the adventures of pinocchio-第4节

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〃Boys　always　sing　that　song　when　they　want　their　own　will。〃

〃But　I　am　not　like　other　boys！　　I　am　better　than　all　of　them　and　I　always　tell　the　truth。　　I　promise　you；　Father；　that　I'll　learn　a　trade；　and　I'll　be　the　comfort　and　staff　of　your　old　age。〃

Geppetto；　though　trying　to　look　very　stern；　felt　his　eyes　fill　with　tears　and　his　heart　soften　when　he　saw　Pinocchio　so　unhappy。　　He　said　no　more；　but　taking　his　tools　and　two　pieces　of　wood；　he　set　to　work　diligently。

In　less　than　an　hour　the　feet　were　finished；　two　slender；　nimble　little　feet；　strong　and　quick；　modeled　as　if　by　an　artist's　hands。

〃Close　your　eyes　and　sleep！〃　Geppetto　then　said　to　the　Marionette。

Pinocchio　closed　his　eyes　and　pretended　to　be　asleep；　while　Geppetto　stuck　on　the　two　feet　with　a　bit　of　glue　melted　in　an　eggshell；　doing　his　work　so　well　that　the　joint　could　hardly　be　seen。

As　soon　as　the　Marionette　felt　his　new　feet；　he　gave　one　leap　from　the　table　and　started　to　skip　and　jump　around；　as　if　he　had　lost　his　head　from　very　joy。

〃To　show　you　how　grateful　I　am　to　you；　Father；　I'll　go　to　school　now。　　But　to　go　to　school　I　need　a　suit　of　clothes。〃

Geppetto　did　not　have　a　penny　in　his　pocket；　so　he　made　his　son　a　little　suit　of　flowered　paper；　a　pair　of　shoes　from　the　bark　of　a　tree；　and　a　tiny　cap　from　a　bit　of　dough。

Pinocchio　ran　to　look　at　himself　in　a　bowl　of　water；　and　he　felt　so　happy　that　he　said　proudly：

〃Now　I　look　like　a　gentleman。〃

〃Truly；〃　answered　Geppetto。　　〃But　remember　that　fine　clothes　do　not　make　the　man　unless　they　be　neat　and　clean。〃

〃Very　true；〃　answered　Pinocchio；　〃but；　in　order　to　go　to　school；　I　still　need　something　very　important。〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃An　A…B…C　book。〃

〃To　be　sure！　　But　how　shall　we　get　it？〃

〃That's　easy。　　We'll　go　to　a　bookstore　and　buy　it。〃

〃And　the　money？〃

〃I　have　none。〃

〃Neither　have　I；〃　said　the　old　man　sadly。

Pinocchio；　although　a　happy　boy　always；　became　sad　and　downcast　at　these　words。　　When　poverty　shows　itself；　even　mischievous　boys　understand　what　it　means。

〃What　does　it　matter；　after　all？〃　cried　Geppetto　all　at　once；　as　he　jumped　up　from　his　chair。　　Putting　on　his　old　coat；　full　of　darns　and　patches；　he　ran　out　of　the　house　without　another　word。

After　a　while　he　returned。　　In　his　hands　he　had　the　A…B…C　book　for　his　son；　but　the　old　coat　was　gone。　　The　poor　fellow　was　in　his　shirt　sleeves　and　the　day　was　cold。

〃Where's　your　coat；　Father？〃

〃I　have　sold　it。〃

〃Why　did　you　sell　your　coat？〃

〃It　was　too　warm。〃

Pinocchio　understood　the　answer　in　a　twinkling；　and；　unable　to　restrain　his　tears；　he　jumped　on　his　father's　neck　and　kissed　him　over　and　over。



CHAPTER　9

Pinocchio　sells　his　A…B…C　book　to　pay　his　way　into　the　Marionette　Theater



See　Pinocchio　hurrying　off　to　school　with　his　new　A…B…C　book　under　his　arm！　　As　he　walked　along；　his　brain　was　busy　planning　hundreds　of　wonderful　things；　building　hundreds　of　castles　in　the　air。　　Talking　to　himself；　he　said：

