日子一天天过去，威尔伯越长越大。

　　He ate three big meals a day.

　　它一天大吃三顿。

　　He spent long hours lying on his side,

　　它舒舒服服地侧身躺上很长时间，

　　half asleep, dreaming pleasant dreams.

　　半睡半醒，做着美梦。

　　He enjoyed good health and he gained a lot of weight.

　　它身体很棒，胖了许多。

　　One afternoon, when Fern was sitting on her stool,

　　一天下午，当弗恩正坐在她的凳子上时，

　　the oldest sheep walked into the barn,

　　最老的那只羊走进谷仓，

　　and stopped to pay a call on Wilbur.

　　停下来看威尔伯。

　　"Hello!" she said. "Seems to me you're putting on weight."

　　“你好，”它说，“我觉得你发福了。”

　　"Yes, I guess I am," replied Wilbur.

　　“是的，我想是的，”威尔伯回答说，

　　"At my age it's a good idea to keep gaining."

　　“在我这个岁数，不断长胖是件好事。”

　　"Just the same, I don't envy you," said the old sheep.

　　“不过我不羡慕你，”那老羊说，

　　"You know why they're fattening you up, don't you?"

　　“你知道他们为什么让你长胖吗？”

　　"No," said Wilbur.

　　“不知道，”威尔伯说。

　　"Well, I don't like to spread bad news," said the sheep,

　　“唉，我不想当小广播，”老羊说，

　　"but they're fattening you up because they're going to kill you, that's why."

　　“不过他们让你长胖只为了要杀你，就是这么回事。”