Паутина Шарлотты

           Brightandearly,LurvyputcleanstrawinWilbur’scrateandlifteditintothepigpen.Thecratewasgreen.Ingoldlettersitsaid:

           ZUCKERMAN’SFAMOUSPIG

           Charlottehadherweblookingfinefortheoccasion.Wilburatehisbreakfastslowly.Hetriedtolookradiantwithoutgettingfoodinhisears.

           Inthekitchen,Mrs.Zuckermansuddenlymadeanannouncement.

           "Homer,"shesaidtoherhusband,"Iamgoingtogivethatpigabuttermilkbath."

           "Awhat?"saidMr.Zuckerman.

           "Abuttermilkbath.MygrandmotherusedtobatheherpigwithbuttermilkwhenitgotdirtyIjustremembered."

           "Wilbur’snotdirty,"saidMr.Zuckermanproudly.

           "He’sfilthybehindtheears,"saidMrs.Zuckerman."EverytimeLurvyslopshim,thefoodrunsdownaroundtheears.Thenitdriesandformsacrust.Healsohasasmudgeononesidewherehelaysinthemanure."

           "Helaysincleanstraw,"correctedMr.Zuckerman.

           "Well,he’sdirty,andhe’sgoingtohaveabath."

           Mr.Zuckermansatdownweaklyandateadoughnut.Hiswifewenttothewoodshed.Whenshereturned,sheworerubberbootsandanoldraincoat,andshecarriedabucketofbuttermilkandasmallwoodenpaddle.

           "Edith,you’recrazy,"mumbledZuckerman.

           Butshepaidnoattentiontohim.Togethertheywalkedtothepigpen.Mrs.Zuckermanwastednotime.SheclimbedinwithWilburandwenttowork.Dippingherpaddleinthebuttermilk,sherubbedhimallover.Thegeesegatheredaroundtoseethefun,andsodidthesheepandlambs.EvenTempletonpokedhisheadoutcautiously,towatchWilburgetabuttermilkbath.