按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
In less than a half hour； at least twenty people passed and Pinocchio begged of each one； but they all answered：
〃Aren't you ashamed？ Instead of being a beggar in the streets； why don't you look for work and earn your own bread？〃
Finally a little woman went by carrying two water jugs。
〃Good woman； will you allow me to have a drink from one of your jugs？〃 asked Pinocchio； who was burning up with thirst。
〃With pleasure； my boy！〃 she answered； setting the two jugs on the ground before him。
When Pinocchio had had his fill； he grumbled； as he wiped his mouth：
〃My thirst is gone。 If I could only as easily get rid of my hunger！〃
On hearing these words； the good little woman immediately said：
〃If you help me to carry these jugs home； I'll give you a slice of bread。〃
Pinocchio looked at the jug and said neither yes nor no。
〃And with the bread； I'll give you a nice dish of cauliflower with white sauce on it。〃
Pinocchio gave the jug another look and said neither yes nor no。
〃And after the cauliflower； some cake and jam。〃
At this last bribery； Pinocchio could no longer resist and said firmly：
〃Very well。 I'll take the jug home for you。〃
The jug was very heavy； and the Marionette； not being strong enough to carry it with his hands； had to put it on his head。
When they arrived home； the little woman made Pinocchio sit down at a small table and placed before him the bread； the cauliflower； and the cake。 Pinocchio did not eat； he devoured。 His stomach seemed a bottomless pit。
His hunger finally appeased； he raised his head to thank his kind benefactress。 But he had not looked at her long when he gave a cry of surprise and sat there with his eyes wide open； his fork in the air； and his mouth filled with bread and cauliflower。
〃Why all this surprise？〃 asked the good woman； laughing。
〃Because〃 answered Pinocchio； stammering and stuttering； 〃becauseyou look likeyou remind me ofyes； yes； the same voice； the same eyes； the same hairyes； yes； yes； you also have the same azure hair she hadOh； my little Fairy； my little Fairy！ Tell me that it is you！ Don't make me cry any longer！ If you only knew！ I have cried so much； I have suffered so！〃
And Pinocchio threw himself on the floor and clasped the knees of the mysterious little woman。
CHAPTER 25
Pinocchio promises the Fairy to be good and to study； as he is growing tired of being a Marionette； and wishes to become a real boy
If Pinocchio cried much longer； the little woman thought he would melt away； so she finally admitted that she was the little Fairy with Azure Hair。
〃You rascal of a Marionette！ How did you know it was I？〃 she asked； laughing。
〃My love for you told me who you were。〃
〃Do you remember？ You left me when I was a little girl and now you find me a grown woman。 I am so old； I could almost be your mother！〃
〃I am very glad of that； for then I can call you mother instead of sister。 For a long time I have wanted a mother； just like other boys。 But how did you grow so quickly？〃
〃That's a secret！〃
〃Tell it to me。 I also want to grow a little。 Look at me！ I have never grown higher than a penny's worth of cheese。〃
〃But you can't grow；〃 answered the Fairy。
〃Why not？〃
〃Because Marionettes never grow。 They are born Marionettes； they live Marionettes； and they die Marionettes。〃
〃Oh； I'm tired of always being a Marionette！〃 cried Pinocchio disgustedly。 〃It's about time for me to grow into a man as everyone else does。〃
〃And you will if you deserve it〃
〃Really？ What can I do to deserve it？〃
〃It's a very simple matter。 Try to act like a well…behaved child。〃
〃Don't you think I do？〃
〃Far from it！ Good boys are obedient； and you； on the contrary〃
〃And I never obey。〃
〃Good boys love study and work； but you〃
〃And I； on the contrary； am a lazy fellow and a tramp all year round。〃
〃Good boys always tell the truth。〃
〃And I always tell lies。〃
〃Good boys go gladly to school。〃
〃And I get sick if I go to school。 From now on I'll be different。〃
〃Do you promise？〃
〃I promise。 I want to become a good boy and be a comfort to my father。 Where is my poor father now？〃
〃I do not know。〃
〃Will I ever be lucky enough to find him and embrace him once more？〃
〃I think so。 Indeed； I am sure of it。〃
At this answer； Pinocchio's happiness was very great。 He grasped the Fairy's hands and kissed them so hard that it looked as if he had lost his head。 Then lifting his face； he looked at her lovingly and asked： 〃Tell me； little Mother； it isn't true that you are dead； is it？〃
〃It doesn't seem so；〃 answered the Fairy； smiling。
