the adventures of pinocchio(木偶奇遇记)-第20节

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At　first；　the　Little　Man　petted　and　caressed　them　and
smoothed　down　their　hairy　coats。　　Then　he　took　out　a
currycomb　and　worked　over　them　till　they　shone　like　glass。
Satisfied　with　the　looks　of　the　two　little　animals；
he　bridled　them　and　took　them　to　a　market　place　far　away
from　the　Land　of　Toys；　in　the　hope　of　selling　them　at　a
good　price。

In　fact；　he　did　not　have　to　wait　very　long　for　an　offer。
Lamp…Wick　was　bought　by　a　farmer　whose　donkey　had　died
the　day　before。　　Pinocchio　went　to　the　owner　of　a　circus；
who　wanted　to　teach　him　to　do　tricks　for　his　audiences。

And　now　do　you　understand　what　the　Little　Man's
profession　was？　　This　horrid　little　being；　whose　face　shone
with　kindness；　went　about　the　world　looking　for　boys。
Lazy　boys；　boys　who　hated　books；　boys　who　wanted　to
run　away　from　home；　boys　who　were　tired　of　schoolall
these　were　his　joy　and　his　fortune。　　He　took　them　with
him　to　the　Land　of　Toys　and　let　them　enjoy　themselves
to　their　heart's　content。　　When；　after　months　of　all　play
and　no　work；　they　became　little　donkeys；　he　sold　them　on
the　market　place。　　In　a　few　years；　he　had　become　a　millionaire。

What　happened　to　Lamp…Wick？　　My　dear　children；　I　do　not　know。
Pinocchio；　I　can　tell　you；　met　with　great　hardships
even　from　the　first　day。

After　putting　him　in　a　stable；　his　new　master　filled　his
manger　with　straw；　but　Pinocchio；　after　tasting　a　mouthful；
spat　it　out。

Then　the　man　filled　the　manger　with　hay。
But　Pinocchio　did　not　like　that　any　better。

〃Ah；　you　don't　like　hay　either？〃　he　cried　angrily。
〃Wait；　my　pretty　Donkey；　I'll　teach　you　not　to　be　so　particular。〃

Without　more　ado；　he　took　a　whip　and　gave　the　Donkey
a　hearty　blow　across　the　legs。

Pinocchio　screamed　with　pain　and　as　he　screamed　he　brayed：

〃Haw！　　Haw！　　Haw！　　I　can't　digest　straw！〃

〃Then　eat　the　hay！〃　answered　his　master；　who　understood
the　Donkey　perfectly。

〃Haw！　　Haw！　　Haw！　　Hay　gives　me　a　headache！〃

〃Do　you　pretend；　by　any　chance；　that　I　should　feed　you　duck
or　chicken？〃　asked　the　man　again；　and；　angrier　than　ever；
he　gave　poor　Pinocchio　another　lashing。

At　that　second　beating；　Pinocchio　became　very　quiet　and　said　no　more。

After　that；　the　door　of　the　stable　was　closed　and　he
was　left　alone。　　It　was　many　hours　since　he　had　eaten
anything　and　he　started　to　yawn　from　hunger。　　As　he
yawned；　he　opened　a　mouth　as　big　as　an　oven。

Finally；　not　finding　anything　else　in　the　manger；
he　tasted　the　hay。　　After　tasting　it；　he　chewed　it　well；
closed　his　eyes；　and　swallowed　it。

〃This　hay　is　not　bad；〃　he　said　to　himself。　　〃But　how
much　happier　I　should　be　if　I　had　studied！　　Just　now；
instead　of　hay；　I　should　be　eating　some　good　bread
and　butter。　　Patience！〃

Next　morning；　when　he　awoke；　Pinocchio　looked　in
the　manger　for　more　hay；　but　it　was　all　gone。　　He　had
eaten　it　all　during　the　night。

He　tried　the　straw；　but；　as　he　chewed　away　at　it；　he
noticed　to　his　great　disappointment　that　it　tasted　neither
like　rice　nor　like　macaroni。

