the adventures of pinocchio-第19章

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th　a　high　fever。

Was　he　shivering　from　fear　or　from　cold？　　Who　knows？　Perhaps　a　little　of　both。　　But　Pinocchio；　thinking　his　father　was　frightened；　tried　to　comfort　him　by　saying：

〃Courage；　Father！　　In　a　few　moments　we　shall　be　safe　on　land。〃

〃But　where　is　that　blessed　shore？〃　asked　the　little　old　man；　more　and　more　worried　as　he　tried　to　pierce　the　faraway　shadows。　〃Here　I　am　searching　on　all　sides　and　I　see　nothing　but　sea　and　sky。〃

〃I　see　the　shore；〃　said　the　Marionette。　　〃Remember；　Father；　that　I　am　like　a　cat。　　I　see　better　at　night　than　by　day。〃

Poor　Pinocchio　pretended　to　be　peaceful　and　contented；　but　he　was　far　from　that。　　He　was　beginning　to　feel　discouraged；　his　strength　was　leaving　him；　and　his　breathing　was　becoming　more　and　more　labored。　　He　felt　he　could　not　go　on　much　longer；　and　the　shore　was　still　far　away。

He　swam　a　few　more　strokes。　　Then　he　turned　to　Geppetto　and　cried　out　weakly：

〃Help　me；　Father！　　Help；　for　I　am　dying！〃

Father　and　son　were　really　about　to　drown　when　they　heard　a　voice　like　a　guitar　out　of　tune　call　from　the　sea：

〃What　is　the　trouble？〃

〃It　is　I　and　my　poor　father。〃

〃I　know　the　voice。　　You　are　Pinocchio。〃

〃Exactly。　　And　you？〃

〃I　am　the　Tunny；　your　companion　in　the　Shark's　stomach。〃

〃And　how　did　you　escape？〃

〃I　imitated　your　example。　　You　are　the　one　who　showed　me　the　way　and　after　you　went；　I　followed。〃

〃Tunny；　you　arrived　at　the　right　moment！　　I　implore　you；　for　the　love　you　bear　your　children；　the　little　Tunnies；　to　help　us；　or　we　are　lost！〃

〃With　great　pleasure　indeed。　　Hang　onto　my　tail；　both　of　you；　and　let　me　lead　you。　　In　a　twinkling　you　will　be　safe　on　land。〃

Geppetto　and　Pinocchio；　as　you　can　easily　imagine；　did　not　refuse　the　invitation；　indeed；　instead　of　hanging　onto　the　tail；　they　thought　it　better　to　climb　on　the　Tunny's　back。

〃Are　we　too　heavy？〃　asked　Pinocchio。

〃Heavy？　　Not　in　the　least。　　You　are　as　light　as　sea…shells；〃　answered　the　Tunny；　who　was　as　large　as　a　two…year…old　horse。

As　soon　as　they　reached　the　shore；　Pinocchio　was　the　first　to　jump　to　the　ground　to　help　his　old　father。　Then　he　turned　to　the　fish　and　said　to　him：

〃Dear　friend；　you　have　saved　my　father；　and　I　have　not　enough　words　with　which　to　thank　you！　　Allow　me　to　embrace　you　as　a　sign　of　my　eternal　gratitude。〃

The　Tunny　stuck　his　nose　out　of　the　water　and　Pinocchio　knelt　on　the　sand　and　kissed　him　most　affectionately　on　his　cheek。　　At　this　warm　greeting；　the　poor　Tunny；　who　was　not　used　to　such　tenderness；　wept　like　a　child。　He　felt　so　embarrassed　and　ashamed　that　he　turned　quickly；　plunged　into　the　sea；　and　disappeared。

In　the　meantime　day　had　dawned。

Pinocchio　offered　his　arm　to　Geppetto；　who　was　so　weak　he　could　hardly　stand；　and　said　to　him：

