Charlotte's Web by E. B. White Read Free Book Online Page A

corner of his pen and threw himself down. He closed his eyes. In another minute he spoke.
    â€œCharlotte?” he said.
    â€œYes, Wilbur?”
    â€œMay I go out to my trough and see if I left any of my supper? I think I left just a tiny bit of mashed potato.”
    â€œVery well,” said Charlotte. “But I want you in bed again without delay.”
    Wilbur started to race out to his yard.
    â€œSlowly, slowly!” said Charlotte. “Never hurry and never worry!”
    Wilbur checked himself and crept slowly to his trough. He found a bit of potato, chewed it carefully, swallowed it, and walked back to bed. He closed his eyes and was silent for a while.
    â€œCharlotte?” he said, in a whisper.
    â€œYes?”
    â€œMay I get a drink of milk? I think there are a few drops of milk left in my trough.”
    â€œNo, the trough is dry, and I want you to go to sleep. No more talking! Close your eyes and go to sleep!”
    Wilbur shut his eyes. Fern got up from her stool and started for home, her mind full of everything she had seen and heard.
    â€œGood night, Charlotte!” said Wilbur.
    â€œGood night, Wilbur!”
    There was a pause.
    â€œGood night, Charlotte!”
    â€œGood night, Wilbur!”
    â€œGood night!”
    â€œGood night!”

X .      An Explosion
    D AY AFTER day the spider waited, head-down, for an idea to come to her. Hour by hour she sat motionless, deep in thought. Having promised Wilbur that she would save his life, she was determined to keep her promise. Charlotte was naturally patient. She knew from experiencethat if she waited long enough, a fly would come to her web; and she felt sure that if she thought long enough about Wilbur’s problem, an idea would come to her mind.

    Finally, one morning toward the middle of July, the idea came. “Why, how perfectly simple!” she said to herself. “The way to save Wilbur’s life is to play a trick on Zuckerman. If I can fool a bug,” thought Charlotte, “I can surely fool a man. People are not as smart as bugs.”
    Wilbur walked into his yard just at that moment.
    â€œWhat are you thinking about, Charlotte?” he asked.
    â€œI was just thinking,” said the spider, “that people are very gullible.”
    â€œWhat does ‘gullible’ mean?”
    â€œEasy to fool,” said Charlotte.
    â€œThat’s a mercy,” replied Wilbur, and he lay down in the shade of his fence and went fast asleep. The spider, however, stayed wide awake, gazing affectionately at him and making plans for his future. Summer was half gone. She knew she didn’t have much time.
    That morning, just as Wilbur fell asleep, Avery Arable wandered into the Zuckermans’ front yard, followed by Fern. Avery carried a live frog in his hand.Fern had a crown of daisies in her hair. The children ran for the kitchen.
    â€œJust in time for a piece of blueberry pie,” said Mrs. Zuckerman.
    â€œLook at my frog!” said Avery, placing the frog on the drainboard and holding out his hand for pie.
    â€œTake that thing out of here!” said Mrs. Zuckerman.
    â€œHe’s hot,” said Fern. “He’s almost dead, that frog.”
    â€œHe is not,” said Avery. “He lets me scratch him between the eyes.” The frog jumped and landed in Mrs. Zuckerman’s dishpan full of soapy water.
    â€œYou’re getting your pie on you,” said Fern. “Can I look for eggs in the henhouse, Aunt Edith?”
    â€œRun outdoors, both of you! And don’t bother the hens!”
    â€œIt’s getting all over everything,” shouted Fern. “His pie is all over his front.”
    â€œCome on, frog!” cried Avery. He scooped up his frog. The frog kicked, splashing soapy water onto the blueberry pie.
    â€œAnother crisis!” groaned Fern.
    â€œLet’s swing in the swing!” said Avery.
    The children ran to the barn.
    Mr. Zuckerman