〃Patience！〃　he　repeated　as　he　chewed。　　〃If　only　my
misfortune　might　serve　as　a　lesson　to　disobedient　boys
who　refuse　to　study！　　Patience！　　Have　patience！〃

〃Patience　indeed！〃　shouted　his　master　just　then；　as　he
came　into　the　stable。　　〃Do　you　think；　perhaps；　my　little
Donkey；　that　I　have　brought　you　here　only　to　give　you
food　and　drink？　　Oh；　no！　　You　are　to　help　me　earn　some
fine　gold　pieces；　do　you　hear？　　Come　along；　now。　　I　am
going　to　teach　you　to　jump　and　bow；　to　dance　a　waltz　and
a　polka；　and　even　to　stand　on　your　head。〃

Poor　Pinocchio；　whether　he　liked　it　or　not；　had　to　learn
all　these　wonderful　things；　but　it　took　him　three　long
months　and　cost　him　many；　many　lashings　before　he　was
pronounced　perfect。

The　day　came　at　last　when　Pinocchio's　master　was
able　to　announce　an　extraordinary　performance。　　The
announcements；　posted　all　around　the　town；　and　written
in　large　letters；　read　thus：


GREAT　SPECTACLE　TONIGHT
LEAPS　AND　EXERCISES　BY　THE　GREAT　ARTISTS
AND　THE　FAMOUS　HORSES
of　the
COMPANY

First　Public　Appearance

of　the

FAMOUS　DONKEY

called

PINOCCHIO

THE　STAR　OF　THE　DANCE

The　Theater　will　be　as　Light　as　Day


That　night；　as　you　can　well　imagine；　the　theater　was　filled
to　overflowing　one　hour　before　the　show　was　scheduled　to　start。

Not　an　orchestra　chair　could　be　had；　not　a　balcony　seat；
nor　a　gallery　seat；　not　even　for　their　weight　in　gold。

The　place　swarmed　with　boys　and　girls　of　all　ages　and
sizes；　wriggling　and　dancing　about　in　a　fever　of　impatience
to　see　the　famous　Donkey　dance。

When　the　first　part　of　the　performance　was　over；　the
Owner　and　Manager　of　the　circus；　in　a　black　coat；　white
knee　breeches；　and　patent　leather　boots；　presented　himself
to　the　public　and　in　a　loud；　pompous　voice　made　the
following　announcement：

〃Most　honored　friends；　Gentlemen　and　Ladies！

〃Your　humble　servant；　the　Manager　of　this　theater；
presents　himself　before　you　tonight　in　order　to　introduce
to　you　the　greatest；　the　most　famous　Donkey　in　the　world；
a　Donkey　that　has　had　the　great　honor　in　his　short　life　of
performing　before　the　kings　and　queens　and　emperors　of
all　the　great　courts　of　Europe。

〃We　thank　you　for　your　attention！〃

This　speech　was　greeted　by　much　laughter　and
applause。　　And　the　applause　grew　to　a　roar　when　Pinocchio；
the　famous　Donkey；　appeared　in　the　circus　ring。　　He　was
handsomely　arrayed。　　A　new　bridle　of　shining　leather　with
buckles　of　polished　brass　was　on　his　back；　two　white
camellias　were　tied　to　his　ears；　ribbons　and　tassels　of　red
silk　adorned　his　mane；　which　was　divided　into　many
curls。　　A　great　sash　of　gold　and　silver　was　fastened　around
his　waist　and　his　tail　was　decorated　with　ribbons　of　many
brilliant　colors。　　He　was　a　handsome　Donkey　indeed！

