Chapter 3 2.Wilbur

Fern loved Wilbur more than anything.She loved petting him, feeding him, and putting him to bed.Every morning, as soon as she wakes up, Just warm the milk for him, tie a bib for him, and hold the bottle for him.Every afternoon, when the school bus pulled up in front of her house, she would hop off and run to the kitchen to prepare another bottle of milk for him.She also fed him over and over at supper time until just before bedtime.Mrs. Arable fed Wilbur for Fern every afternoon as soon as he left school.Wilbur liked milk, but he was never happier than when Fern was warming his milk, and then he stood up and looked at her with loving eyes.

For the first few days of his life, Wilbur was allowed to live in a box by the kitchen stove.But then Mrs. Arable began to complain that he should move to the bigger house over the woodshed.So at two weeks old, he was moved outside.It's almost time for the apple trees to bloom and the weather is warming up.Mr. Arable built a small yard especially for Wilbur under the apple tree, and built him a big house covered with straw, with a small door at the bottom, through which he could come in and out whenever he liked. "Won't he be cold at night?" "No," said her father, "you just have to see what he's doing."

Fern took a bottle of milk and sat down under the apple tree in the small yard.Wilbur immediately ran to her, and she took the bottle and fed him.After sucking the last drop, Wilbur, snoring contentedly, wandered sleepily into the little room.Fern crouched at the door and peeped in.See Wilbur pushing his nose against the straw.In a short while, he dug a hole in the straw.He crawled into the hole, was completely covered by straw, and disappeared from Fern's sight.Fern was simply fascinated.She was relieved to know that her baby was sleeping comfortably and warmly. Every day after breakfast, Wilbur and Fern walked on the road together until the school bus came.When she finished waving him good-bye, he stood and watched the car until it turned the corner and drove away.While Fern was at school, Wilbur was shut up in his yard.But as soon as Fern came back in the afternoon she would lead him out and he would follow her about.If she went in, Wilbur followed her; if she went upstairs, Wilbur waited on the steps until she came down again; Bo will follow behind.Sometimes, when Wilbur got a little tired from walking, Fern would pick him up and put him in the car next to the dolls.He loves it.If he is very tired, he closes his eyes and falls asleep under the blanket covering the doll.He looks extra cool with his eyes closed because his eye hair is so long.The doll also closes its eyes.Then Fern would push the cart slowly and steadily so as not to shake her babies out of their sleep.

One warm afternoon, Fern and Avery put on their bathing suits and went for a swim in the creek.Wilbur followed closely behind Fern's heels and waded into the water with her.But he felt the water was cold--so cold that he didn't like it very much.So when the kids started swimming and splashing each other, Wilbur played in the mud by the river, where it was warm and wet, and he was happy. Every day is happy, every night is peaceful. Because he was born in the spring, Wilbur was what farmers call a "spring pig."When he was five weeks old, Mr. Arable said he was old enough to sell now and should therefore be sold.After hearing this, Fern burst into tears.But her father insisted on selling Wilbur.Wilbur's appetite increased, and he began to eat loose food besides milk, and Mr. Arable was not willing to keep him.He had already sold ten of Wilbur's older siblings.

"He's got to go, Fern," he said. "You've had the fun of raising a pig, but Wilbur isn't a pig anymore, and he'll have to be sold." "Call Uncle Zuckerman," Mrs. Arable suggested to Fern. "Your Uncle Homer kept pigs too. If Wilbur sells to him, you can go down the lane to see Wilbur—if you want." "How much should I ask him for?" Fern wondered. "How much," said her father, "he's so skinny. Tell your Uncle Homer you have a little pig for him for six dollars, and see what he thinks." It will be done in a moment.When Aunt Edith heard Fern's call, she yelled for Uncle Homer, who was working in the barn, to listen.When he heard that the piggy was only selling for six dollars, he said he decided to buy it.The next day, Wilbur was taken from his little house under the apple tree, and lived under Mr. Zuckerman's barn, next to the dung pile in the cellar.