Chapter 12

           Oneevening,afewdaysafterthewritinghadappearedinCharlotte’sweb,thespidercalledameetingofalltheanimalsinthebarncellar.

           "Ishallbeginbycallingtheroll.Wilbur?"

           "Here!"saidthepig.

           "Gander?"

           "Here,here,here!"saidthegander.

           "Yousoundlikethreeganders,"mutteredCharlotte."Whycan’tyoujustsay’here’?Whydoyouhavetorepeateverything?"

           "It’smyidio-idio-idiosyncrasy,"repliedthegander.

           "Goose?"saidCharlotte.

           "Here,here,here!"saidthegoose.Charlotteglaredather.

           "Goslings,onethroughseven?"

           "Bee-bee-bee!"

           "Bee-bee-bee!"

           "Bee-bee-bee!"

           "Bee-bee-bee!"

           "Bee-bee-bee!"

           "Bee-bee-bee!"

           "Bee-bee-bee!"saidthegoslings.

           "Thisisgettingtobequiteameeting,"saidCharlotte.

           "Anybodywouldthinkwehadthreeganders,threegeese,andtwenty-onegoslings.Sheep?"

           "He-aa-aa!"answeredthesheepalltogether.

           "Lambs?"

           "He-aa-aa!"answeredthelambsalltogether.

           "Templeton?"

           Noanswer.

           "Templeton?"

           Noanswer.

           "Well,weareallhereexcepttherat,"saidCharlotte."Iguesswecanproceedwithouthim.Now,allofyoumusthavenoticedwhat’sbeengoingonaroundherethelastfewdays.ThemessageIwroteinmyweb,praisingWilbur,hasbeenreceived.TheZuckermanshavefallenforit,andsohaseverybodyelse.

           ZuckermanthinksWilburisanunusualpig,andthereforehewon’twanttokillhimandeathim.IdaresaymytrickwillworkandWilbur’slifecanbesaved.

           "Hurray!"criedeverybody.

           "Thankyouverymuch,"saidCharlotte."NowIcalledthismeetinginordertogetsuggestions.Ineednewideasfortheweb.