Chapter 3

           Thebarnwasverylarge.Itwasveryold.Itsmelledofhayanditsmelledofmanure.Itsmelledoftheperspirationoftiredhorsesandthewonderfulsweetbreathofpatientcows.Itoftenhadasortofpeacefulsmell-asthoughnothingbadcouldhappeneveragainintheworld.Itsmelledofgrainandofharnessdressingandofaxlegreaseandofrubberbootsandofnewrope.Andwheneverthecatwasgivenafish-headtoeat,thebarnwouldsmelloffish.Butmostlyitsmelledofhay,fortherewasalwayshayinthegreatloftupoverhead.Andtherewasalwayshaybeingpitcheddowntothecowsandthehorsesandthesheep.

           Thebarnwaspleasantlywarminwinterwhentheanimalsspentmostoftheirtimeindoors,anditwaspleasantlycoolinsummerwhenthebigdoorsstoodwideopentothebreeze.Thebarnhadstallsonthemainfloorfortheworkhorses,tie-upsonthemainfloorforthecows,asheepfolddownbelowforthesheep,apigpendownbelowforWilbur,anditwasfullofallsortsofthingsthatyoufindinbarns:ladders,grindstones,pitchforks,monkeywrenches,scythes,lawnmowers,snowshovels,axhandles,milkpails,waterbuckets,emptygrainsacks,andrustyrattraps.Itwasthekindofbarnthatswallowsliketobuildtheirnestsin.Itwasthekindofbarnthatchildrenliketoplayin.AndthewholethingwasownedbyFern’suncle,Mr.HomerL.Zuckerman.

           Wilbur’snewhomewasinthelowerpartofthebarn,directlyunderneaththecows.Mr.Zuckermanknewthatamanurepileisagoodplacetokeepayoungpig.