkindlybreathofeveningenteredthroughdoorsandwindows.Astrideherweb,Charlottesatmoodilyeatingahorseflyandthinkingaboutthefuture