〃If you only knew how I suffered and how I wept when I read ‘Here lies'〃
〃I know it； and for that I have forgiven you。 The depth of your sorrow made me see that you have a kind heart。 There is always hope for boys with hearts such as yours； though they may often be very mischievous。 This is the reason why I have come so far to look for you。 From now on； I'll be your own little mother。〃
〃Oh！ How lovely！〃 cried Pinocchio； jumping with joy。
〃You will obey me always and do as I wish？〃
〃Gladly； very gladly； more than gladly！〃
〃Beginning tomorrow；〃 said the Fairy； 〃you'll go to school every day。〃
Pinocchio's face fell a little。
〃Then you will choose the trade you like best。〃
Pinocchio became more serious。
〃What are you mumbling to yourself？〃 asked the Fairy。
〃I was just saying；〃 whined the Marionette in a whisper； 〃that it seems too late for me to go to school now。〃
〃No； indeed。 Remember it is never too late to learn。〃
〃But I don't want either trade or profession。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because work wearies me！〃
〃My dear boy；〃 said the Fairy； 〃people who speak as you do usually end their days either in a prison or in a hospital。 A man； remember； whether rich or poor； should do something in this world。 No one can find happiness without work。 Woe betide the lazy fellow！ Laziness is a serious illness and one must cure it immediately； yes； even from early childhood。 If not； it will kill you in the end。〃
These words touched Pinocchio's heart。 He lifted his eyes to his Fairy and said seriously： 〃I'll work； I'll study； I'll do all you tell me。 After all； the life of a Marionette has grown very tiresome to me and I want to become a boy； no matter how hard it is。 You promise that； do you not？〃
〃Yes； I promise； and now it is up to you。〃
CHAPTER 26
Pinocchio goes to the seashore with his friends to see the Terrible Shark
In the morning； bright and early； Pinocchio started for school。
Imagine what the boys said when they saw a Marionette enter the classroom！ They laughed until they cried。 Everyone played tricks on him。 One pulled his hat off； another tugged at his coat； a third tried to paint a mustache under his nose。 One even attempted to tie strings to his feet and his hands to make him dance。
For a while Pinocchio was very calm and quiet。 Finally； however； he lost all patience and turning to his tormentors； he said to them threateningly：
〃Careful； boys； I haven't come here to be made fun of。 I'll respect you and I want you to respect me。〃
〃Hurrah for Dr。 Know…all！ You have spoken like a printed book！〃 howled the boys； bursting with laughter。 One of them； more impudent than the rest； put out his hand to pull the Marionette's nose。
But he was not quick enough； for Pinocchio stretched his leg under the table and kicked him hard on the shin。
〃Oh； what hard feet！〃 cried the boy； rubbing the spot where the Marionette had kicked him。
〃And what elbows！ They are even harder than the feet！〃 shouted another one； who； because of some other trick； had received a blow in the stomach。
With that kick and that blow Pinocchio gained everybody's favor。 Everyone admired him； danced attendance upon him； petted and caressed him。
As the days passed into weeks； even the teacher praised him； for he saw him attentive； hard working； and wide awake； always the first to come in the morning； and the last to leave when school was over。
Pinocchio's only fault was that he had too many friends。 Among these were many well…known rascals； who cared not a jot for study or for success。
The teacher warned him each day； and even the good Fairy repeated to him many times：
〃Take care； Pinocchio！ Those bad companions will sooner or later make you lose your love for study。 Some day they will lead you astray。〃
〃There's no such danger；〃 answered the Marionette； shrugging his shoulders and pointing to his forehead as if to say； 〃I'm too wise。〃
So it happened that one day； as he was walking to school； he met some boys who ran up to him and said：
〃Have you heard the news？〃
〃No！〃
〃A Shark as big as a mountain has been seen near the shore。〃
〃Really？ I wonder if it could be the same one I heard of when my father was drowned？〃
〃We are going to see it。 Are you coming？〃
〃No； not I。 I must go to school。〃
〃What do you care about school？ You can go there tomorrow。 With a lesson more or less； we are always the same donkeys。〃
〃And what will the teacher say？〃
〃Let him talk。 He is paid to grumble all day long。〃
〃And my mother？〃
〃Mothers don't know anything；〃 answered