Charlotte’s Web（Ⅳ）

◎E.B.White

Track 9

夏洛在猪栏上连夜织出了一张精致的网，上面有可爱而又神秘的图案，这引起了农场主朱克曼先生和他妻子的讨论。

“Well,I don’t really know yet,” said Mr.Zuckerman.“But we have received a sign,Edith—a mysterious sign.A1)miraclehas happened on this farm.There is a large spider’s web in the doorway of the barn2)cellar,right over the pigpen,and when Lurvy went to feed the pig this morning,he noticed the web because it was foggy,and you know how a spider’s web looks very distinct in a fog.And right3)spangin the middle of the web there were the words ‘Some Pig’.The words were woven right into the web.They were actual part of the web,Edith.I know,because I have been down there and seen them.It says,‘Some Pig’,just as clear as clear can be.There can be no mistake about it.A miracle has happened and a sign has occurred here on earth,right on our farm,and we have no ordinary pig.”

“Well,” said Mrs.Zuckerman,“it seems to me you’re a little off.It seems to me we have no ordinary spider.”

“Oh,no,” said Zuckerman.“It’s the pig that’s unusual.It says so,right there in the middle of the web.”

“Maybe so,” said Mrs.Zuckerman.“Just the same,I intend to have a look at that spider.”

“It’s just a common grey spider,” said Zuckerman.

They got up,and together they walked down to Wilbur’s yard.

“You see,Edith? It’s just a common grey spider.”

Wilbur was pleased to receive so much attention.Lurvy was still standing there,and Mr.and Mrs.Zuckerman all three,stood for about an hour,reading the words on the web over and over,and watching Wilbur.

Charlotte was delighted with the way her trick was working.She sat without moving a muscle,and listened to the conversation of the people.When a small fly4)blunderedinto the web,just beyond the word “pig”,Charlotte dropped quickly down,rolled the fly up,and carried it out of the way.

After a while the fog lifted.The web dried off and the words didn’t show up so plainly.The Zuckermans and Lurvy walked back to the house.Just before they left the pigpen,Mr.Zuckerman took one last look at Wilbur.

“You know,” he said,in an important voice,“I’ve thought all along that that pig of ours was an extra good one.He’s a solid pig.That pig is as solid as they come.You notice how solid he is around the shoulders,Lurvy?”

“Sure.Sure I do,” said Lurvy.“I’ve always noticed that pig.He’s quite a pig.”

“He’s long,and he’s smooth,” said Zuckerman.

“That’s right,” agreed Lurvy.“He’s as smooth as they come.He’s some pig.”

When Mr.Zuckerman got back to the house,he took off his work clothes and put on his best suit.Then he got into his car and drove to the minister’s house.He stayed for an hour and explained to the minister that a miracle had happened on the farm.

1) miraclen.奇迹

2) cellarn.地窖

3) spangadv.完全地；恰好地

4) blunderv.跌跌撞撞地走

“嗯，我也不知道该怎么说，”朱克曼先生说，“我们得到了一个暗示，伊迪丝——一个神秘的暗示。一个奇迹已经在这个农场上出现了。谷仓地窖门口有一张大蜘蛛网，它就在猪圈上边。今早我和鲁维去喂猪时，因为雾的关系他看到了那张网，你知道一张蜘蛛网在雾里显得有些特别。就在网的中央，写着‘好猪’这个词。这个词完全是由蜘蛛网织出来的。它们本身就是网的一部分，伊迪丝。我知道这点，因为我在那儿看到了它。那上面写着的‘好猪’，看起来再清楚不过了。我绝不能看错的。一个奇迹发生了，一个神示在地球上出现了，它就在我们的农场，我们有了一头不同凡响的猪。”

“哦，”朱克曼太太说，“我觉得你好像弄错了。我看我们是有了一只不同凡响的蜘蛛才对。”

“噢，不！”朱克曼说，“是这猪不一般，那蜘蛛网的中间就这么说的。”

“可能如此吧，”朱克曼太太说，“虽然如此，我还是打算去看看那只蜘蛛。”

“那只是一只很普通的灰蜘蛛。”朱克曼说。

他们站起来，一同往威尔伯的院子走。

“你看到了吗，伊迪丝？它是只很平常的灰蜘蛛。”

威尔伯很高兴能如此引人注目。还在那儿站着的鲁维，朱克曼先生和太太，三个人一起在那里站了大约一小时，一遍遍地读着网里的词，并观察着威尔伯。

夏洛为她成功地愚弄了这些人而开心。她一动不动地坐在那里，听着人们的交谈。一只小苍蝇撞到网里，马上就要朝“猪”这个字爬过来了。夏洛见了忙跑过去把苍蝇缠住，并拖远。

不久，雾散了。网也干了，这些字母看起来也不那么美了。朱克曼夫妇和鲁维往回走向房子。在离开猪圈前，朱克曼先生最后又看了威尔伯一眼。

“你知道，”他庄重地说，“我们的猪不管从哪方面看都格外优秀。他是头很结实的猪，比别的猪都壮实。你注意到他的肩膀下有多么结实吗，鲁维？”

“当然，当然，”鲁维说，“我总是注意那头猪。他是头不一般的猪。”

“他是那么的长，身上那么的光滑。”朱克曼说。

“的确，”鲁维表示同意，“他比别的猪光滑得多。他是头好猪。”

朱克曼先生回到了家，便脱下工作服，穿上了他最好的衣裳。然后他上了他的车，向牧师家驶去。他在牧师那里花了一小时，讲述在他的农场出现的奇迹。