the adventures of pinocchio-第24节

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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；　calm　as　ever：

〃My　dear　Pinocchio；　the　Fairy　is　lying　ill　in　a　hospital。〃

〃In　a　hospital？〃

〃Yes；　indeed。　　She　has　been　stricken　with　trouble　and　illness；　and　she　hasn't　a　penny　left　with　which　to　buy　a　bite　of　bread。〃

〃Really？　　Oh；　how　sorry　I　am！　　My　poor；　dear　little　Fairy！　If　I　had　a　million　I　should　run　to　her　with　it！　　But　I　have　only　fifty　pennies。　　Here　they　are。　　I　was　just　going　to　buy　some　clothes。　　Here；　take　them；　little　Snail；　and　give　them　to　my　good　Fairy。〃

〃What　about　the　new　clothes？〃

〃What　does　that　matter？　　I　should　like　to　sell　these　rags　I　have　on　to　help　her　more。　　Go；　and　hurry。　　Come　back　here　within　a　couple　of　days　and　I　hope　to　have　more　money　for　you！　　Until　today　I　have　worked　for　my　father。　Now　I　shall　have　to　work　for　my　mother　also。　　Good…by；　and　I　hope　to　see　you　soon。〃

The　Snail；　much　against　her　usual　habit；　began　to　run　like　a　lizard　under　a　summer　sun。

When　Pinocchio　returned　home；　his　father　asked　him：

〃And　where　is　the　new　suit？〃

〃I　couldn't　find　one　to　fit　me。　　I　shall　have　to　look　again　some　other　day。〃

That　night；　Pinocchio；　instead　of　going　to　bed　at　ten　o'clock　waited　until　midnight；　and　instead　of　making　eight　baskets；　he　made　sixteen。

After　that　he　went　to　bed　and　fell　asleep。　　As　he　slept；　he　dreamed　of　his　Fairy；　beautiful；　smiling；　and　happy；　who　kissed　him　and　said　to　him；　〃Bravo；　Pinocchio！　　In　reward　for　your　kind　heart；　I　forgive　you　for　all　your　old　mischief。　　Boys　who　love　and　take　good　care　of　their　parents　when　they　are　old　and　sick；　deserve　praise　even　though　they　may　not　be　held　up　as　models　of　obedience　and　good　behavior。　　Keep　on　doing　so　well；　and　you　will　be　happy。〃

At　that　very　moment；　Pinocchio　awoke　and　opened　wide　his　eyes。

What　was　his　surprise　and　his　joy　when；　on　looking　himself　over；　he　saw　that　he　was　no　longer　a　Marionette；　but　that　he　had　become　a　real　live　boy！　　He　looked　all　about　him　and　instead　of　the　usual　walls　of　straw；　he　found　himself　in　a　beautifully　furnished　little　room；　the　prettiest　he　had　ever　seen。　　In　a　twinkling；　he　jumped　down　from　his　bed　to　look　on　the　chair　standing　near。　There；　he　found　a　new　suit；　a　new　hat；　and　a　pair　of　shoes。

As　soon　as　he　was　dressed；　he　put　his　hands　in　his　pockets　and　pulled　out　a　little　leather　purse　on　which　were　written　the　following　words：

　　　　　The　Fairy　with　Azure　Hair　returns　　　　　　fifty　pennies　to　her　dear　Pinocchio　　　　　　with　many　thanks　for　his　kind　heart。


The　Marionette　opened　the　purse　to　find　the　money；　and　beholdthere　were　fifty　gold　coins！

Pinocchio　ran　to　the　mirror。　　He　hardly　recognized　himself。　The　bright　face　of　a　tall　boy　looked　at　him　with　wide…awake　blue　eyes；　dark　brown　hair　and　happy；　smiling　lips。

Surrounded　by　so　much　splendor；　the　Marionette　hardly　knew　what　he　was　doing。　　He　rubbed　his　eyes　two　or　three　times；　wondering　if　he　were　still　asleep　or　awake　and　decided　he　must　be　awake。

〃And　where　is　Father？〃　he　cried　suddenly。　　He　ran　into　the　next　room；　and　there　stood　Geppetto；　grown　years　younger　overnight；　spick　and　span　in　his　new　clothes　and　gay　as　a　lark　in　the　morning。　　He　was　once　more　Mastro　Geppetto；　the　wood　carver；　hard　at　work　on　a　lovely　picture　frame；　decorating　it　with　flowers　and　leaves；　and　heads　of　animals。

〃Father；　Father；　what　has　happened？　　Tell　me　if　you　can；〃　cried　Pinocchio；　as　he　ran　and　jumped　on　his　Father's　neck。

〃This　sudden　change　in　our　house　is　all　your　doing；　my　dear　Pinocchio；〃　answered　Geppetto。

〃What　have　I　to　do　with　it？〃

〃Just　this。　　When　bad　boys　become　good　and　kind；　they　have　the　power　of　making　their　homes　gay　and　new　with　happiness。〃

〃I　wonder　where　the　old　Pinocchio　of　wood　has　hidden　himself？〃

〃There　he　is；〃　answered　Geppetto。　　And　he　pointed　to　a　large　Marionette　leaning　against　a　chair；　head　turned　to　one　side；　arms　hanging　limp；　and　legs　twisted　under　him。

After　a　long；　long　look；　Pinocchio　said　to　himself　with　great　content：

〃How　ridiculous　I　was　as　a　Marionette！　　And　how　happy　I　am；　now　that　I　have　become　a　real　boy！〃






End