Latest / Classic Adventure Books Library / 19 - The Adventures of Pinocchio - Carlo Collodi
Transcript
- Chapter nineteen, Pinocchio is robbed of his gold pieces, and in punishment his sentence to four months in prison. If the marionette had been told to wait a day instead of twenty minutes, the time could not have seemed longer to him. He walked impatiently to and fro, and finally turned his nose toward the field of wonders. As he walked with hurried steps, his heart beat with an excited tic tac, just as if it were a wall clock, and his busy brain kept thinking, what if instead of a thousand, I should find two thousand, or instead of two thousand, I should find five thousand or one hundred thousand. I'll build myself a beautiful palace with a thousand stables filled with thousand wooden horses to play with, a cellar overflowing with lemonade and ice cream soda, and a library of candies and fruits and cakes and cookies. Thus amusing himself with fancies, he came to the field. There he stopped to see if, by chance a vine filled with gold coins was in sight, but he saw nothing. He took a few steps forward, and still nothing. He stepped onto the field. He went up to the place where he had dug the hole and buried the gold pieces. Again nothing. Pinocchiovi became very thoughtful, and forgetting his good manners altogether. He pulled a hand out of his pocket and gave his head a thorough scratching. As he did so, he heard a heart he burst of laughter close to his head. He turned sharply, and there just above him, on the branch of a tree sat a long, large parrot, busily preening his feathers. What are you laughing at, Pinocchio asked peevishly. I'm laughing because in preening my feathers I tickled myself under the wings. The marionette did not answer. He walked to the brook, filled his shoe with water, and once more sprinkled the ground, which covered the gold pieces. Again, another burst of laughter, even more impertinent than the first, was heard in a quiet field. Well, cried the marionette angrily this time. May I know, mister parrot, what amuses you? So? I'm laughing at those simpletons who believe everything they hear, and who allow themselves to be caught so easily in the trap set for them. Do you perhaps mean me? I certainly do mean, you, poor Pinocchio, You are such a little silly as to believe that gold can be sown in a field, just like beans and squash. I too believe that once, and today I'm very sorry for it. Today, but too late I have reached the conclusion that in order to come by money honestly, one must work and know how to earn it with hand or brain. I don't know what you're talking about, said the marionette, who was beginning to tremble with fear. Too bad, I'll explain myself better, said the parrot. While you are away in the city. The fox and the cat returned here in a great hurry. They took the four gold pieces which you had buried, and ran away as fast as the wind. If you can catch them, you're a brave one. Pinocchio's mouth opened wide. He would not believed the parrot's words, and began to dig furiously at the earth. He dug, and he dug it till the hole was as big as himself, but no money was there. Every benny was gone. In desperation, he ran to the city and went straight to the courthouse to report the robbery to the magistrate. The judge was a monkey, a large gorilla, venerable with age. A flowing white beard covered his chest, and he wore gold rimmed spectacles from which the glasses had dropped out. The reason for wearing these, he said, was that his eyes had been weakened by the work of many years. Pinocchio, standing before him, told his pitiful tale word by word. He gave the names and descriptions of the robbers, and baked for justice. The judge listened to him with great patience. A kind look shone in his eyes. He became very much interested to the stray. He felt moved. He almost wept. When the marionette had no more to say, the judge put out his hand and rang a bell. At the sound, two large mastiffs appeared, wearing Carboneer's uniforms. Then the magistrate, pointing to Pinocchio, said, in a solemn voice, this poor simpleton has been robbed of four gold pieces. Take him therefore, and throw him in prison. The marionette, on hearing this sentence passed on him, was thoroughly stunned. He tried to protest, but the two officers clapped their paws on his mouth and puzzled him away to jail. There he had to remain four long, weary months, and if it not been for a very lucky chance, he probably would have to stay there longer. For my dear child, it is you must know that it happened just as the young emperor who ruled over the city of simple Simons and gain to victory over his enemy. In celebration thereof, he ordered illuminations, fireworks shows of all kinds, and best of all, the opening of all prison doors. If the others go, I go too, said Pinocchio to the jailer, and not you, answered the jailer, you are one of those. I beg your pardon, interrupted Pinocchio. I do am a thief. In that case, you are free to go, said the jailer. Taking off his cap, he bowed low. He opened the door the prison, and Pinocchio ran out and away, with never a look backward. End of Chapter nineteen.