" bà bà ná zhe fǔ zǐ qù nǎ 'ér liǎo？ " zài tā men shōu shí zhuō zǐ zhǔn bèi chī zǎo fàn shí， fēn wèn tā de mǔ qīn。
" qù zhū juàn liǎo， " ā lā bèi 'ěr tài tài huí dá。 " zuó wǎn shēng liǎo jǐ zhǐ xiǎo zhū。 "
" wǒ bù míng bái tā wèishénme xū yào yī bǎ fǔ zǐ， " zhǐ yòu bā suì de fēn jì xù shuō。
" ò "， tā de mǔ qīn shuō， " qí zhōng de yī tóu shì gè xiǎo gè zǐ。 tā cháng dé yòu xiǎo yòu ruò， méi yòu rèn hé kě liú xià lái de jià zhí liǎo。 suǒ yǐ nǐ bà bà jué dìng qù xiāo miè tā。 "
" xiāo miè tā？ " fēn jiān jiào。 " nǐ shì shuō shā sǐ tā？ jiù yīn wéi tā bǐ bié rén de gè zǐ xiǎo？ "
ā lā bèi 'ěr tài tài bǎ yī guàn rǔ lào fàng dào zhuō shàng。 " bié rǎng， fēn！ " tā shuō。 " nǐ bà zuò de duì。 nà tóu zhū bù lùn rú hé dū huì sǐ de。 "
fēn tuī kāi dǎng zài miàn qián de yǐ zǐ jiù wǎng mén wài páo。 cǎo dì shī lù lù de， ní tǔ lǐ sàn fā zhe chūn tiān de qì xī。 děng fēn gǎn shàng tā de bà bà shí， tā de yùn dòng jiāo xié quándōu shī tòu liǎo。
" qǐng bié shā tā！ " tā wūyè dào。 " zhè bù gōng píng！ "
ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng zhǐ zhù liǎo jiǎo。
" fēn "， tā wēn róu dì shuō， " nǐ gāi xué huì zì wǒ kòng zhì。 "
" zì wǒ kòng zhì？ " fēn kū jiào dào， " zhè kě shì yī jiàn shēng sǐ dà shì！ nǐ què duì wǒ shuō shénme zì wǒ kòng zhì！ " lèi shuǐ liú dào fēn de miàn jiá shàng。 tā zhuā zhù liǎo fǔ tóu bǐng， xiǎng bǎ tā cóng fù qīn shǒu zhōng qiǎng xià lái。
" fēn "， ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng shuō， " yǎng xiǎo zhū de shì wǒ bǐ nǐ zhī dào de duō。 yī gè tǐ zhì chā de xiǎo zhū hěn nán yǎng huó de。 xiàn zài nǐ gāi fàng wǒ zǒu liǎo！ "
" kě shì zhè bù gōng píng， " fēn kū jiào zhe。 " zhè tóu zhū yuàn yì ràng zì jǐ shēng xià lái jiù xiǎo má， tā yuàn yì má？ rú guǒ wǒ shēng xià lái shí yě hěn shòu xiǎo， nǐ jiù huì shā sǐ wǒ má？ "
ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng wēi xiào liǎo。 " dāng rán bù huì liǎo， " tā shuō zhe， dī xià tóu cí 'ài dì wàng zhe nǚ 'ér。 " dàn zhè shì bù yī yàng de。 yī gè xiǎo nǚ hái shì yī mǎ shì 'ér， yī gè xiǎo shòu zhū shì lìng yī mǎ shì 'ér。 "
" wǒ kàn méi shí me bù yī yàng， " fēn huí dá zhe， réng sǐ zhuā zhe fǔ bǐng bù fàng。 " zhè shì wǒ céng jīng tīng dào guò de zuì kǒng bù de 'àn jiàn！ "
yuē hàn · ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng de liǎn shàng chū xiàn liǎo mǒu zhǒng qí tè de biǎo qíng。 tā hǎo xiàng yě yào kū liǎo。
" hǎo bā， " tā shuō。 " nǐ xiān huí jiā bā。 děng wǒ huí jiā， wǒ huì bǎ nà tóu xiǎo zhū dài huí lái。 wǒ jiāng ràng nǐ yòng nǎi píng wèi tā， xiàng wèi yīng 'ér yī yàng。 nà shí nǐ jiù huì míng bái yī tóu xiǎo zhū huì duō me má fán liǎo。 "
bàn xiǎo shí hòu， ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng gēbo xià jiā zhe yī gè zhǐ bǎn hé huí liǎo jiā。 fēn zhèng zài lóu shàng huàn tā de yùn dòng xié。 chú fáng de zhuō zǐ shàng bǎi hǎo liǎo zǎo cān， fáng jiān lǐ dū shì kā fēi， xūn ròu de xiāng wèi， shī shī de huī ní wèi 'ér， hái yòu cóng lú zǐ lǐ dàng chū lái de chái huǒ yān wèi 'ér。
" bǎ tā fàng dào tā de yǐ zǐ shàng！ " ā lā bèi 'ěr tài tài shuō。 ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng bǎ zhǐ bǎn hé fàng dào fēn de wèi zǐ shàng。 rán hòu tā dào xǐ shǒu chí xǐ liǎo shǒu， yòng chí biān gǔn tǒng shàng de máo jīn bǎ shǒu cā gān。
fēn màn màn dì xià liǎo lóu。 yīn wéi gāng gāng kū guò， tā de yǎn hái shì hóng hóng de。 dāng tā zǒu jìn tā de yǐ zǐ， zhǐ bǎn hé kāi shǐ huàng dòng qǐ lái， lǐ miàn chuán chū liǎo zhuā sāo shēng。 fēn kàn liǎo kàn tā de fù qīn。 rán hòu tā xiān qǐ liǎo hé gài。 cóng nà lǐ miàn dǎliang zhe tā de， zhèng shì nà xīn shēng de xiǎo zhū。 tā shì bái sè de。 zǎo chén de yáng guāng bǎ tā de 'ěr duǒ yìng dé fěn hóng。
" tā shì nǐ de liǎo， " ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng shuō。 " shì nǐ shǐ tā miǎn yú yī sǐ。 yuàn shàng dì néng yuán liàng wǒ zhè yú chǔn de xíng wéi。 "
fēn bù cuò yǎn zhū dì kàn zhe zhè tóu xiǎo xiǎo zhū。 " ò， " tā qīng shēng zàn měi。 " ò， kàn tā yā！ tā piào liàng jí liǎo。 "
tā xiǎo xīn de guān shàng liǎo gài zǐ。 tā xiān wěn liǎo bà bà， yòu wěn liǎo mā mā。 rán hòu tā yòu jiē kāi gài zǐ， bǎ xiǎo zhū jǔ qǐ lái， ràng tā tiē dào zì jǐ de liǎn shàng。 zhè shí， tā de gē gē 'āi fú lǐ zǒu liǎo jìn lái。 āi fú lǐ shí suì liǎo。 tā de shēn shàng kě shì quán fù wǔ zhuāng ní -- yī zhǐ shǒu lǐ ná zhe qì qiāng， yī zhǐ shǒu lǐ zuàn zhe yī bǎ mù zhì bǐ shǒu。
" nà shì shénme？ " tā wèn。 " fēn dé liǎo shénme liǎo？ "
" tā yòu liǎo yī wèi lái chī zǎo cān de kè rén， " ā lā bèi 'ěr tài tài shuō。 " āi fú lǐ， qù xǐ shǒu xǐ liǎn！ "
" ràng wǒ kàn kàn tā má！ " āi fú lǐ shuō zhe， fàng xià tā de qiāng。 " nǐ shuō zhè kě lián de xiǎo dōng xī shì yī tóu zhū？ zhè bù guò shì yī tóu zhū de xiǎo xíng fù zhì pǐn 'ér yǐ -- tā hái méi yòu yī zhǐ bái lǎo shǔ dà ní。 "
" qù xǐ liǎn chī fàn， āi fú lǐ！ " tā de mā mā shuō。 " bàn xiǎo shí nèi xiào chē jiù yào lái liǎo。 "
" wǒ yě néng yòu yī tóu xiǎo zhū má， bà？ " āi fú lǐ wèn。
