Паутина Шарлотты
Chapter 2
Sowhilethechildrenswamandplayedandsplashedwaterateachother,Wilburamusedhimselfinthemudalongtheedgeofthebrook,whereitwaswarmandmoistanddelightfullystickyandoozy.
Everydaywasahappyday,andeverynightwaspeaceful.
Wilburwaswhatfarmerscallaspringpig,whichsimplymeansthathewasborninspringtime.Whenhewasfiveweeksold,Mr.Arablesaidhewasnowbigenoughtosell,andwouldhavetobesold.Fernbrokedownandwept.Butherfatherwasfirmaboutit.Wilbur’sappetitehadincreased;hewasbeginningtoeatscrapsoffoodinadditiontomilk.Mr.Arablewasnotwillingtoprovideforhimanylonger.HehadalreadysoldWilbur’stenbrothersandsisters.
"He’sgottogo,Fern,"hesaid."Youhavehadyourfunraisingababypig,butWilburisnotababyanylongerandhehasgottobesold."
"CalluptheZuckermans,"suggestedMrs.ArabletoFern."YourUncleHomersometimesraisesapig.AndifWilburgoestheretolive,youcanwalkdowntheroadandvisithimasoftenasyoulike."
"HowmuchmoneyshouldIaskforhim?"Fernwantedtoknow.
"Well,"saidherfather,"he’sarunt.TellyourUncleHomeryou’vegotapigyou’llsellforsixdollars,andseewhathesays."
Itwassoonarranged.FernphonedandgotherAuntEdith,andherAuntEdithholleredforUncleHomer,andUncleHomercameinfromthebarnandtalkedtoFern.Whenheheardthatthepricewasonlysixdollars,hesaidhewouldbuythepig.NextdayWilburwastakenfromhishomeundertheappletreeandwenttoliveinamanurepileinthecellarofZuckerman’sbarn.
