Паутина Шарлотты

           "Therewasthefish,caughtonlybyonefin,anditstailwildlythrashingandshininginthesun.Therewastheweb,saggingdangerouslyundertheweightofthefish."

           "Howmuchdidthefishweigh?"askedWilbureagerly.

           "Idon’tknow,"saidCharlotte."Therewasmycousin,slippingin,dodgingout,beatenmercilesslyovertheheadbythewildlythrashingfish,dancingin,dancingout,throwingherthreadsandfightinghard.Firstshethrewaleftaroundthetail.Thefishlashedback.Thenalefttothetailandarighttothemidsection.Thefishlashedback.Thenshedodgedtoonesideandthrewaright,andanotherrighttothefin.Thenahardlefttothehead,whilethewebswayedandstretched."

           "Thenwhathappened?"askedWilbur.

           "Nothing,"saidCharlotte."Thefishlostthefight.Mycousinwrappeditupsotightitcouldn’tbudge."

           "Thenwhathappened?"askedWilbur.

           "Nothing,"saidCharlotte."Mycousinkeptthefishforawhile,andthen,whenshegotgoodandready,sheateit."

           "Tellmeanotherstory!"beggedWilbur.

           SoCharlottetoldhimaboutanothercousinofherswhowasanaeronaut.

           "Whatisanaeronaut?"askedWilbur.

           "Aballoonist,"saidCharlotte."Mycousinusedtostandonherheadandletoutenoughthreadtoformaballoon.Thenshe’dletgoandbeliftedintotheairandcarriedupwardonthewarmwind."

           "Isthattrue?"askedWilbur."Orareyoujustmakingitup?"

           "It’strue,"repliedCharlotte."Ihavesomeveryremarkablecousins.Andnow,Wilbur,it’stimeyouwenttosleep."

           "Singsomething!"beggedWilbur,closinghiseyes