" bù， wǒ zhǐ bǎ xiǎo zhū sòng gěi zǎo qǐ de rén， " ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng shuō。 " wèile zhì zhǐ zhè shì jiè shàng de bù gōng zhèng xíng wéi， fēn tiān gāng liàng jiù qǐ chuáng liǎo。 jiēguǒ， tā xiàn zài yòu liǎo yī tóu xiǎo zhū。 dāng rán liǎo， tā de què shì tè bié xiǎo， kě bù guǎn zěn me shuō zhè dū shì yī tóu xiǎo zhū。 zhè zhǐ shì biǎo míng， rú guǒ yī gè rén néng xùn sù dì cóng chuáng shàng pá qǐ lái， huì yòu shénme yàng de shì qíng fā shēng。 ràng wǒ men kāi fàn bā！ "
dàn shì fēn yào děng dào tā de xiǎo zhū hē wán niú nǎi hòu cái kěn chī fàn。 ā lā bèi 'ěr tài tài zhǎo chū liǎo yī gè yīng 'ér yòng de nǎi píng hé nǎi zuǐ 'ér。 tā bǎ wēn hū hū de niú nǎi dǎo jìn nǎi píng lǐ， yòu bǎ nǎi zuǐ 'ér 'ān shàng， cái bǎ nǎi píng dì gěi liǎo fēn。 " gěi tā chī zǎo cān bā！ " tā shuō。
yī fēn zhōng hòu， fēn zuò zài chú fáng jiǎo luò lǐ de dì bǎn shàng， bǎ tā de xiǎo bǎo bèi bào zài xī tóu， kāi shǐ jiào tā rú hé cóng píng zhōng hē nǎi。 zhè xiǎo zhū suī rán nà me xiǎo， què yòu yī gè hǎo wèi kǒu， ér qiě yě xué dé hěn kuài。
lù shàng xiǎng qǐ liǎo xiào chē de lá bà shēng。
" kuài páo！ " ā lā bèi 'ěr tài tài mìng lìng zhe， bǎ xiǎo zhū cóng fēn nà lǐ bào xià lái， jiāng yī zhāng yóu jiān juàn bǐng fàng dào tā de shǒu shàng。 āi fú lǐ gǎn máng zhuā qǐ tā de qiāng hé lìng yī zhāng yóu jiān juàn bǐng。
hái zǐ men páo dào lù biān， shàng liǎo xiào chē。 zài chē lǐ， fēn méi yòu zhù yì qí tā de rén。 tā zhǐ shì zuò zài nà lǐ cháo chē chuāng wài kàn， xiǎng zhe zhè shì gè duō měi hǎo de shì jiè， zì jǐ yòu shì duō me xìng yùn， jū rán kě yǐ yōng yòu yī tóu xiǎo zhū。 zài chē kāi dào xué xiào de nà yī kè， fēn yǐ jīng gěi tā de bǎo bèi qǐ hǎo liǎo míng zì， xuǎn de shì tā néng xiǎng dào de zuì piào liàng de míng zì。
" tā de míng zì shì wēi bó "， tā nán nán de zì yǔ。
dāng lǎo shī zài kè táng lǐ wèn tā： " fēn， bīn xī fǎ ní yà zhōu de shǒu fǔ jiào shénme？ " shí， tā hái zài xiǎng zhe nà tóu xiǎo zhū。
" wēi bó "， fēn chū shén de huí dá。 tóng xué men gé gé dì xiào qǐ lái。 fēn liǎn hóng liǎo。
"Out to the hoghouse," replied Mrs. Arable. "Some pigs were born last night."
"I don't see why he needs an ax," continued Fern, who was only eight.
"Well," said her mother, "one of the pigs is a runt. It's very small and weak, and it will never amount to anything. So your father has decided to do away with it."
"Do away with it?" shrieked Fern. "You mean kill it? Just because it's smaller than the others?"
Mrs. Arable put a pitcher of cream on the table. "Don't yell, Fern!" she said. "Your father is right. The pig would probably die anyway."
Fern pushed a chair out of the way and ran outdoors. The grass was wet and the earth smelled of springtime. Fern's sneakers were sopping by the time she caught up with her father.
"Please don't kill it!" she sobbed. "It's unfair."
Mr. Arable stopped walking.
"Fern," he said gently, "you will have to learn to control yourself."
"Control myself?" yelled Fern. "This is a matter of life and death, and you talk about _controlling myself." Tears ran down her cheeks and she took hold of the ax and tried to pull it out of her father's hand.
"Fern," said Mr. Arable, "I know more about raising a litter of pigs than you do. A weakling makes trouble. Now run along!"
"But it's unfair," cried Fern. "The pig couldn't help being born small, could it? If I had been very small at birth, would you have killed me?"
Mr. Arable smiled. "Certainly not," he said, looking down at his daughter with love. "But this is different. A little girl is one thing, a little runty pig is another."
"I see no difference," replied Fern, still hanging on to the ax. "This is the most terrible case of injustice I ever heard of."
A queer look came over John Arable's face. He seemed almost ready to cry himself.
"All right," he said. "You go back to the house and I will bring the runt when I come in. I'll let you start it on a bottle, like a baby. Then you'll see what trouble a pig can be."
When Mr. Arable returned to the house half an hour later, he carried a carton under his arm. Fern was upstairs changing her sneakers. The kitchen table was set for breakfast, and the room smelled of coffee, bacon, damp plaster, and wood smoke from the stove.
"Put it on her chair!" said Mrs. Arable. Mr. Arable set the carton down at Fern's place. Then he walked to the sink and washed his hands and dried them on the roller towel.
Fern came slowly down the stairs. Her eyes were red from crying. As she approached her chair, the carton wobbled, and there was a scratching noise. Fern looked at her father. Then she lifted the lid of the carton. There, inside, looking up at her, was the newborn pig. It was a white one. The morning light shone through its ears, turning them pink.
"He's yours," said Mr. Arable. "Saved from an untimely death. And may the good Lord forgive me for this foolishness."
