the adventures of pinocchio- 第16部分

〃And　the　Fairy？〃

〃By　this　time　I'm　late；　and　one　hour　more　or　less　makes　very　little　difference。〃

〃Poor　Pinocchio！　　And　if　the　Fairy　scolds　you？〃

〃Oh；　I'll　let　her　scold。　　After　she　gets　tired；　she　will　stop。〃

In　the　meantime；　the　night　became　darker　and　darker。　All　at　once　in　the　distance　a　small　light　flickered。　　A　queer　sound　could　be　heard；　soft　as　a　little　bell；　and　faint　and　muffled　like　the　buzz　of　a　far…away　mosquito。

〃There　it　is！〃　cried　Lamp…Wick；　jumping　to　his　feet。

〃What？〃　whispered　Pinocchio。

〃The　wagon　which　is　coming　to　get　me。　　For　the　last　time；　are　you　coming　or　not？〃

〃But　is　it　really　true　that　in　that　country　boys　never　have　to　study？〃

〃Never；　never；　never！〃

〃What　a　wonderful；　beautiful；　marvelous　country！　　Ohhh！！〃



CHAPTER　31

After　five　months　of　play；　Pinocchio　wakes　up　one　fine　morning　and　finds　a　great　surprise　awaiting　him



Finally　the　wagon　arrived。　　It　made　no　noise；　for　its　wheels　were　bound　with　straw　and　rags。

It　was　drawn　by　twelve　pair　of　donkeys；　all　of　the　same　size；　but　all　of　different　color。　　Some　were　gray；　others　white；　and　still　others　a　mixture　of　brown　and　black。　Here　and　there　were　a　few　with　large　yellow　and　blue　stripes。

The　strangest　thing　of　all　was　that　those　twenty…four　donkeys；　instead　of　being　iron…shod　like　any　other　beast　of　burden；　had　on　their　feet　laced　shoes　made　of　leather；　just　like　the　ones　boys　wear。

And　the　driver　of　the　wagon？

Imagine　to　yourselves　a　little；　fat　man；　much　wider　than　he　was　long；　round　and　shiny　as　a　ball　of　butter；　with　a　face　beaming　like　an　apple；　a　little　mouth　that　always　smiled；　and　a　voice　small　and　wheedling　like　that　of　a　cat　begging　for　food。

No　sooner　did　any　boy　see　him　than　he　fell　in　love　with　him；　and　nothing　satisfied　him　but　to　be　allowed　to　ride　in　his　wagon　to　that　lovely　place　called　the　Land　of　Toys。

In　fact　the　wagon　was　so　closely　packed　with　boys　of　all　ages　that　it　looked　like　a　box　of　sardines。　　They　were　uncomfortable；　they　were　piled　one　on　top　of　the　other；　they　could　hardly　breathe；　yet　not　one　word　of　complaint　was　heard。　　The　thought　that　in　a　few　hours　they　would　reach　a　country　where　there　were　no　schools；　no　books；　no　teachers；　made　these　boys　so　happy　that　they　felt　neither　hunger；　nor　thirst；　nor　sleep；　nor　discomfort。

No　sooner　had　the　wagon　stopped　than　the　little　fat　man　turned　to　Lamp…Wick。　　With　bows　and　smiles；　he　asked　in　a　wheedling　tone：

〃Tell　me；　my　fine　boy；　do　you　also　want　to　come　to　my　wonderful　country？〃

〃Indeed　I　do。〃

〃But　I　warn　you；　my　little　dear；　there's　no　more　room　in　the　wagon。　　It　is　full。〃

〃Never　mind；〃　answered　Lamp…Wick。　　〃If　there's　no　room　inside；　I　can　sit　on　the　top　of　the　coach。〃

And　with　one　leap；　he　perched　himself　there。

〃What　about　you；　my　love？〃　asked　the　Little　Man；　turning　politely　to　Pinocchio。　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？　Will　you　come　with　us；　or　do　you　stay　here？〃

〃I　stay　here；〃　answered　Pinocchio。　　〃I　want　to　return　home；　as　I　prefer　to　study　and　to　succeed　in　life。〃

〃May　that　bring　you　luck！〃

〃Pinocchio！〃　Lamp…Wick　called　out。　　〃Listen　to　me。　Come　with　us　and　we'll　always　be　happy。〃

〃No；　no；　no！〃

〃Come　with　us　and　we'll　always　be　happy；〃　cried　four　other　voices　from　the　wagon。

〃Come　with　us　and　we'll　always　be　happy；〃　shouted　the　one　hundred　and　more　boys　in　the　wagon；　all　together。　〃And　if　I　go　with　you；　what　will　my　good　Fairy　say？〃　asked　the　Marionette；　who　was　beginning　to　waver　and　weaken　in　his　good　resolutions。

〃Don't　worry　so　much。　　Only　think　that　we　are　going　to　a　land　where　we　shall　be　allowed　to　make　all　the　racket　we　like　from　morning　till　night。〃

Pinocchio　did　not　answer；　but　sighed　deeply　once　twicea　third　time。　　Finally；　he　said：

〃Make　room　for　me。　　I　want　to　go；　too！〃

〃The　seats　are　all　filled；〃　answered　the　Little　Man；　〃but　to　show　you　how　much　I　think　of　you；　take　my　place　as　coachman。〃

〃And　you？〃

〃I'll　walk。〃

〃No；　indeed。　　I　could　not　permit　such　a　thing。　　I　much　prefer　riding　one　of　these　donkeys；〃　cried　Pinocchio。

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　lik