〃Lean　on　my　arm；　dear　Father；　and　let　us　go。　　We　will　walk　very；　very　slowly；　and　if　we　feel　tired　we　can　rest　by　the　wayside。〃

〃And　where　are　we　going？〃　asked　Geppetto。

〃To　look　for　a　house　or　a　hut；　where　they　will　be　kind　enough　to　give　us　a　bite　of　bread　and　a　bit　of　straw　to　sleep　on。〃

They　had　not　taken　a　hundred　steps　when　they　saw　two　rough…looking　individuals　sitting　on　a　stone　begging　for　alms。

It　was　the　Fox　and　the　Cat；　but　one　could　hardly　recognize　them；　they　looked　so　miserable。　　The　Cat；　after　pretending　to　be　blind　for　so　many　years　had　really　lost　the　sight　of　both　eyes。　　And　the　Fox；　old；　thin；　and　almost　hairless；　had　even　lost　his　tail。　　That　sly　thief　had　fallen　into　deepest　poverty；　and　one　day　he　had　been　forced　to　sell　his　beautiful　tail　for　a　bite　to　eat。

〃Oh；　Pinocchio；〃　he　cried　in　a　tearful　voice。　　〃Give　us　some　alms；　we　beg　of　you！　　We　are　old；　tired；　and　sick。〃

〃Sick！〃　repeated　the　Cat。

〃Addio；　false　friends！〃　answered　the　Marionette。　〃You　cheated　me　once；　but　you　will　never　catch　me　again。〃

〃Believe　us！　　Today　we　are　truly　poor　and　starving。〃

〃Starving！〃　repeated　the　Cat。

〃If　you　are　poor；　you　deserve　it！　　Remember　the　old　proverb　which　says：　　‘Stolen　money　never　bears　fruit。'　Addio；　false　friends。〃

〃Have　mercy　on　us！〃

〃On　us。〃

〃Addio；　false　friends。　　Remember　the　old　proverb　which　says：　‘Bad　wheat　always　makes　poor　bread！'〃

〃Do　not　abandon　us。〃

〃Abandon　us；〃　repeated　the　Cat。

〃Addio；　false　friends。　　Remember　the　old　proverb：　‘Whoever　steals　his　neighbor's　shirt；　usually　dies　without　his　own。'〃

Waving　good…by　to　them；　Pinocchio　and　Geppetto　calmly　went　on　their　way。　　After　a　few　more　steps；　they　saw；　at　the　end　of　a　long　road　near　a　clump　of　trees；　a　tiny　cottage　built　of　straw。

〃Someone　must　live　in　that　little　hut；〃　said　Pinocchio。　〃Let　us　see　for　ourselves。〃

They　went　and　knocked　at　the　door。

〃Who　is　it？〃　said　a　little　voice　from　within。

〃A　poor　father　and　a　poorer　son；　without　food　and　with　no　roof　to　cover　them；〃　answered　the　Marionette。

〃Turn　the　key　and　the　door　will　open；〃　said　the　same　little　voice。

Pinocchio　turned　the　key　and　the　door　opened。　　As　soon　as　they　went　in；　they　looked　here　and　there　and　everywhere　but　saw　no　one。

〃Ohho；　where　is　the　owner　of　the　hut？〃　cried　Pinocchio；　very　much　surprised。

〃Here　I　am；　up　here！〃

Father　and　son　looked　up　to　the　ceiling；　and　there　on　a　beam　sat　the　Talking　Cricket。

〃Oh；　my　dear　Cricket；〃　said　Pinocchio；　bowing　politely。

〃Oh；　now　you　call　me　your　dear　Cricket；　but　do　you　remember　when　you　threw　your　hammer　at　me　to　kill　me？〃

〃You　are　right；　dear　Cricket。　　Throw　a　hammer　at　me　now。　I　deserve　it！　　But　spare　my　poor　old　father。〃