Fern couldn't take her eyes off the tiny pig. "Oh," she whispered. "Oh, look at him! He's absolutely perfect."
She closed the carton carefully. First she kissed her father, then she kissed her mother. Then she opened the lid again, lifted the pig out, and held it against her cheek. At this moment her brother Avery came into the room. Avery was ten.
He was heavily armed - an air rifle in one hand, a wooden dagger in the other.
"What's that?" he demanded. "What's Fern got?"
"She's got a guest for breakfast," said Mrs. Arable. "Wash your hands and face, Avery!"
"Let's see it!" said Avery, setting his gun down. "You call that miserable thing a pig? That's a fine specimen of a pig it's no bigger than a white rat."
"Wash up and eat your breakfast, Avery!" said his mother.
"The school bus will be along in half an hour."
"Can I have a pig, too, Pop?" asked Avery.
"No, I only distribute pigs to early risers," said Mr. Arable. "Fern was up at daylight, trying to rid the world of injustice. As a result, she now has a pig. A small one, to be sure, but nevertheless a pig. It just shows what can happen if a person gets out of bed promptly. Let's eat!"
But Fern couldn't eat until her pig had had a drink of milk.
Mrs. Arable found a baby's nursing bottle and a rubber nipple. She poured warm milk into the bottle, fitted the nipple over the top, and handed it to Fern. "Give him his breakfast!" she said.
A minute later, Fern was seated on the floor in the corner of the kitchen with her infant between her knees, teaching it to suck from the bottle. The pig, although tiny, had a good appetite and caught on quickly.
The school bus honked from the road.
"Run!" commanded Mrs. Arable, taking the pig from Fern and slipping a doughnut into her hand. Avery grabbed his gun and another doughnut.
The children ran out to the road and climbed into the bus. Fern took no notice of the others in the bus. She just sat and stared out of the window, thinking what a blissful world it was and how lucky she was to have entire charge of a pig. By the time the bus reached school, Fern had named her pet, selecting the most beautiful name she could think of.
"Its name is Wilbur," she whispered to herself.
She was still thinking about the pig when the teacher said: "Fern, what is the capital of Pennsylvania?"
"Wilbur," replied Fern, dreamily. The pupils giggled. Fern blushed.
" qù zhū juàn liǎo， " ā lā bèi 'ěr tài tài huí dá。 " zuó wǎn shēng liǎo jǐ zhǐ xiǎo zhū。 "
" wǒ bù míng bái tā wèishénme xū yào yī bǎ fǔ zǐ， " zhǐ yòu bā suì de fēn jì xù shuō。
" ò "， tā de mǔ qīn shuō， " qí zhōng de yī tóu shì gè xiǎo gè zǐ。 tā cháng dé yòu xiǎo yòu ruò， méi yòu rèn hé kě liú xià lái de jià zhí liǎo。 suǒ yǐ nǐ bà bà jué dìng qù xiāo miè tā。 "
" xiāo miè tā？ " fēn jiān jiào。 " nǐ shì shuō shā sǐ tā？ jiù yīn wéi tā bǐ bié rén de gè zǐ xiǎo？ "
ā lā bèi 'ěr tài tài bǎ yī guàn rǔ lào fàng dào zhuō shàng。 " bié rǎng， fēn！ " tā shuō。 " nǐ bà zuò de duì。 nà tóu zhū bù lùn rú hé dū huì sǐ de。 "
fēn tuī kāi dǎng zài miàn qián de yǐ zǐ jiù wǎng mén wài páo。 cǎo dì shī lù lù de， ní tǔ lǐ sàn fā zhe chūn tiān de qì xī。 děng fēn gǎn shàng tā de bà bà shí， tā de yùn dòng jiāo xié quándōu shī tòu liǎo。
" qǐng bié shā tā！ " tā wūyè dào。 " zhè bù gōng píng！ "
ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng zhǐ zhù liǎo jiǎo。
" fēn "， tā wēn róu dì shuō， " nǐ gāi xué huì zì wǒ kòng zhì。 "
" zì wǒ kòng zhì？ " fēn kū jiào dào， " zhè kě shì yī jiàn shēng sǐ dà shì！ nǐ què duì wǒ shuō shénme zì wǒ kòng zhì！ " lèi shuǐ liú dào fēn de miàn jiá shàng。 tā zhuā zhù liǎo fǔ tóu bǐng， xiǎng bǎ tā cóng fù qīn shǒu zhōng qiǎng xià lái。
" fēn "， ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng shuō， " yǎng xiǎo zhū de shì wǒ bǐ nǐ zhī dào de duō。 yī gè tǐ zhì chā de xiǎo zhū hěn nán yǎng huó de。 xiàn zài nǐ gāi fàng wǒ zǒu liǎo！ "
" kě shì zhè bù gōng píng， " fēn kū jiào zhe。 " zhè tóu zhū yuàn yì ràng zì jǐ shēng xià lái jiù xiǎo má， tā yuàn yì má？ rú guǒ wǒ shēng xià lái shí yě hěn shòu xiǎo， nǐ jiù huì shā sǐ wǒ má？ "
ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng wēi xiào liǎo。 " dāng rán bù huì liǎo， " tā shuō zhe， dī xià tóu cí 'ài dì wàng zhe nǚ 'ér。 " dàn zhè shì bù yī yàng de。 yī gè xiǎo nǚ hái shì yī mǎ shì 'ér， yī gè xiǎo shòu zhū shì lìng yī mǎ shì 'ér。 "
" wǒ kàn méi shí me bù yī yàng， " fēn huí dá zhe， réng sǐ zhuā zhe fǔ bǐng bù fàng。 " zhè shì wǒ céng jīng tīng dào guò de zuì kǒng bù de 'àn jiàn！ "
yuē hàn · ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng de liǎn shàng chū xiàn liǎo mǒu zhǒng qí tè de biǎo qíng。 tā hǎo xiàng yě yào kū liǎo。
" hǎo bā， " tā shuō。 " nǐ xiān huí jiā bā。 děng wǒ huí jiā， wǒ huì bǎ nà tóu xiǎo zhū dài huí lái。 wǒ jiāng ràng nǐ yòng nǎi píng wèi tā， xiàng wèi yīng 'ér yī yàng。 nà shí nǐ jiù huì míng bái yī tóu xiǎo zhū huì duō me má fán liǎo。 "
