the adventures of pinocchio-第15章

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No　sooner　said　than　done。　　He　approached　the　first　donkey　and　tried　to　mount　it。　　But　the　little　animal　turned　suddenly　and　gave　him　such　a　terrible　kick　in　the　stomach　that　Pinocchio　was　thrown　to　the　ground　and　fell　with　his　legs　in　the　air。

At　this　unlooked…for　entertainment；　the　whole　company　of　runaways　laughed　uproariously。

The　little　fat　man　did　not　laugh。　　He　went　up　to　the　rebellious　animal；　and；　still　smiling；　bent　over　him　lovingly　and　bit　off　half　of　his　right　ear。

In　the　meantime；　Pinocchio　lifted　himself　up　from　the　ground；　and　with　one　leap　landed　on　the　donkey's　back。　The　leap　was　so　well　taken　that　all　the　boys　shouted；

〃Hurrah　for　Pinocchio！〃　and　clapped　their　hands　in　hearty　applause。

Suddenly　the　little　donkey　gave　a　kick　with　his　two　hind　feet　and；　at　this　unexpected　move；　the　poor　Marionette　found　himself　once　again　sprawling　right　in　the　middle　of　the　road。

Again　the　boys　shouted　with　laughter。　　But　the　Little　Man；　instead　of　laughing；　became　so　loving　toward　the　little　animal　that；　with　another　kiss；　he　bit　off　half　of　his　left　ear。

〃You　can　mount　now；　my　boy；〃　he　then　said　to　Pinocchio。　〃Have　no　fear。　　That　donkey　was　worried　about　something；　but　I　have　spoken　to　him　and　now　he　seems　quiet　and　reasonable。〃

Pinocchio　mounted　and　the　wagon　started　on　its　way。　While　the　donkeys　galloped　along　the　stony　road；　the　Marionette　fancied　he　heard　a　very　quiet　voice　whispering　to　him：

〃Poor　silly！　　You　have　done　as　you　wished。　　But　you　are　going　to　be　a　sorry　boy　before　very　long。〃

Pinocchio；　greatly　frightened；　looked　about　him　to　see　whence　the　words　had　come；　but　he　saw　no　one。　　The　donkeys　galloped；　the　wagon　rolled　on　smoothly；　the　boys　slept　（Lamp…Wick　snored　like　a　dormouse）　and　the　little；　fat　driver　sang　sleepily　between　his　teeth。

After　a　mile　or　so；　Pinocchio　again　heard　the　same　faint　voice　whispering：　　〃Remember；　little　simpleton！　Boys　who　stop　studying　and　turn　their　backs　upon　books　and　schools　and　teachers　in　order　to　give　all　their　time　to　nonsense　and　pleasure；　sooner　or　later　come　to　grief。　Oh；　how　well　I　know　this！　　How　well　I　can　prove　it　to　you！　A　day　will　come　when　you　will　weep　bitterly；　even　as　I　am　weeping　nowbut　it　will　be　too　late！〃

At　these　whispered　words；　the　Marionette　grew　more　and　more　frightened。　　He　jumped　to　the　ground；　ran　up　to　the　donkey　on　whose　back　he　had　been　riding；　and　taking　his　nose　in　his　hands；　looked　at　him。　　Think　how　great　was　his　surprise　when　he　saw　that　the　donkey　was　weepingweeping　just　like　a　boy！

〃Hey；　Mr。　Driver！〃　cried　the　Marionette。　　〃Do　you　know　what　strange　thing　is　happening　here！　　This　donkey　weeps。〃

〃Let　him　weep。　　When　he　gets　married；　he　will　have　time　to　laugh。〃

〃Have　you　perhaps　taught　him　to　speak？〃

〃No；　he　learned　to　mumble　a　few　words　when　he　lived　for　three　years　with　a　band　of　trained　dogs。〃

〃Poor　beast！〃

〃Come；　come；〃　said　the　Little　Man；　〃do　not　lose　time　over　a　donkey　that　can　weep。　　Mount　quickly　and　let　us　go。　The　night　is　cool　and　the　road　is　long。〃

Pinocchio　obeyed　without　another　word。　　The　wagon　started　again。　　Toward　dawn　the　next　morning　they　finally　reached　that　much…longed…for　country；　the　Land　of　Toys。

