dual personalities

“But we have received a sign, Edith—a mysterious sign. A miracle has happened on this farm. There is a large spider’s web in the doorway of the barn 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 right spang in the middle of the web there were the words ‘Some Pig.’ The words were woven right into the web. They were actually 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.”

–E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web

Today is the birthday of Elwyn Brooks White (July 11, 1899 – October 1, 1985) who was an American writer. He wrote for The New Yorker and had some success writing for children. You might recall that he won the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal from the U.S. professional children’s librarians in 1970. Of course, they’ve changed the name of the medal now. Given time, I have no doubt they’ll find something offensive in Charlotte’s Web.

Well, it’s still one of my favorites. It may be time to dust it off and read it again.