bàn xiǎo shí hòu， ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng gēbo xià jiā zhe yī gè zhǐ bǎn hé huí liǎo jiā。 fēn zhèng zài lóu shàng huàn tā de yùn dòng xié。 chú fáng de zhuō zǐ shàng bǎi hǎo liǎo zǎo cān， fáng jiān lǐ dū shì kā fēi， xūn ròu de xiāng wèi， shī shī de huī ní wèi 'ér， hái yòu cóng lú zǐ lǐ dàng chū lái de chái huǒ yān wèi 'ér。
" bǎ tā fàng dào tā de yǐ zǐ shàng！ " ā lā bèi 'ěr tài tài shuō。 ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng bǎ zhǐ bǎn hé fàng dào fēn de wèi zǐ shàng。 rán hòu tā dào xǐ shǒu chí xǐ liǎo shǒu， yòng chí biān gǔn tǒng shàng de máo jīn bǎ shǒu cā gān。
fēn màn màn dì xià liǎo lóu。 yīn wéi gāng gāng kū guò， tā de yǎn hái shì hóng hóng de。 dāng tā zǒu jìn tā de yǐ zǐ， zhǐ bǎn hé kāi shǐ huàng dòng qǐ lái， lǐ miàn chuán chū liǎo zhuā sāo shēng。 fēn kàn liǎo kàn tā de fù qīn。 rán hòu tā xiān qǐ liǎo hé gài。 cóng nà lǐ miàn dǎliang zhe tā de， zhèng shì nà xīn shēng de xiǎo zhū。 tā shì bái sè de。 zǎo chén de yáng guāng bǎ tā de 'ěr duǒ yìng dé fěn hóng。
" tā shì nǐ de liǎo， " ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng shuō。 " shì nǐ shǐ tā miǎn yú yī sǐ。 yuàn shàng dì néng yuán liàng wǒ zhè yú chǔn de xíng wéi。 "
fēn bù cuò yǎn zhū dì kàn zhe zhè tóu xiǎo xiǎo zhū。 " ò， " tā qīng shēng zàn měi。 " ò， kàn tā yā！ tā piào liàng jí liǎo。 "
tā xiǎo xīn de guān shàng liǎo gài zǐ。 tā xiān wěn liǎo bà bà， yòu wěn liǎo mā mā。 rán hòu tā yòu jiē kāi gài zǐ， bǎ xiǎo zhū jǔ qǐ lái， ràng tā tiē dào zì jǐ de liǎn shàng。 zhè shí， tā de gē gē 'āi fú lǐ zǒu liǎo jìn lái。 āi fú lǐ shí suì liǎo。 tā de shēn shàng kě shì quán fù wǔ zhuāng ní -- yī zhǐ shǒu lǐ ná zhe qì qiāng， yī zhǐ shǒu lǐ zuàn zhe yī bǎ mù zhì bǐ shǒu。
" nà shì shénme？ " tā wèn。 " fēn dé liǎo shénme liǎo？ "
" tā yòu liǎo yī wèi lái chī zǎo cān de kè rén， " ā lā bèi 'ěr tài tài shuō。 " āi fú lǐ， qù xǐ shǒu xǐ liǎn！ "
" ràng wǒ kàn kàn tā má！ " āi fú lǐ shuō zhe， fàng xià tā de qiāng。 " nǐ shuō zhè kě lián de xiǎo dōng xī shì yī tóu zhū？ zhè bù guò shì yī tóu zhū de xiǎo xíng fù zhì pǐn 'ér yǐ -- tā hái méi yòu yī zhǐ bái lǎo shǔ dà ní。 "
" qù xǐ liǎn chī fàn， āi fú lǐ！ " tā de mā mā shuō。 " bàn xiǎo shí nèi xiào chē jiù yào lái liǎo。 "
" wǒ yě néng yòu yī tóu xiǎo zhū má， bà？ " āi fú lǐ wèn。
" bù， wǒ zhǐ bǎ xiǎo zhū sòng gěi zǎo qǐ de rén， " ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng shuō。 " wèile zhì zhǐ zhè shì jiè shàng de bù gōng zhèng xíng wéi， fēn tiān gāng liàng jiù qǐ chuáng liǎo。 jiēguǒ， tā xiàn zài yòu liǎo yī tóu xiǎo zhū。 dāng rán liǎo， tā de què shì tè bié xiǎo， kě bù guǎn zěn me shuō zhè dū shì yī tóu xiǎo zhū。 zhè zhǐ shì biǎo míng， rú guǒ yī gè rén néng xùn sù dì cóng chuáng shàng pá qǐ lái， huì yòu shénme yàng de shì qíng fā shēng。 ràng wǒ men kāi fàn bā！ "
dàn shì fēn yào děng dào tā de xiǎo zhū hē wán niú nǎi hòu cái kěn chī fàn。 ā lā bèi 'ěr tài tài zhǎo chū liǎo yī gè yīng 'ér yòng de nǎi píng hé nǎi zuǐ 'ér。 tā bǎ wēn hū hū de niú nǎi dǎo jìn nǎi píng lǐ， yòu bǎ nǎi zuǐ 'ér 'ān shàng， cái bǎ nǎi píng dì gěi liǎo fēn。 " gěi tā chī zǎo cān bā！ " tā shuō。
yī fēn zhōng hòu， fēn zuò zài chú fáng jiǎo luò lǐ de dì bǎn shàng， bǎ tā de xiǎo bǎo bèi bào zài xī tóu， kāi shǐ jiào tā rú hé cóng píng zhōng hē nǎi。 zhè xiǎo zhū suī rán nà me xiǎo， què yòu yī gè hǎo wèi kǒu， ér qiě yě xué dé hěn kuài。
lù shàng xiǎng qǐ liǎo xiào chē de lá bà shēng。
" kuài páo！ " ā lā bèi 'ěr tài tài mìng lìng zhe， bǎ xiǎo zhū cóng fēn nà lǐ bào xià lái， jiāng yī zhāng yóu jiān juàn bǐng fàng dào tā de shǒu shàng。 āi fú lǐ gǎn máng zhuā qǐ tā de qiāng hé lìng yī zhāng yóu jiān juàn bǐng。
hái zǐ men páo dào lù biān， shàng liǎo xiào chē。 zài chē lǐ， fēn méi yòu zhù yì qí tā de rén。 tā zhǐ shì zuò zài nà lǐ cháo chē chuāng wài kàn， xiǎng zhe zhè shì gè duō měi hǎo de shì jiè， zì jǐ yòu shì duō me xìng yùn， jū rán kě yǐ yōng yòu yī tóu xiǎo zhū。 zài chē kāi dào xué xiào de nà yī kè， fēn yǐ jīng gěi tā de bǎo bèi qǐ hǎo liǎo míng zì， xuǎn de shì tā néng xiǎng dào de zuì piào liàng de míng zì。
" tā de míng zì shì wēi bó "， tā nán nán de zì yǔ。
dāng lǎo shī zài kè táng lǐ wèn tā： " fēn， bīn xī fǎ ní yà zhōu de shǒu fǔ jiào shénme？ " shí， tā hái zài xiǎng zhe nà tóu xiǎo zhū。
" wēi bó "， fēn chū shén de huí dá。 tóng xué men gé gé dì xiào qǐ lái。 fēn liǎn hóng liǎo。
"Out to the hoghouse," replied Mrs. Arable. "Some pigs were born last night."
"I don't see why he needs an ax," continued Fern, who was only eight.
"Well," said her mother, "one of the pigs is a runt. It's very small and weak, and it will never amount to anything. So your father has decided to do away with it."
"Do away with it?" shrieked Fern. "You mean kill it? Just because it's smaller than the others?"
Mrs. Arable put a pitcher of cream on the table. "Don't yell, Fern!" she said. "Your father is right. The pig would probably die anyway."
