夏洛的网英文版.docx

夏洛的网英文版.docx

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夏洛的网英文版

Charlotte'sWeb

ByE.B.White

I.BeforeBreakfast

  "Where'sPapagoingwiththeax?

"saidFerntohermotherastheyweresettingthetableforbreakfast.

  "Outtothehothouse,"repliedMrs.Arable."Somepigswerebornlastnight."

  "Idon'tseewhyheneedsanax,"continuedFern,whowasonlyeight.

  "Well,"saidhermother,“oneofthepigsisarunt.It'sverysmallandweak,anditwillneveramounttoanything.Soyourfatherhasdecidedtodoawaywithit."

  "Doawaywithit?

"shriekedFern."Youmeankillit?

Justbecauseit'ssmallerthantheothers?

"

  Mrs.Arableputapitcherofcreamonthetable."Don'tyell,Fern!

"shesaid."Yourfatherisright.Thepigwouldprobablydieanyway."

  Fernpushedachairoutofthewayandranoutdoors.Thegrasswaswetandtheearthsmelledofspringtime.Fern'ssneakersweresoppingbythetimeshecaughtupwithherfather.

  "Pleasedon'tkillit!

"shesobbed."It'sunfair."

  Mr.Arablestoppedwalking.

  "Fern,"hesaidgently,"youwillhavetolearntocontrolyourself."

  "Controlmyself?

"yelledFern."Thisisamatteroflifeanddeath,andyoutalkaboutcontrollingmyself."Tearsrandownhercheeksandshetookholdoftheaxandtriedtopullitoutofherfather'shand.

  "Fern,"saidMr.Arable,"Iknowmoreaboutraisingalitterofpigsthanyoudo.Aweaklingmakestrouble.Nowrunalong!

"

  "Butit'sunfair,"criedFern."Thepigcouldn'thelpbeingbornsmall,couldit?

IfIhadbeenverysmallatbirth,wouldyouhavekilledme?

"

  Mr.Arablesmiled."Certainlynot,"hesaid,lookingdownathisdaughterwithlove."Butthisisdifferent.Alittlegirlisonething,alittleruntypigisanother."

  "Iseenodifference,"repliedFern,stillhangingontotheax."ThisisthemostterriblecaseofinjusticeIeverheardof."

  AqueerlookcameoverJohnArable'sface.Heseemedalmostreadytocryhimself.

  "Allright,"hesaid.”YougobacktothehouseandIwillbringtheruntwhenIcomein.I'llletyoustartitonabottle,likeababy.Thenyou'llseewhattroubleapigcanbe."

  WhenMr.Arablereturnedtothehousehalfanhourlater,hecarriedacartonunderhisarm.Fernwasupstairschanginghersneakers.Thekitchentablewassetforbreakfast,andtheroomsmelledofcoffee,bacon,dampplaster,andwoodsmokefromthestove.

  "Putitonherchair!

"saidMrs.Arable.Mr.ArablesetthecartondownatFern'splace.Thenhewalkedtothesinkandwashedhishandsanddriedthemontherollertowel.

  Ferncameslowlydownthestairs.Hereyeswereredfromcrying.Assheapproachedherchair,thecartonwobbled,andtherewasascratchingnoise.Fernlookedatherfather.Thensheliftedthelidofthecarton.There,inside,lookingupather,wasthenewbornpig.Itwasawhiteone.Themorninglightshonethroughitsears,turningthempink.

  "He'syours,"saidMr.Arable."Savedfromanuntimelydeath.AndmaythegoodLordforgivemeforthisfoolishness."

  Ferncouldn'ttakehereyesoffthetinypig."Oh,"shewhispered."Oh,lookathim!

He'sabsolutelyperfect."

  Sheclosedthecartoncarefully.Firstshekissedherfather,thenshekissedhermother.Thensheopenedthelidagain,liftedthepigout,andhelditagainsthercheek.AtthismomentherbrotherAverycameintotheroom.Averywasten.Hewasheavilyarmed--anairrifleinonehand,awoodendaggerintheother.

  "What'sthat?

"hedemanded."What'sFerngot?

"

  "She'sgotaguestforbreakfast,"saidMrs.Arable."Washyourhandsandface,Avery!

"

  "Let'sseeit!

"saidAvery,settinghisgundown."Youcallthatmiserablethingapig?

That'safinespecimenofapig--it'snobiggerthanawhiterat."

  "Washupandeatyourbreakfast,Avery!

"saidhismother."Theschoolbuswillbealonginhalfanhour."

  "CanIhaveapig,too,Pop?

"askedAvery.

  "No,Ionlydistributepigstoearlyrisers,"saidMr.Arable."Fernwasupatdaylight,tryingtoridworldofinjustice.Asaresult,shenowhasapig.Asmallone,tobesure,butneverthelessapig.Itjustshowswhatcanhappenifapersongetsoutofbedpromptly.Let'seat!

"

  ButFerncouldn'teatuntilherpighadhadadrinkofmilk.Mrs.Arablefoundababy'snursingbottleandarubbernipple.Shepouredwarmmilkintothebottle,fittedthenippleoverthetop,andhandedittoFern."Givehimhisbreakfast!

"shesaid.

  Aminutelater,Fernwasseatedonthefloorinthecornerofthekitchenwithherinfantbetweenherknees,teachingittosuckfromthebottle.Thepig,althoughtiny,hadagoodappetiteandcaughtonquickly.

  Theschoolbushonkedfromtheroad.

  "Run!

"commandedMrs.Arable,takingthepigfromFernandslippingadoughnutintoherhand.Averygrabbedhisgunandanotherdoughnut.