〃I　am　going　to　spare　both　the　father　and　the　son。　　I　have　only　wanted　to　remind　you　of　the　trick　you　long　ago　played　upon　me；　to　teach　you　that　in　this　world　of　ours　we　must　be　kind　and　courteous　to　others；　if　we　want　to　find　kindness　and　courtesy　in　our　own　days　of　trouble。〃

〃You　are　right；　little　Cricket；　you　are　more　than　right；　and　I　shall　remember　the　lesson　you　have　taught　me。　　But　will　you　tell　how　you　succeeded　in　buying　this　pretty　little　cottage？〃

〃This　cottage　was　given　to　me　yesterday　by　a　little　Goat　with　blue　hair。〃

〃And　where　did　the　Goat　go？〃　asked　Pinocchio。

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃And　when　will　she　come　back？〃

〃She　will　never　come　back。　　Yesterday　she　went　away　bleating　sadly；　and　it　seemed　to　me　she　said：　　‘Poor　Pinocchio；　I　shall　never　see　him　again。　。　。the　Shark　must　have　eaten　him　by　this　time。'〃

〃Were　those　her　real　words？　　Then　it　was　sheit　was　my　dear　little　Fairy；〃　cried　out　Pinocchio；　sobbing　bitterly。　After　he　had　cried　a　long　time；　he　wiped　his　eyes　and　then　he　made　a　bed　of　straw　for　old　Geppetto。　　He　laid　him　on　it　and　said　to　the　Talking　Cricket：

〃Tell　me；　little　Cricket；　where　shall　I　find　a　glass　of　milk　for　my　poor　Father？〃

〃Three　fields　away　from　here　lives　Farmer　John。　　He　has　some　cows。　　Go　there　and　he　will　give　you　what　you　want。〃

Pinocchio　ran　all　the　way　to　Farmer　John's　house。　　The　Farmer　said　to　him：

〃How　much　milk　do　you　want？〃

〃I　want　a　full　glass。〃

〃A　full　glass　costs　a　penny。　　First　give　me　the　penny。〃

〃I　have　no　penny；〃　answered　Pinocchio；　sad　and　ashamed。

〃Very　bad；　my　Marionette；〃　answered　the　Farmer；　〃very　bad。　　If　you　have　no　penny；　I　have　no　milk。〃

〃Too　bad；〃　said　Pinocchio　and　started　to　go。

〃Wait　a　moment；〃　said　Farmer　John。　　〃Perhaps　we　can　come　to　terms。　Do　you　know　how　to　draw　water　from　a　well？〃

〃I　can　try。〃

〃Then　go　to　that　well　you　see　yonder　and　draw　one　hundred　bucketfuls　of　water。〃

〃Very　well。〃

〃After　you　have　finished；　I　shall　give　you　a　glass　of　warm　sweet　milk。〃

〃I　am　satisfied。〃

Farmer　John　took　the　Marionette　to　the　well　and　showed　him　how　to　draw　the　water。　　Pinocchio　set　to　work　as　well　as　he　knew　how；　but　long　before　he　had　pulled　up　the　one　hundred　buckets；　he　was　tired　out　and　dripping　with　perspiration。　　He　had　never　worked　so　hard　in　his　life。

〃Until　today；〃　said　the　Farmer；　〃my　donkey　has　drawn　the　water　for　me；　but　now　that　poor　animal　is　dying。〃

〃Will　you　take　me　to　see　him？〃　said　Pinocchio。

〃Gladly。〃

As　soon　as　Pinocchio　went　into　the　stable；　he　spied　a　little　Donkey　lying　on　a　bed　of　straw　in　the　corner　of　the　stable。　　He　was　worn　out　from　hunger　and　too　much　work。　After　looking　at　him　a　long　time；　he　said　to　himself：　〃I　know　that　Donkey！　　I　have　seen　him　before。〃

And　bending　low　over　him；　he　asked：　　〃Who　are　you？〃

At　this　question；　the　Donkey　opened　weary；　dying　eyes　and　answered　in　the　same　tongue：　　〃I　am　Lamp…Wick。〃