Fern pushed a chair out of the way and ran outdoors. The grass was wet and the earth smelled of springtime. Fern's sneakers were sopping by the time she caught up with her father.
"Please don't kill it!" she sobbed. "It's unfair."
Mr. Arable stopped walking.
"Fern," he said gently, "you will have to learn to control yourself."
"Control myself?" yelled Fern. "This is a matter of life and death, and you talk about _controlling myself." Tears ran down her cheeks and she took hold of the ax and tried to pull it out of her father's hand.
"Fern," said Mr. Arable, "I know more about raising a litter of pigs than you do. A weakling makes trouble. Now run along!"
"But it's unfair," cried Fern. "The pig couldn't help being born small, could it? If I had been very small at birth, would you have killed me?"
Mr. Arable smiled. "Certainly not," he said, looking down at his daughter with love. "But this is different. A little girl is one thing, a little runty pig is another."
"I see no difference," replied Fern, still hanging on to the ax. "This is the most terrible case of injustice I ever heard of."
A queer look came over John Arable's face. He seemed almost ready to cry himself.
"All right," he said. "You go back to the house and I will bring the runt when I come in. I'll let you start it on a bottle, like a baby. Then you'll see what trouble a pig can be."
When Mr. Arable returned to the house half an hour later, he carried a carton under his arm. Fern was upstairs changing her sneakers. The kitchen table was set for breakfast, and the room smelled of coffee, bacon, damp plaster, and wood smoke from the stove.
"Put it on her chair!" said Mrs. Arable. Mr. Arable set the carton down at Fern's place. Then he walked to the sink and washed his hands and dried them on the roller towel.
Fern came slowly down the stairs. Her eyes were red from crying. As she approached her chair, the carton wobbled, and there was a scratching noise. Fern looked at her father. Then she lifted the lid of the carton. There, inside, looking up at her, was the newborn pig. It was a white one. The morning light shone through its ears, turning them pink.
"He's yours," said Mr. Arable. "Saved from an untimely death. And may the good Lord forgive me for this foolishness."
Fern couldn't take her eyes off the tiny pig. "Oh," she whispered. "Oh, look at him! He's absolutely perfect."
She closed the carton carefully. First she kissed her father, then she kissed her mother. Then she opened the lid again, lifted the pig out, and held it against her cheek. At this moment her brother Avery came into the room. Avery was ten.
He was heavily armed - an air rifle in one hand, a wooden dagger in the other.
"What's that?" he demanded. "What's Fern got?"
"She's got a guest for breakfast," said Mrs. Arable. "Wash your hands and face, Avery!"
"Let's see it!" said Avery, setting his gun down. "You call that miserable thing a pig? That's a fine specimen of a pig it's no bigger than a white rat."
"Wash up and eat your breakfast, Avery!" said his mother.
"The school bus will be along in half an hour."
"Can I have a pig, too, Pop?" asked Avery.
"No, I only distribute pigs to early risers," said Mr. Arable. "Fern was up at daylight, trying to rid the world of injustice. As a result, she now has a pig. A small one, to be sure, but nevertheless a pig. It just shows what can happen if a person gets out of bed promptly. Let's eat!"
But Fern couldn't eat until her pig had had a drink of milk.
Mrs. Arable found a baby's nursing bottle and a rubber nipple. She poured warm milk into the bottle, fitted the nipple over the top, and handed it to Fern. "Give him his breakfast!" she said.
A minute later, Fern was seated on the floor in the corner of the kitchen with her infant between her knees, teaching it to suck from the bottle. The pig, although tiny, had a good appetite and caught on quickly.
The school bus honked from the road.
"Run!" commanded Mrs. Arable, taking the pig from Fern and slipping a doughnut into her hand. Avery grabbed his gun and another doughnut.
The children ran out to the road and climbed into the bus. Fern took no notice of the others in the bus. She just sat and stared out of the window, thinking what a blissful world it was and how lucky she was to have entire charge of a pig. By the time the bus reached school, Fern had named her pet, selecting the most beautiful name she could think of.
"Its name is Wilbur," she whispered to herself.
She was still thinking about the pig when the teacher said: "Fern, what is the capital of Pennsylvania?"
"Wilbur," replied Fern, dreamily. The pupils giggled. Fern blushed.
fēn 'ài wēi bó shèng guò liǎo yī qiē。 tā xǐ huān fǔ mó zhe tā， wèi tā， bào tā shàng chuáng shuì jué。 měi tiān zǎo chén， zhǐ yào tā yī qǐ chuáng， jiù qīn zì gěi tā rè niú nǎi， zài wéi tā jìshàng wéi zuǐ 'ér， wèitā ná zhe píng zǐ。 měi tiān xià wǔ， dāng xiào chē tíng dào tā jiā mén qián， tā jiù huì tiào xià chē， páo dào chú fáng wèitā zhǔn bèi lìng yī píng niú nǎi。 wǎn fàn shí tā hái yào yī biàn biàn dì wèi tā， zhí dào shàng chuáng jiù qǐn qián wéi zhǐ。 měi tiān xià wǔ， fēn gāng lí kāi xué xiào de shí hòu， ā lā bèi 'ěr tài tài jiù tì fēn wèi wēi bó。 wēi bó suī rán xǐ huān hē nǎi， dàn zhǐ yòu fēn wèitā rè nǎi shí， tā cái gǎn dào mò dà de xìng fú， zhè shí tā huì zhàn qǐ lái， yòng chōng mǎn shēn qíng de yǎn jīng zhù shì zhe tā。
