Wilbur is the runt of the litter of young pigs, and would have been given the traditional knock on the head by the farmer had it not been for super-intelligent spider, Charlotte. She saves him by weaving 'some pig' into her web, and Wilbur is not only, thereafter, in her debt, but loves her dearly. In spite of Charlotte's sarcastic tongue and Wilbur's bumbling, they remain firm friends until it becomes time for Charlotte to die. She leaves her large family of babies in Wilbur's care, and he promises faithfully to do his best. He is sad, but learns to accept that Charlotte's time had come and that death is part of the nature of life. A classic for many years.