〃In　school　today；　I'll　learn　to　read；　tomorrow　to　write；　and　the　day　after　tomorrow　I'll　do　arithmetic。　　Then；　clever　as　I　am；　I　can　earn　a　lot　of　money。　　With　the　very　first　pennies　I　make；　I'll　buy　Father　a　new　cloth　coat。　　Cloth；　did　I　say？　　No；　it　shall　be　of　gold　and　silver　with　diamond　buttons。　　That　poor　man　certainly　deserves　it；　for；　after　all；　isn't　he　in　his　shirt　sleeves　because　he　was　good　enough　to　buy　a　book　for　me？　　On　this　cold　day；　too！　　Fathers　are　indeed　good　to　their　children！〃

As　he　talked　to　himself；　he　thought　he　heard　sounds　of　pipes　and　drums　coming　from　a　distance：　　pi…pi…pi；　pi…pi…pi。　。　。zum；　zum；　zum；　zum。

He　stopped　to　listen。　　Those　sounds　came　from　a　little　street　that　led　to　a　small　village　along　the　shore。

〃What　can　that　noise　be？　　What　a　nuisance　that　I　have　to　go　to　school！　　Otherwise。　。　。〃

There　he　stopped；　very　much　puzzled。　　He　felt　he　had　to　make　up　his　mind　for　either　one　thing　or　another。　Should　he　go　to　school；　or　should　he　follow　the　pipes？

〃Today　I'll　follow　the　pipes；　and　tomorrow　I'll　go　to　school。　　There's　always　plenty　of　time　to　go　to　school；〃　decided　the　little　rascal　at　last；　shrugging　his　shoulders。

No　sooner　said　than　done。　　He　started　down　the　street；　going　like　the　wind。　　On　he　ran；　and　louder　grew　the　sounds　of　pipe　and　drum：　　pi…pi…pi；　pi…pi…pi；　pi…pi…pi　。　。　。zum；　zum；　zum；　zum。

Suddenly；　he　found　himself　in　a　large　square；　full　of　people　standing　in　front　of　a　little　wooden　building　painted　in　brilliant　colors。

〃What　is　that　house？〃　Pinocchio　asked　a　little　boy　near　him。

〃Read　the　sign　and　you'll　know。〃

〃I'd　like　to　read；　but　somehow　I　can't　today。〃

〃Oh；　really？　　Then　I'll　read　it　to　you。　　Know；　then；　that　written　in　letters　of　fire　I　see　the　words：　GREAT　MARIONETTE　THEATER。

〃When　did　the　show　start？〃

〃It　is　starting　now。〃

〃And　how　much　does　one　pay　to　get　in？〃

〃Four　pennies。〃

Pinocchio；　who　was　wild　with　curiosity　to　know　what　was　going　on　inside；　lost　all　his　pride　and　said　to　the　boy　shamelessly：

〃Will　you　give　me　four　pennies　until　tomorrow？〃

〃I'd　give　them　to　you　gladly；〃　answered　the　other；　poking　fun　at　him；　〃but　just　now　I　can't　give　them　to　you。〃

〃For　the　price　of　four　pennies；　I'll　sell　you　my　coat。〃

〃If　it　rains；　what　shall　I　do　with　a　coat　of　flowered　paper？　　I　could　not　take　it　off　again。〃

〃Do　you　want　to　buy　my　shoes？〃

〃They　are　only　good　enough　to　light　a　fire　with。〃

〃What　about　my　hat？〃

〃Fine　bargain；　indeed！　　A　cap　of　dough！　　The　mice　might　come　and　eat　it　from　my　head！〃

Pinocchio　was　almost　in　tears。　　He　was　just　about　to　make　one　last　offer；　but　he　lacked　the　courage　to　do　so。　He　hesitated；　he　wondered；　he　could　not　make　up　his　mind。　At　last　he　said：

〃Will　you　give　me　four　pennies　for　the　book？〃

〃I　am　a　boy　and　I　buy　nothing　from　boys；〃　said　the　little　fellow　with　far　more　common　sense　than　the　Marionette。

〃I'll　give　you　four　pennies　for　your　A…B…C　book；〃　said　a　ragpicker　who　stood　by。

Then　and　there；　the　book　changed　hands。　　And　to　think　that　poor　old　Geppetto　sat　at　home　in　his　shirt　sleeves；　shivering　with　cold；　having　sold　his　coat　to　buy　that　little　book　for　his　son！