zài wēi bó chū shēng hòu de zuì chū shù tiān lǐ， tā bèi yǔn xǔ zhù zài chú fáng huǒ lú bàng de hé zǐ lǐ。 kě hòu lái， ā lā bèi 'ěr tài tài kāi shǐ bào yuàn shuō， tā gāi bān dào chái péng nà 'ér de dà yī diǎn de fáng zǐ lǐ qù zhù。 yīn cǐ zài liǎng zhōu dà de shí hòu， tā bèi nuó dào liǎo hù wài。 yǐ jīng kuài dào píng guǒ shù kāi huā de shí hòu liǎo， tiān qì zhèng zài biàn nuǎn。 ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng zài píng guǒ shù xià wéi wēi bó tè bié juàn liǎo yī zuò xiǎo yuàn zǐ， zài lǐ miàn gěi tā dā liǎo yī gè pū mǎn dào cǎo de dà fáng zǐ， fáng zǐ dǐ xià hái liú chū yī gè xiǎo mén， rú guǒ tā gāo xīng， tā kě yǐ suí shí cóng zhōng jìn chū。
" tā zài yè lǐ bù huì lěng má？ "
" bù huì de， " tā de fù qīn shuō， " nǐ zhǐ yào kàn tādōu zài zuò shénme jiù zhī dào liǎo。 "
fēn ná liǎo yī píng niú nǎi， zuò dào xiǎo yuàn zǐ lǐ de píng guǒ shù xià。 wēi bó lì kè cháo tā páo guò lái， tā wò zhù nǎi píng wèi tā hē。 xī shǔn wán zuì hòu yī dī hòu， wēi bó dǎzháo mǎn yì de hū lū， shuì yì méng lóng dì duó jìn xiǎo fáng zǐ lǐ qù liǎo。 fēn pā zài fáng mén kǒu wǎng lǐ kuī shì。 jiàn wēi bó zhèng yòng tā de bí zǐ gǒng nà xiē dào cǎo。 zhǐ yī xiǎo huì 'ér， tā jiù zài dào cǎo jiān jué chū liǎo yī gè kēng。 tā pá jìn kēng lǐ， wán quán bèi dào cǎo gài zhù liǎo， jiù cǐ cóng fēn de shì xiàn lǐ xiāo shī。 fēn jiǎn zhí kàn rù mí liǎo。 tā zhè cái fàng liǎo xīn， yīn wéi tā zhī dào tā de bǎo bǎo shuìde jì shū fú yòu nuǎnhuo。
měi tiān zǎo fàn hòu， wēi bó dū hé fēn yī qǐ zǒu dào lù shàng， zhí dào xiào chē kāi lái。 děng tā huī shǒu hé tā shuō wán zài jiàn， tā biàn zhàn zài nà lǐ wàng zhe qì chē， zhí dào chē guǎi gè wān 'ér kāi yuǎn。 dāng fēn shàng xué shí， wēi bó jiù bèi guān dào tā de yuàn zǐ lǐ。 dàn zhǐ yào xià wǔ fēn yī huí lái， tā jiù huì bǎ tā lǐng chū lái， tā biàn gēn zhe tā dào chù liù dá。 rú guǒ tā jìn wū， wēi bó biàn yě gēn zhe wǎng lǐ zǒu； rú guǒ tā shàng liǎo lóu， wēi bó biàn zài tái jiē shàng děng zhe， zhí dào tā zài cì zǒu xià lái； rú guǒ tā yòng yīng 'ér chē dài zhe zì jǐ de wán jù wá wá qù sàn bù， wēi bó yě huì zài hòu miàn gēn zhe。 yòu shí， wēi bó yòu diǎn 'ér zǒu lěi liǎo， fēn jiù bǎ tā bào qǐ lái， fàng dào chē lǐ de wá wá biān shàng。 tā hěn xǐ huān zhè yàng。 rú guǒ tā fēi cháng de lěi， tā jiù bì shàng yǎn jīng， zài wá wá shēn shàng méng zhe de tǎn zǐ xià jìn rù mèng xiāng。 tā bì zhe yǎn de shí hòu kàn qǐ lái gé wài de kù， yīn wéi tā de yǎn máo shì nà me de cháng。 wá wá yě huì bì yǎn jīng ní。 zhè shí fēn jiù huì màn màn de、 wěn wěn de tuī zhe xiǎo chē， yǐ miǎn bǎ tā de bǎo bǎo men cóng mèng zhōng yáo xǐng。
yī gè wēn nuǎn de xià wǔ， fēn hé 'āi fú lǐ chuān shàng tā men de yóu yǒng yī qù xiǎo hé biān yóu yǒng。 wēi bó yě jǐn jǐn zài fēn de jiǎo hòu gēn zhe， hé tā yī qí shè jìn shuǐ lǐ。 kě tā gǎn jué shuǐ hěn liáng -- liáng dé ràng tā fēi cháng bù xǐ huān。 suǒ yǐ dāng hái zǐ men kāi shǐ yóu yǒng bìng hù xiāng liáo shuǐ wán 'ér shí， wēi bó jiù zài hé biān de ní dì shàng wán， nà lǐ yòu nuǎn yòu shī， ràng tā hěn kāi xīn。
měi rì dōushì kuài lè de， měi yè dōushì níng jìng de。
yīn wéi shēng zài chūn tiān， suǒ yǐ wēi bó shì tóu nóng fū men suǒ wèi de " chūn zhū "。 dāng tā yòu wǔ xīng qī dà shí， ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng shuō， tā xiàn zài dà dé kě yǐ chū mài liǎo， yīn cǐ yīnggāi bèi mài diào。 fēn tīng hòu， fàng shēng dà kū qǐ lái。 dàn tā de fù qīn què hái shì jiān chí yào mài wēi bó。 wēi bó de shí liàng biàn dà liǎo， chú liǎo niú nǎi tā yě kāi shǐ chī sǎnsuì de shí wù liǎo， ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng bù yuàn yì zài yǎng tā。 tā yǐ jīng mài diào liǎo wēi bó de shí gè gē gē jiě jiě liǎo。
" tā bì xū dé zǒu， fēn， " tā shuō。 " nǐ yǐ jīng tǐ yàn dào liǎo yǎng xiǎo zhū de lè qù liǎo， kě wēi bó bù zài shì xiǎo zhū liǎo， dé bèi mài diào cái xíng。 "
" gěi zǔ kè màn jiù jiù dǎ gè diàn huà， " ā lā bèi 'ěr tài tài duì fēn jiàn yì。 " nǐ huò mò jiù jiù yě yǎng guò zhū。 rú guǒ wēi bó mài dào tā nà lǐ， nǐ jiù néng shùn zhe xiǎo lù qù kàn wēi bó liǎo -- zhǐ yào nǐ yuàn yì de huà。 "
" wǒ gāi xiàng tā yào duō shǎo qián ní？ " fēn hěn xiǎng zhī dào zhè yī diǎn。
" gāi yào duō shǎo ní， " tā de fù qīn shuō， " tā cháng dé zhè me shòu。 gào sù nǐ huò mò jiù jiù， nǐ yòu yī tóu xiǎo zhū， zhǐ mài tā liù měi yuán， kàn tā yòu shénme yì jiàn。 "
zhè shì yī huì 'ér jiù bàn tuǒ liǎo。 yī dí sī jiù mā tīng dào fēn dǎ lái de diàn huà， biàn dà shēng de jiào zài gǔ cāng gànhuó de huò mò jiù jiù lái tīng。 dāng tā tīng shuō xiǎo zhū zhǐ mài liù měi yuán shí， biàn shuō tā jué dìng mǎi xià liǎo。 dì 'èr tiān， wēi bó bèi cóng tā zài píng guǒ shù xià de xiǎo fáng zǐ lǐ dài zǒu， zhù jìn liǎo zǔ kè màn xiān shēng de gǔ cāng xià miàn， dì jiào lǐ de niú fèn duī bàng。
For the first few days of his life, Wilbur was allowed to live in a box near the stove in the kitchen. Then, when Mrs. Arable complained, he was moved to a bigger box in the woodshed. At two weeks of age, he was moved outdoors. It was apple-blossom time, and the days were getting warmer. Mr. Arable fixed a small yard specially for Wilbur under an apple tree, and gave him a large wooden box full of straw, with a doorway cut in it so he could walk in and out as he pleased.
"Won't he be cold at night?" asked Fern.
"No," said her father. "You watch and see what he does."
Carrying a bottle of milk, Fern sat down under the apple tree inside the yard. Wilbur ran to her and she held the bottle for him while he sucked. When he had finished the last drop, he grunted and walked sleepily into the box. Fern peered through the door. Wilbur was poking the straw with his snout. In a short time he had dug a tunnel in the straw. He crawled into the tunnel and disappeared from sight, completely covered with straw.
