Chapter 15

           Thecricketssanginthegrasses.Theysangthesongofsummer’sending,asad,monotonoussong."Summerisoverandgone,"theysang."Overandgone,overandgone.Summerisdying,dying."

           Thecricketsfeltitwastheirdutytowarneverybodythatsummertimecannotlastforever.Evenonthemostbeautifuldaysinthewholeyear-thedayswhensummerischangingintofallthecricketsspreadtherumorofsadnessandchange.

           Everybodyheardthesongofthecrickets.AveryandFernArablehearditasthewalkedthedustyroad.Theyknewthatschoolwouldsoonbeginagain.Theyounggeesehearditandknewthattheywouldneverbelittlegoslingsagain.Charlottehearditandknewthatshehadn’tmuchtimeleft.Mrs.Zuckerman,atworkinthekitchen,heardthecrickets,andasadnesscameoverher,too."Anothersummergone,"shesighed.Lurvy,atworkbuildingacrateforWilbur,heardthesongandknewitwastimetodigpotatoes.

           "Summerisoverandgone,"repeatedthecrickets."Howmanynightstillfrost?"sangthecrickets."Good-bye,summer,good-bye,good-bye!"

           Thesheepheardthecrickets,andtheyfeltsouneasytheybrokeaholeinthepasturefenceandwanderedupintothefieldacrosstheroad.Theganderdiscoveredtheholeandledhisfamilythrough,andtheywalkedtotheorchardandatetheapplesthatwerelyingontheground.Alittlemapletreeintheswampheardthecricketsongandturnedbrightredwithanxiety.

           Wilburwasnowthecenterofattractiononthefarm.Goodfoodandregularhourswereshowingresults:Wilburwasapiganymanwouldbeproudof.