CHAPTER　10

The　Marionettes　recognize　their　brother　Pinocchio；　and　greet　him　with　loud　cheers；　but　the　Director；　Fire　Eater；　happens　along　and　poor　Pinocchio　almost　loses　his　life



Quick　as　a　flash；　Pinocchio　disappeared　into　the　Marionette　Theater。　　And　then　something　happened　which　almost　caused　a　riot。

The　curtain　was　up　and　the　performance　had　started。

Harlequin　and　Pulcinella　were　reciting　on　the　stage　and；　as　usual；　they　were　threatening　each　other　with　sticks　and　blows。

The　theater　was　full　of　people；　enjoying　the　spectacle　and　laughing　till　they　cried　at　the　antics　of　the　two　Marionettes。

The　play　continued　for　a　few　minutes；　and　then　suddenly；　without　any　warning；　Harlequin　stopped　talking。　Turning　toward　the　audience；　he　pointed　to　the　rear　of　the　orchestra；　yelling　wildly　at　the　same　time：

〃Look；　look！　　Am　I　asleep　or　awake？　　Or　do　I　really　see　Pinocchio　there？〃

〃Yes；　yes！　　It　is　Pinocchio！〃　screamed　Pulcinella。

〃It　is！　　It　is！〃　shrieked　Signora　Rosaura；　peeking　in　from　the　side　of　the　stage。

〃It　is　Pinocchio！　　It　is　Pinocchio！〃　yelled　all　the　Marionettes；　pouring　out　of　the　wings。　　〃It　is　Pinocchio。　　It　is　our　brother　Pinocchio！　　Hurrah　for　Pinocchio！〃

〃Pinocchio；　come　up　to　me！〃　shouted　Harlequin。　　〃Come　to　the　arms　of　your　wooden　brothers！〃

At　such　a　loving　invitation；　Pinocchio；　with　one　leap　from　the　back　of　the　orchestra；　found　himself　in　the　front　rows。　　With　another　leap；　he　was　on　the　orchestra　leader's　head。　　With　a　third；　he　landed　on　the　stage。

It　is　impossible　to　describe　the　shrieks　of　joy；　the　warm　embraces；　the　knocks；　and　the　friendly　greetings　with　which　that　strange　company　of　dramatic　actors　and　actresses　received　Pinocchio。

It　was　a　heart…rending　spectacle；　but　the　audience；　seeing　that　the　play　had　stopped；　became　angry　and　began　to　yell：

〃The　play；　the　play；　we　want　the　play！〃

The　yelling　was　of　no　use；　for　the　Marionettes；　instead　of　going　on　with　their　act；　made　twice　as　much　racket　as　before；　and；　lifting　up　Pinocchio　on　their　shoulders；　carried　him　around　the　stage　in　triumph。

At　that　very　moment；　the　Director　came　out　of　his　room。　　He　had　such　a　fearful　appearance　that　one　look　at　him　would　fill　you　with　horror。　　His　beard　was　as　black　as　pitch；　and　so　long　that　it　reached　from　his　chin　down　to　his　feet。　　His　mouth　was　as　wide　as　an　oven；　his　teeth　like　yellow　fangs；　and　his　eyes；　two　glowing　red　coals。　　In　his　huge；　hairy　hands；　a　long　whip；　made　of　green　snakes　and　black　cats'　tails　twisted　together；　swished　through　the　air　in　a　dangerous　way。

At　the　unexpected　apparition；　no　one　dared　even　to　breathe。　　One　could　almost　hear　a　fly　go　by。　　Those　poor　Marionettes；　one　and　all；　trembled　like　leaves　in　a　storm。

〃Why　have　you　brought　such　excitement　into　my　theater；〃　the　huge　fellow　asked　Pinocchio　with　the　voice　of　an　ogre　suffering　with　a　cold。

〃Believe　me；　your　Honor；　the　fault　was　not　mine。〃

〃Enough！　　Be　quiet！　　I'll　take　care　of　you　later。〃

As　soon　as　the　play　was　over；　the　Director　went　to　the　kitchen；　where　a　fine　big　lamb　was　slow