Fern was enchanted. It relieved her mind to know that her baby would sleep covered up, and would stay warm.
Every morning after breakfast, Wilbur walked out to the road with Fern and waited with her till the bus came. She would wave good-bye to him, and he would stand and watch the bus until it vanished around a turn. While Fern was in school, Wilbur was shut up inside his yard. But as soon as she got home in the afternoon, she would take him out and he would follow her around the place. If she went into the house, Wilbur went, too. If she went upstairs, Wilbur would wait at the bottom step until she came down again. If she took her doll for a walk in the doll carriage, Wilbur followed along. Sometimes, on these journeys, Wilbur would get tired, and Fern would pick him up and put him in the carriage alongside the doll. He liked this. And if he was very tired, he would close his eyes and go to sleep under the doll's blanket. He looked cute when his eyes were closed, because his lashes were so long. The doll would close her eyes, too, and Fern would wheel the carriage very slowly and smoothly so as not to wake her infants.
One warm afternoon, Fern and Avery put on bathing suits and went down to the brook for a swim. Wilbur tagged along at Fern's heels. When she waded into the brook, Wilbur waded in with her. He found the water quite cold - too cold for his liking. So while the children swam and played and splashed water at each other, Wilbur amused himself in the mud along the edge of the brook, where it was warm and moist and delightfully sticky and oozy.
Every day was a happy day, and every night was peaceful.
Wilbur was what farmers call a spring pig, which simply means that he was born in springtime. When he was five weeks old, Mr. Arable said he was now big enough to sell, and would have to be sold. Fern broke down and wept. But her father was firm about it. Wilbur's appetite had increased; he was beginning to eat scraps of food in addition to milk. Mr. Arable was not willing to provide for him any longer. He had already sold Wilbur's ten brothers and sisters.
"He's got to go, Fern," he said. "You have had your fun raising a baby pig, but Wilbur is not a baby any longer and he has got to be sold."
"Call up the Zuckermans," suggested Mrs. Arable to Fern. "Your Uncle Homer sometimes raises a pig. And if Wilbur goes there to live, you can walk down the road and visit him as often as you like."
"How much money should I ask for him?" Fern wanted to know.
"Well," said her father, "he's a runt. Tell your Uncle Homer you've got a pig you'll sell for six dollars, and see what he says."
It was soon arranged. Fern phoned and got her Aunt Edith, and her Aunt Edith hollered for Uncle Homer, and Uncle Homer came in from the barn and talked to Fern. When he heard that the price was only six dollars, he said he would buy the pig. Next day Wilbur was taken from his home under the apple tree and went to live in a manure pile in the cellar of Zuckerman's barn.
zài wēi bó chū shēng hòu de zuì chū shù tiān lǐ， tā bèi yǔn xǔ zhù zài chú fáng huǒ lú bàng de hé zǐ lǐ。 kě hòu lái， ā lā bèi 'ěr tài tài kāi shǐ bào yuàn shuō， tā gāi bān dào chái péng nà 'ér de dà yī diǎn de fáng zǐ lǐ qù zhù。 yīn cǐ zài liǎng zhōu dà de shí hòu， tā bèi nuó dào liǎo hù wài。 yǐ jīng kuài dào píng guǒ shù kāi huā de shí hòu liǎo， tiān qì zhèng zài biàn nuǎn。 ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng zài píng guǒ shù xià wéi wēi bó tè bié juàn liǎo yī zuò xiǎo yuàn zǐ， zài lǐ miàn gěi tā dā liǎo yī gè pū mǎn dào cǎo de dà fáng zǐ， fáng zǐ dǐ xià hái liú chū yī gè xiǎo mén， rú guǒ tā gāo xīng， tā kě yǐ suí shí cóng zhōng jìn chū。
" tā zài yè lǐ bù huì lěng má？ "
" bù huì de， " tā de fù qīn shuō， " nǐ zhǐ yào kàn tādōu zài zuò shénme jiù zhī dào liǎo。 "
fēn ná liǎo yī píng niú nǎi， zuò dào xiǎo yuàn zǐ lǐ de píng guǒ shù xià。 wēi bó lì kè cháo tā páo guò lái， tā wò zhù nǎi píng wèi tā hē。 xī shǔn wán zuì hòu yī dī hòu， wēi bó dǎzháo mǎn yì de hū lū， shuì yì méng lóng dì duó jìn xiǎo fáng zǐ lǐ qù liǎo。 fēn pā zài fáng mén kǒu wǎng lǐ kuī shì。 jiàn wēi bó zhèng yòng tā de bí zǐ gǒng nà xiē dào cǎo。 zhǐ yī xiǎo huì 'ér， tā jiù zài dào cǎo jiān jué chū liǎo yī gè kēng。 tā pá jìn kēng lǐ， wán quán bèi dào cǎo gài zhù liǎo， jiù cǐ cóng fēn de shì xiàn lǐ xiāo shī。 fēn jiǎn zhí kàn rù mí liǎo。 tā zhè cái fàng liǎo xīn， yīn wéi tā zhī dào tā de bǎo bǎo shuìde jì shū fú yòu nuǎnhuo。
měi tiān zǎo fàn hòu， wēi bó dū hé fēn yī qǐ zǒu dào lù shàng， zhí dào xiào chē kāi lái。 děng tā huī shǒu hé tā shuō wán zài jiàn， tā biàn zhàn zài nà lǐ wàng zhe qì chē， zhí dào chē guǎi gè wān 'ér kāi yuǎn。 dāng fēn shàng xué shí， wēi bó jiù bèi guān dào tā de yuàn zǐ lǐ。 dàn zhǐ yào xià wǔ fēn yī huí lái， tā jiù huì bǎ tā lǐng chū lái， tā biàn gēn zhe tā dào chù liù dá。 rú guǒ tā jìn wū， wēi bó biàn yě gēn zhe wǎng lǐ zǒu； rú guǒ tā shàng liǎo lóu， wēi bó biàn zài tái jiē shàng děng zhe， zhí dào tā zài cì zǒu xià lái； rú guǒ tā yòng yīng 'ér chē dài zhe zì jǐ de wán jù wá wá qù sàn bù， wēi bó yě huì zài hòu miàn gēn zhe。 yòu shí， wēi bó yòu diǎn 'ér zǒu lěi liǎo， fēn jiù bǎ tā bào qǐ lái， fàng dào chē lǐ de wá wá biān shàng。 tā hěn xǐ huān zhè yàng。 rú guǒ tā fēi cháng de lěi， tā jiù bì shàng yǎn jīng， zài wá wá shēn shàng méng zhe de tǎn zǐ xià jìn rù mèng xiāng。 tā bì zhe yǎn de shí hòu kàn qǐ lái gé wài de kù， yīn wéi tā de yǎn máo shì nà me de cháng。 wá wá yě huì bì yǎn jīng ní。 zhè shí fēn jiù huì màn màn de、 wěn wěn de tuī zhe xiǎo chē， yǐ miǎn bǎ tā de bǎo bǎo men cóng mèng zhōng yáo xǐng。
yī gè wēn nuǎn de xià wǔ， fēn hé 'āi fú lǐ chuān shàng tā men de yóu yǒng yī qù xiǎo hé biān yóu yǒng。 wēi bó yě jǐn jǐn zài fēn de jiǎo hòu gēn zhe， hé tā yī qí shè jìn shuǐ lǐ。 kě tā gǎn jué shuǐ hěn liáng -- liáng dé ràng tā fēi cháng bù xǐ huān。 suǒ yǐ dāng hái zǐ men kāi shǐ yóu yǒng bìng hù xiāng liáo shuǐ wán 'ér shí， wēi bó jiù zài hé biān de ní dì shàng wán， nà lǐ yòu nuǎn yòu shī， ràng tā hěn kāi xīn。