Then　he　closed　his　eyes　and　died。

〃Oh；　my　poor　Lamp…Wick；〃　said　Pinocchio　in　a　faint　voice；　as　he　wiped　his　eyes　with　some　straw　he　had　picked　up　from　the　ground。

〃Do　you　feel　so　sorry　for　a　little　donkey　that　has　cost　you　nothing？〃　said　the　Farmer。　　〃What　should　I　doI；　who　have　paid　my　good　money　for　him？〃

〃But；　you　see；　he　was　my　friend。〃

〃Your　friend？〃

〃A　classmate　of　mine。〃

〃What；〃　shouted　Farmer　John；　bursting　out　laughing。　〃What！　　You　had　donkeys　in　your　school？　　How　you　must　have　studied！〃

The　Marionette；　ashamed　and　hurt　by　those　words；　did　not　answer；　but　taking　his　glass　of　milk　returned　to　his　father。

From　that　day　on；　for　more　than　five　months；　Pinocchio　got　up　every　morning　just　as　dawn　was　breaking　and　went　to　the　farm　to　draw　water。　　And　every　day　he　was　given　a　glass　of　warm　milk　for　his　poor　old　father；　who　grew　stronger　and　better　day　by　day。　　But　he　was　not　satisfied　with　this。　　He　learned　to　make　baskets　of　reeds　and　sold　them。　　With　the　money　he　received；　he　and　his　father　were　able　to　keep　from　starving。

Among　other　things；　he　built　a　rolling　chair；　strong　and　comfortable；　to　take　his　old　father　out　for　an　airing　on　bright；　sunny　days。

In　the　evening　the　Marionette　studied　by　lamplight。　With　some　of　the　money　he　had　earned；　he　bought　himself　a　secondhand　volume　that　had　a　few　pages　missing；　and　with　that　he　learned　to　read　in　a　very　short　time。　　As　far　as　writing　was　concerned；　he　used　a　long　stick　at　one　end　of　which　he　had　whittled　a　long；　fine　point。　　Ink　he　had　none；　so　he　used　the　juice　of　blackberries　or　cherries。　Little　by　little　his　diligence　was　rewarded。　　He　succeeded；　not　only　in　his　studies；　but　also　in　his　work；　and　a　day　came　when　he　put　enough　money　together　to　keep　his　old　father　comfortable　and　happy。　　Besides　this；　he　was　able　to　save　the　great　amount　of　fifty　pennies。　　With　it　he　wanted　to　buy　himself　a　new　suit。

One　day　he　said　to　his　father：

〃I　am　going　to　the　market　place　to　buy　myself　a　coat；　a　cap；　and　a　pair　of　shoes。　　When　I　come　back　I'll　be　so　dressed　up；　you　will　think　I　am　a　rich　man。〃

He　ran　out　of　the　house　and　up　the　road　to　the　village；　laughing　and　singing。　　Suddenly　he　heard　his　name　called；　and　looking　around　to　see　whence　the　voice　came；　he　noticed　a　large　snail　crawling　out　of　some　bushes。

〃Don't　you　recognize　me？〃　said　the　Snail。

〃Yes　and　no。〃

〃Do　you　remember　the　Snail　that　lived　with　the　Fairy　with　Azure　Hair？　　Do　you　not　remember　how　she　opened　the　door　for　you　one　night　and　gave　you　something　to　eat？〃

〃I　remember　everything；〃　cried　Pinocchio。　　〃Answer　me　quickly；　pretty　Snail；　where　have　you　left　my　Fairy？　What　is　she　doing？　　Has　she　forgiven　me？　　Does　she　remember　me？　　Does　she　still　love　me？　　Is　she　very　far　away　from　here？　　May　I　see　her？〃

At　all　these　questions；　tumbling　out　one　after　another；　the　Snail　answered；　cal