The　Manager；　when　introducing　him　to　the　public；
added　these　words：

〃Most　honored　audience！　　I　shall　not　take　your　time
tonight　to　tell　you　of　the　great　difficulties　which　I　have
encountered　while　trying　to　tame　this　animal；　since　I
found　him　in　the　wilds　of　Africa。　　Observe；　I　beg　of　you；
the　savage　look　of　his　eye。　　All　the　means　used　by
centuries　of　civilization　in　subduing　wild　beasts　failed　in　this
case。　　I　had　finally　to　resort　to　the　gentle　language　of　the
whip　in　order　to　bring　him　to　my　will。　　With　all　my
kindness；　however；　I　never　succeeded　in　gaining　my　Donkey's
love。　　He　is　still　today　as　savage　as　the　day　I　found
him。　　He　still　fears　and　hates　me。　　But　I　have　found　in
him　one　great　redeeming　feature。　　Do　you　see　this　little
bump　on　his　forehead？　　It　is　this　bump　which　gives　him
his　great　talent　of　dancing　and　using　his　feet　as　nimbly
as　a　human　being。　　Admire　him；　O　signori；　and　enjoy
yourselves。　　I　let　you；　now；　be　the　judges　of　my　success　as　a
teacher　of　animals。　　Before　I　leave　you；　I　wish　to　state
that　there　will　be　another　performance　tomorrow　night。
If　the　weather　threatens　rain；　the　great　spectacle　will　take
place　at　eleven　o'clock　in　the　morning。〃

The　Manager　bowed　and　then　turned　to　Pinocchio　and　said：
〃Ready；　Pinocchio！　　Before　starting　your　performance；
salute　your　audience！〃

Pinocchio　obediently　bent　his　two　knees　to　the　ground
and　remained　kneeling　until　the　Manager；　with　the　crack
of　the　whip；　cried　sharply：　　〃Walk！〃

The　Donkey　lifted　himself　on　his　four　feet　and　walked
around　the　ring。　　A　few　minutes　passed　and　again　the
voice　of　the　Manager　called：

〃Quickstep！〃　and　Pinocchio　obediently　changed　his　step。

〃Gallop！〃　and　Pinocchio　galloped。

〃Full　speed！〃　and　Pinocchio　ran　as　fast　as　he　could。
As　he　ran　the　master　raised　his　arm　and　a　pistol　shot　rang
in　the　air。

At　the　shot；　the　little　Donkey　fell　to　the　ground　as　if
he　were　really　dead。

A　shower　of　applause　greeted　the　Donkey　as　he　arose　to　his　feet。
Cries　and　shouts　and　handclappings　were　heard　on　all　sides。

At　all　that　noise；　Pinocchio　lifted　his　head　and　raised
his　eyes。　　There；　in　front　of　him；　in　a　box　sat　a　beautiful
woman。　　Around　her　neck　she　wore　a　long　gold　chain；
from　which　hung　a　large　medallion。　　On　the　medallion
was　painted　the　picture　of　a　Marionette。

〃That　picture　is　of　me！　　That　beautiful　lady　is　my　Fairy！〃
said　Pinocchio　to　himself；　recognizing　her。　　He　felt　so　happy
that　he　tried　his　best　to　cry　out：

〃Oh；　my　Fairy！　　My　own　Fairy！〃

But　instead　of　words；　a　loud　braying　was　heard　in　the　theater；
so　loud　and　so　long　that　all　the　spectatorsmen；　women；
and　children；　but　especially　the　childrenburst　out　laughing。

Then；　in　order　to　teach　the　Donkey　that　it　was　not
good　manners　to　bray　before　the　public；　the　Manager
hit　him　on　the　nose　with　the　handle　of　the　whip。

The　poor　little　Donkey　stuck　out　a　long　tongue　and　licked
his　nose　for　a　long　time　in　an　effort　to　take　away　the　pain。

And　what　was　his　grief　when　on　looking　up　toward　the　boxes；
he　saw　that　the　Fairy　had　disappeared！

He　felt　himself　fainting；　his　eyes　filled　with　tears；
and　he　wept　bitterly。　　No　one　knew　it；　however；
least　of　all　the　Manager；　who；　cracking　his　whip；　cried　out：

〃Bravo；　Pinocchio！　　Now　show　us　how　gracefully　you　can
jump　through　the　rings。〃

Pinocchio　tried　two　or　three　times；　but　each　time　he
came　near　the　ring；　he　found　it　more　to　his　taste　to　go
under　it。　　Th