měi rì dōushì kuài lè de， měi yè dōushì níng jìng de。
yīn wéi shēng zài chūn tiān， suǒ yǐ wēi bó shì tóu nóng fū men suǒ wèi de " chūn zhū "。 dāng tā yòu wǔ xīng qī dà shí， ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng shuō， tā xiàn zài dà dé kě yǐ chū mài liǎo， yīn cǐ yīnggāi bèi mài diào。 fēn tīng hòu， fàng shēng dà kū qǐ lái。 dàn tā de fù qīn què hái shì jiān chí yào mài wēi bó。 wēi bó de shí liàng biàn dà liǎo， chú liǎo niú nǎi tā yě kāi shǐ chī sǎnsuì de shí wù liǎo， ā lā bèi 'ěr xiān shēng bù yuàn yì zài yǎng tā。 tā yǐ jīng mài diào liǎo wēi bó de shí gè gē gē jiě jiě liǎo。
" tā bì xū dé zǒu， fēn， " tā shuō。 " nǐ yǐ jīng tǐ yàn dào liǎo yǎng xiǎo zhū de lè qù liǎo， kě wēi bó bù zài shì xiǎo zhū liǎo， dé bèi mài diào cái xíng。 "
" gěi zǔ kè màn jiù jiù dǎ gè diàn huà， " ā lā bèi 'ěr tài tài duì fēn jiàn yì。 " nǐ huò mò jiù jiù yě yǎng guò zhū。 rú guǒ wēi bó mài dào tā nà lǐ， nǐ jiù néng shùn zhe xiǎo lù qù kàn wēi bó liǎo -- zhǐ yào nǐ yuàn yì de huà。 "
" wǒ gāi xiàng tā yào duō shǎo qián ní？ " fēn hěn xiǎng zhī dào zhè yī diǎn。
" gāi yào duō shǎo ní， " tā de fù qīn shuō， " tā cháng dé zhè me shòu。 gào sù nǐ huò mò jiù jiù， nǐ yòu yī tóu xiǎo zhū， zhǐ mài tā liù měi yuán， kàn tā yòu shénme yì jiàn。 "
zhè shì yī huì 'ér jiù bàn tuǒ liǎo。 yī dí sī jiù mā tīng dào fēn dǎ lái de diàn huà， biàn dà shēng de jiào zài gǔ cāng gànhuó de huò mò jiù jiù lái tīng。 dāng tā tīng shuō xiǎo zhū zhǐ mài liù měi yuán shí， biàn shuō tā jué dìng mǎi xià liǎo。 dì 'èr tiān， wēi bó bèi cóng tā zài píng guǒ shù xià de xiǎo fáng zǐ lǐ dài zǒu， zhù jìn liǎo zǔ kè màn xiān shēng de gǔ cāng xià miàn， dì jiào lǐ de niú fèn duī bàng。
For the first few days of his life, Wilbur was allowed to live in a box near the stove in the kitchen. Then, when Mrs. Arable complained, he was moved to a bigger box in the woodshed. At two weeks of age, he was moved outdoors. It was apple-blossom time, and the days were getting warmer. Mr. Arable fixed a small yard specially for Wilbur under an apple tree, and gave him a large wooden box full of straw, with a doorway cut in it so he could walk in and out as he pleased.
"Won't he be cold at night?" asked Fern.
"No," said her father. "You watch and see what he does."
Carrying a bottle of milk, Fern sat down under the apple tree inside the yard. Wilbur ran to her and she held the bottle for him while he sucked. When he had finished the last drop, he grunted and walked sleepily into the box. Fern peered through the door. Wilbur was poking the straw with his snout. In a short time he had dug a tunnel in the straw. He crawled into the tunnel and disappeared from sight, completely covered with straw.
Fern was enchanted. It relieved her mind to know that her baby would sleep covered up, and would stay warm.
Every morning after breakfast, Wilbur walked out to the road with Fern and waited with her till the bus came. She would wave good-bye to him, and he would stand and watch the bus until it vanished around a turn. While Fern was in school, Wilbur was shut up inside his yard. But as soon as she got home in the afternoon, she would take him out and he would follow her around the place. If she went into the house, Wilbur went, too. If she went upstairs, Wilbur would wait at the bottom step until she came down again. If she took her doll for a walk in the doll carriage, Wilbur followed along. Sometimes, on these journeys, Wilbur would get tired, and Fern would pick him up and put him in the carriage alongside the doll. He liked this. And if he was very tired, he would close his eyes and go to sleep under the doll's blanket. He looked cute when his eyes were closed, because his lashes were so long. The doll would close her eyes, too, and Fern would wheel the carriage very slowly and smoothly so as not to wake her infants.
One warm afternoon, Fern and Avery put on bathing suits and went down to the brook for a swim. Wilbur tagged along at Fern's heels. When she waded into the brook, Wilbur waded in with her. He found the water quite cold - too cold for his liking. So while the children swam and played and splashed water at each other, Wilbur amused himself in the mud along the edge of the brook, where it was warm and moist and delightfully sticky and oozy.
Every day was a happy day, and every night was peaceful.
Wilbur was what farmers call a spring pig, which simply means that he was born in springtime. When he was five weeks old, Mr. Arable said he was now big enough to sell, and would have to be sold. Fern broke down and wept. But her father was firm about it. Wilbur's appetite had increased; he was beginning to eat scraps of food in addition to milk. Mr. Arable was not willing to provide for him any longer. He had already sold Wilbur's ten brothers and sisters.
"He's got to go, Fern," he said. "You have had your fun raising a baby pig, but Wilbur is not a baby any longer and he has got to be sold."
"Call up the Zuckermans," suggested Mrs. Arable to Fern. "Your Uncle Homer sometimes raises a pig. And if Wilbur goes there to live, you can walk down the road and visit him as often as you like."
"How much money should I ask for him?" Fern wanted to know.
"Well," said her father, "he's a runt. Tell your Uncle Homer you've got a pig you'll sell for six dollars, and see what he says."
It was soon arranged. Fern phoned and got her Aunt Edith, and her Aunt Edith hollered for Uncle Homer, and Uncle Homer came in from the barn and talked to Fern. When he heard that the price was only six dollars, he said he would buy the pig. Next day Wilbur was taken from his home under the apple tree and went to live in a manure pile in the cellar of Zuckerman's barn.