This　great　land　was　entirely　different　from　any　other　place　in　the　world。　　Its　population；　large　though　it　was；　was　composed　wholly　of　boys。　　The　oldest　were　about　fourteen　years　of　age；　the　youngest；　eight。　　In　the　street；　there　was　such　a　racket；　such　shouting；　such　blowing　of　trumpets；　that　it　was　deafening。　　Everywhere　groups　of　boys　were　gathered　together。　　Some　played　at　marbles；　at　hopscotch；　at　ball。　　Others　rode　on　bicycles　or　on　wooden　horses。　　Some　played　at　blindman's　buff；　others　at　tag。　Here　a　group　played　circus；　there　another　sang　and　recited。　A　few　turned　somersaults；　others　walked　on　their　hands　with　their　feet　in　the　air。　　Generals　in　full　uniform　leading　regiments　of　cardboard　soldiers　passed　by。　　Laughter；　shrieks；　howls；　catcalls；　hand…clapping　followed　this　parade。　　One　boy　made　a　noise　like　a　hen；　another　like　a　rooster；　and　a　third　imitated　a　lion　in　his　den。　　All　together　they　created　such　a　pandemonium　that　it　would　have　been　necessary　for　you　to　put　cotton　in　your　ears。　The　squares　were　filled　with　small　wooden　theaters；　overflowing　with　boys　from　morning　till　night；　and　on　the　walls　of　the　houses；　written　with　charcoal；　were　words　like　these：　　HURRAH　FOR　THE　LAND　OF　TOYS！　　DOWN　WITH　ARITHMETIC！　　NO　MORE　SCHOOL！

As　soon　as　they　had　set　foot　in　that　land；　Pinocchio；　Lamp…Wick；　and　all　the　other　boys　who　had　traveled　with　them　started　out　on　a　tour　of　investigation。　　They　wandered　everywhere；　they　looked　into　every　nook　and　corner；　house　and　theater。　　They　became　everybody's　friend。　Who　could　be　happier　than　they？

What　with　entertainments　and　parties；　the　hours；　the　days；　the　weeks　passed　like　lightning。

〃Oh；　what　a　beautiful　life　this　is！〃　said　Pinocchio　each　time　that；　by　chance；　he　met　his　friend　Lamp…Wick。

〃Was　I　right　or　wrong？〃　answered　Lamp…Wick。　　〃And　to　think　you　did　not　want　to　come！　　To　think　that　even　yesterday　the　idea　came　into　your　head　to　return　home　to　see　your　Fairy　and　to　start　studying　again！　　If　today　you　are　free　from　pencils　and　books　and　school；　you　owe　it　to　me；　to　my　advice；　to　my　care。　　Do　you　admit　it？　　Only　true　friends　count；　after　all。〃

〃It's　true；　Lamp…Wick；　it's　true。　　If　today　I　am　a　really　happy　boy；　it　is　all　because　of　you。　　And　to　think　that　the　teacher；　when　speaking　of　you；　used　to　say；　‘Do　not　go　with　that　Lamp…Wick！　　He　is　a　bad　companion　and　some　day　he　will　lead　you　astray。'〃

〃Poor　teacher！〃　answered　the　other；　nodding　his　head。　〃Indeed　I　know　how　much　he　disliked　me　and　how　he　enjoyed　speaking　ill　of　me。　　But　I　am　of　a　generous　nature；　and　I　gladly　forgive　him。〃

〃Great　soul！〃　said　Pinocchio；　fondly　embracing　his　friend。

Five　months　passed　and　the　boys　continued　playing　and　enjoying　themselves　from　morn　till　night；　without　ever　seeing　a　book；　or　a　desk；　or　a　school。　　But；　my　children；　there　came　a　morning　when　Pinocchio　awoke　and　found　a　great　surprise　awaiting　him；　a　surprise　which　made　him　feel　very　unhappy；　as　you　shall　see。



CHAPTER　32

Pinocchio's　ears　become　like　those　of　a　Donkey。　In　a　little　while　he　changes　into　a　real　Donkey　and　begins　to　bray



Everyone；　at　one　time　or　another；　has　found　some　surprise　awaiting　him。　　Of　the　kind　which　Pinocchio　had　on　that　eventful　morning　of　his　life；　there　are　but　few。

What　was　it？　　I　will　tell　you；　my　dear　little　readers。　On　awakening；　Pinocchio　put　his　hand　up　to　his　head　and　there　he　found

Guess！

He　found　that；　during　the　night；　his　ears　had　grown　at　least　ten　full　inches！

You　must　know　that　the　Marionette；　even　from　his　birth；　had　very　small　ears；　so　small　indeed　that　to　the　naked　eye　they　could　hardly　be　seen。　　Fancy　how　he　felt　when　he　noticed　that　overnight　those　two　dainty　organs　had　become　as　long　as　shoe　brushes！

He　went　in　search　of　a　mirror；　but　not　finding　any；　he　just　filled　a　basin　with　water　and　looked　at　himself。　There　he　saw　what　he　never　could　have　wished　to　see。　His　manly　figure　was　adorned　and　enriched　by　a　beautiful　pair　of　donkey's　ears。

I　leave　you　to　think　of　the　terrible　grief；　the　shame；　the　despair　of　the　poor　Marionette。

He　began　to　cry；　to　scream；　to　knock　his　head　against　the　wall；　but　the　more　he　shrieked；　the　longer　and　the　more　hairy　grew　his　ears。

At　those　piercing　shrieks；　a　Dormouse　came　into　the　room；　a　fat　little　Dormouse；　who　lived　upstairs。　　Seeing　Pinocchio　so　grief…stricken；　she　asked　him　anxiously：