  Thechildrenranouttotheroadandclimbedintothebus.Ferntooknonoticeoftheothersinthebus.Shejustsatandstaredoutofthewindow,thinkingwhatablissfulworlditwasandhowluckyshewastohaveentirechargeofapig.Bythetimethebusreachedschool,Fernhadnamedherpet,selectingthemostbeautifulnameshecouldthinkof.

  "ItsnameisWilbur,"shewhisperedtoherself.

  Shewasstillthinkingaboutthepigwhentheteachersaid:

"Fern,whatisthecapitalofPennsylvania?

"

  "Wilbur,"repliedFern,dreamily.Thepupilsgiggled.Fernblushed.

II.Wilbur

  FernlovedWilburmorethananything.Shelovedtostrokehim,tofeedhim,toputhimtobed.Everymorning,assoonasshegotup,shewarmedhismilk,tiedhisbibon,andheldthebottleforhim.Everyafternoon,whentheschoolbusstoppedinfrontofherhouse,shejumpedoutandrantothekitchentofixanotherbottleforhim.Shefedhimagainatsuppertime,andagainjustbeforegoingtobed.Mrs.Arablegavehimafeedingaroundnoontimeeachday,whenFernwasawayinschool.Wilburlovedhismilk,andhewasneverhappierthanwhenFernwaswarmingupabottleforhim.Hewouldstandandgazeupatherwithadoringeyes.

  Forthefirstfewdaysofhislife,Wilburwasallowedtoliveinaboxnearthestoveinthekitchen.ThenwhenMrs.Arablecomplained,hewasmovedtoabiggerboxinthewoodshed.Attwoweeksofage,hewasmovedoutdoors.Itwasapple-blossomtime,andthedaysweregettingwarmer.Mr.ArablefixedasmallyardspeciallyforWilburunderanappletree,andgavehimalargewoodenboxfullofstraw,withadoorwaycutinitsohecouldwalkinandoutashepleased.

  "Won'thebecoldatnight?

"askedFern.

  "No,"saidherfather."Yourwatchandseewhathedoes."

  Carryingabottleofmilk,Fernsatdownundertheappletreeinsidetheyard.Wilburrantoherandsheheldthebottleforhimwhilehesucked.Whenhehadfinishedthelastdrop,hegruntedandwalkedsleepilyintothebox.Fernpeeredthroughthedoor.Wilburwaspokingthestrawwithhissnout.Inashorttimehehaddugatunnelinthestraw.Hecrawledintothetunnelanddisappearedfromsight,completelycoveredwithstraw.Fernwasenchanted.Itrelievedhermindtoknowthatherbabywouldsleepcoveredup,andwouldstaywarm.

  Everymorningafterbreakfast,WilburwalkedouttotheroadwithFernandwaitedwithhertillthebuscame.Shewouldwavegood-byetohim,andhewouldstandandwatchthebusuntilitvanishedaroundaturn.WhileFernwasinschool,Wilburwasshutupinsidehisyard.Butassoonasshegothomeintheafternoon,shewouldtakehimoutandhewouldfollowheraroundtheplace.Ifshewentintothehouse,Wilburwent,too.Ifshewentupstairs,Wilburwouldwaitatthebottomstepuntilshecamedownagain.Ifshetookherdollforawalkinthedollcarriage,Wilburfollowedalong.Sometimes,onthesejourneys,Wilburwouldgettired,andFernwouldpickhimupandputhiminthecarriagealongsidethedoll.Helikedthis.Andifhewasverytired,hewouldclosehiseyesandgotosleepunderthedoll'sblanket.Helookedcutewhenhiseyeswereclosed,becausehislashesweresolong.Thedollwouldclosehereyes,too,andFernwouldwheelthecarriageveryslowlyandsmoothlysoasnottowakeherinfants.

  Onewarmafternoon,FernandAveryputonbathingsuitsandwentdowntothebrookforaswim.WilburtaggedalongatFern'sheels.Whenshewadedintothebrook,Wilburwadedinwithher.Hefoundthewaterquitecold--toocoldforhisliking.Sowhilethechildrenswamandplayedandsplashedwaterateachother,Wilburamusedhimselfinthemudalongtheedgeofthebrook,whereitwaswarmandmoistanddelightfullystickyandoozy.

  Everydaywasahappyday,andeverynightwaspeaceful.

  Wilburwaswhatfarmerscallaspringpig,whichsimplymeansthathewasborninspringtime.Whenhewasfiveweeksold,Mr.Arablesaidhewasnowbigenoughtosell,andwouldhavetobesold.Fernbrokedownandwept.Butherfatherwasfirmaboutit.Wilbur'sappetitehadincreased;hewasbeginningtoeatscrapsoffoodinadditiontomilk.Mr.Arablewasnotwillingtoprovideforhimanylonger.HehadalreadysoldWilbur'stenbrothersandsisters.

  "He'sgottogo,Fern,"hesaid."Youhavehadyourfunraisingababypig,butWilburisnotababyanylongerandhehasgottobesold."

  "CalluptheZuckerman’s,"suggestedMrs.ArabletoFern."YourUncleHomersometimesraisesapig.AndifWilburgoestheretolive,youcanwalkdowntheroadandvisithimasoftenasyoulike."

  "HowmuchmoneyshouldIaskforhim?

"Fernwantedtoknow.

  "Well,"saidherfather,"he'sarunt.TellyourUncleHomeryou'vegotapigyou'llsellforsixdollars,andseewhathesays."

  Itwassoonarranged.FernphonedandgotherAuntEdith,andherAuntEdithholleredforUncleHomer,andUncleHomercameinfromthebarnandtalkedtoFern.Whenheheardthatthepricewasonlysix