"Children's Books - White, E.B. - Charlotte's Web" - читать интересную книгу автора (Children's Books)

"Will you play with me, Templeton?" asked Wilbur.

"Play?" said Templeton, twirling his whiskers. "Play? I hardly know
the meaning of the word."

"Well," said Wilbur, "it means to have fun, to frolic, to run and skip
and make merry."

"I never do those things if I can avoid them," replied the rat, sourly.
"I prefer to spend my time eating, gnaw-ing, spying, and hiding. I am a
glutton but not a merry-maker. Right now I am on my way to your trough
to eat your breakfast, since you haven't got sense enough to eat it
yourself." And Templeton, the rat, crept stealthily along the wall and
disappeared into a private tunnel that he had dug between the door and
the trough in Wilbur's yard. Templeton was a crafty rat, and he had
things pretty much his own way. The tunnel was an example of his skill
and cunning. The tunnel enabled him to get from the barn to his hiding
place under the pig trough without coming out into the open. He had
tunnels and runways all over Mr. Zuckerman's farm and could get from
one place to another without being seen. Usually he slept during the
daytime and was abroad only after dark.

Wilbur watched him disappear into his tunnel. In a moment he saw the
rat's sharp nose poke out from underneath the wooden trough. Cautiously
Templeton pulled himself up over the edge of the trough. This was
almost more than Wilbur could stand: on this dreary, rainy day to see
his breakfast being eaten by somebody else. He knew Templeton was
getting soaked, out there in the pouring rain, but even that didn't
comfort him. Friendless, dejected, and hungry, he threw himself down in
the manure and sobbed.

Late that afternoon, Lurvy went to Mr. Zuckerman. "I think there's
something wrong with that pig of yours. He hasn't touched his food."

"Give him two spoonfuls of sulphur and a little molasses," said Mr.
Zuckerman.

Wilbur couldn't believe what was happening to him when Lurvy caught him
and forced the medicine down his throat. This was certainly the worst
day of his life. He didn't know whether he could endure the awful
loneliness any more.

Darkness settled over ever thing. Soon there were only shadows and the
noises of the sheep chewing their cuds, and occasionally the rattle of a
cow-chain up overhead. You can imagine Wilbur's surprise when, out of
the darkness, came a small voice he had never heard before. It sounded
rather thin, but pleasant. "Do you want a friend, Wilbur?" it said.
"I'll be a friend to you. I've watched you all day and I like you."