〃What　is　the　matter；　dear　little　neighbor？〃

〃I　am　sick；　my　little　Dormouse；　very；　very　sickand　from　an　illness　which　frightens　me！　　Do　you　understand　how　to　feel　the　pulse？〃

〃A　little。〃

〃Feel　mine　then　and　tell　me　if　I　have　a　fever。〃

The　Dormouse　took　Pinocchio's　wrist　between　her　paws　and；　after　a　few　minutes；　looked　up　at　him　sorrowfully　and　said：　〃My　friend；　I　am　sorry；　but　I　must　give　you　some　very　sad　news。〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃You　have　a　very　bad　fever。〃

〃But　what　fever　is　it？〃

〃The　donkey　fever。〃

〃I　don't　know　anything　about　that　fever；〃　answered　the　Marionette；　beginning　to　understand　even　too　well　what　was　happening　to　him。

〃Then　I　will　tell　you　all　about　it；〃　said　the　Dormouse。　〃Know　then　that；　within　two　or　three　hours；　you　will　no　longer　be　a　Marionette；　nor　a　boy。〃

〃What　shall　I　be？〃

〃Within　two　or　three　hours　you　will　become　a　real　donkey；　just　like　the　ones　that　pull　the　fruit　carts　to　market。〃

〃Oh；　what　have　I　done？　　What　have　I　done？〃　cried　Pinocchio；　grasping　his　two　long　ears　in　his　hands　and　pulling　and　tugging　at　them　angrily；　just　as　if　they　belonged　to　another。

〃My　dear　boy；〃　answered　the　Dormouse　to　cheer　him　up　a　bit；　〃why　worry　now？　　What　is　done　cannot　be　undone；　you　know。　Fate　has　decreed　that　all　lazy　boys　who　come　to　hate　books　and　schools　and　teachers　and　spend　all　their　days　with　toys　and　games　must　sooner　or　later　turn　into　donkeys。〃

〃But　is　it　really　so？〃　asked　the　Marionette；　sobbing　bitterly。

〃I　am　sorry　to　say　it　is。　　And　tears　now　are　useless。　You　should　have　thought　of　all　this　before。〃

〃But　the　fault　is　not　mine。　　Believe　me；　little　Dormouse；　the　fault　is　all　Lamp…Wick's。〃

〃And　who　is　this　Lamp…Wick？〃

〃A　classmate　of　mine。　　I　wanted　to　return　home。　　I　wanted　to　be　obedient。　　I　wanted　to　study　and　to　succeed　in　school；　but　Lamp…Wick　said　to　me；　‘Why　do　you　want　to　waste　your　time　studying？　　Why　do　you　want　to　go　to　school？　　Come　with　me　to　the　Land　of　Toys。　There　we'll　never　study　again。　　There　we　can　enjoy　ourselves　and　be　happy　from　morn　till　night。'〃

〃And　why　did　you　follow　the　advice　of　that　false　friend？〃

〃Why？　　Because；　my　dear　little　Dormouse；　I　am　a　heedless　Marionetteheedless　and　heartless。　　Oh！　　If　I　had　only　had　a　bit　of　heart；　I　should　never　have　abandoned　that　good　Fairy；　who　loved　me　so　well　and　who　has　been　so　kind　to　me！　　And　by　this　time；　I　should　no　longer　be　a　Marionette。　　I　should　have　become　a　real　boy；　like　all　these　friends　of　mine！　　Oh；　if　I　meet　Lamp…Wick　I　am　going　to　tell　him　what　I　think　of　himand　more；　too！〃

After　this　long　speech；　Pinocchio　walked　to　the　door　of　the　room。　　But　when　he　reached　it；　remembering　his　donkey　ears；　he　felt　ashamed　to　show　them　to　the　public　and　turned　back。　　He　took　a　large　cotton　bag　from　a　shelf；　put　it　on　his　head；　and　pulled　it　far　down　to　his　very　nose。

Thus　adorned；　he　went　out。　　He　looked　for　Lamp…Wick　everywhere；　along　the　streets；　in　the　squares；　inside　the　theatres；　everywhere；　but　he　was　not　to　be　found。　　He　asked　everyone　whom　he　met　about　him；　but　no　one　had　seen　him。　　In　desperation；　he　returned　home　and　knocked　at　the　door。

〃Who　is　it？〃　asked　Lamp…Wick　from　within。

〃It　is　I！〃　answered　the　Marionette。

〃Wait　a　minute。〃

After　a　full　half　hour　the　door　opened。　　Another　surprise　awaited　Pinocchio！　　There　in　the　room　stood　his　friend；　with　a　large　cotton　bag　on　his　head；　pulled　far　down　to　his　very　nose。

At　the　sight　of　that　bag；　Pinocchio　felt　slightly　happier　and　thought　to　himself：

〃My　friend　must　be　suffering　from　the　same　sickness　that　I　am！　　I　wonder　if　he；　too；　has　donkey　fever？〃

But　pretending　he　had　seen　nothing；　he　asked　with　a　smile：

〃How　are　you；　my　dear　Lamp…Wick？〃