Паутина Шарлотты

           Don’tpayanyattentiontohim,Wilbur!"

           Wilburtriednottothinkaboutwhattherathadjustsaid.

           Hedecidedtochangethesubject.

           "Templeton,"saidWilbur,"ifyouweren’tsodopey,youwouldhavenoticedthatCharlottehasmadeaneggsac.Sheisgoingtobecomeamother.Foryourinformation,therearefivehundredandfourteeneggsinthatpeachylittlesac."

           "Isthistrue?"askedtherat,eyeingthesacsuspiciously.

           "Yes,it’strue,"sighedCharlotte.

           "Congratulations!"murmuredTempleton."Thishasbeenanight!"Heclosedhiseyes,pulledsomestrawoverhimself,anddroppedoffintoadeepsleep.WilburandCharlotteweregladtoberidofhimforawhile.

           Atnineo’clock,Mr.Arable’struckrolledintotheFairGroundsandcametoastopatWilbur’spen.Everybodyclimbedout.

           "Look!"criedFern."LookatCharlotte’sweb!Lookwhatitsays!"

           Thegrownupsandthechildrenjoinedhandsandstoodthere,studyingthenewsign.

           "’Humble,’"saidMr.Zuckerman."Nowisn’tthatjustthewordforWilbur!"

           Everyonerejoicedtofindthatthemiracleofthewebhadbeenrepeated.Wilburgazeduplovinglyintotheirfaces.Helookedveryhumbleandverygrateful.FernwinkedatCharlotte.Lurvysoongotbusy.Hepouredabucketofwarmslopsintothetrough,andwhileWilburatehisbreakfastLurvyscratchedhimgentlywithasmoothstick.

           "Waitaminute!"criedAvery."Lookatthis!"HepointedtothebluetagonUncle’spen."Thispighaswonfirstprizealready."

           TheZuckermansandtheArablesstaredatthetag.Mrs.Zuckermanbegantocry.Nobodysaidaword.Theyjuststaredatthetag.