Pinocchio: The Tale of a Puppet
Carlo Collodi
Produced by Mark C. Orton, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net.
PINOCCHIO
THE TALE OF APUPPET
By C COLLODI
"HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GO IN?"]
PINOCCHIO
THE TALE OF APUPPET
By C COLLODI
Illustrated ByALICE CARSEY
WHITMAN PUBLISHING CO.RACINE, WISCONSIN
COPYRIGHT 1916 BYWHITMAN PUBLISHING CO.RACINE, WISCONSINPRINTED IN U.S.A.
Transcriber's Note:
The untitled illustration on page 26 was not listed in the List ofIllustrations of the source book.
In several cases, missing punctuation was added or wrong punctuationremoved.
The following typos were fixed: thouand to thousand Harelquin to Harlequin pretrified to petrified
CONTENTS
Chap. Page I THE PIECE OF WOOD THAT LAUGHED AND CRIED LIKE A CHILD 9 II MASTER CHERRY GIVES THE WOOD AWAY 12 III GEPPETTO NAMES HIS PUPPET PINOCCHIO 16 IV THE TALKING-CRICKET SCOLDS PINOCCHIO 23 V THE FLYING EGG 26 VI PINOCCHIO'S FEET BURN TO CINDERS 29 VII GEPPETTO GIVES HIS OWN BREAKFAST TO PINOCCHIO 31 VIII GEPPETTO MAKES PINOCCHIO NEW FEET 35 IX PINOCCHIO GOES TO SEE A PUPPET-SHOW 39 X THE PUPPETS RECOGNIZE THEIR BROTHER PINOCCHIO 42 XI FIRE-EATER SNEEZES AND PARDONS PINOCCHIO 45 XII PINOCCHIO RECEIVES A PRESENT OF FIVE GOLD PIECES 49 XIII THE INN OF THE RED CRAW-FISH 57 XIV PINOCCHIO FALLS AMONG ASSASSINS 61 XV THE ASSASSINS HANG PINOCCHIO TO THE BIG OAK 65 XVI THE BEAUTIFUL CHILD RESCUES THE PUPPET 71 XVII PINOCCHIO WILL NOT TAKE HIS MEDICINE 75 XVIII PINOCCHIO AGAIN MEETS THE FOX AND THE CAT 81 XIX PINOCCHIO IS ROBBED OF HIS MONEY 87 XX PINOCCHIO STARTS BACK TO THE FAIRY'S HOUSE 91 XXI PINOCCHIO ACTS AS WATCH-DOG 94 XXII PINOCCHIO DISCOVERS THE ROBBERS 97 XXIII PINOCCHIO FLIES TO THE SEASHORE 101 XXIV PINOCCHIO FINDS THE FAIRY AGAIN 109 XXV PINOCCHIO PROMISES THE FAIRY TO BE GOOD 116 XXVI THE TERRIBLE DOG-FISH 120 XXVII PINOCCHIO IS ARRESTED BY THE GENDARMES 126XXVIII PINOCCHIO ESCAPES BEING FRIED LIKE A FISH 133 XXIX HE RETURNS TO THE FAIRY'S HOUSE 139 XXX THE "LAND OF BOOBIES" 147 XXXI PINOCCHIO ENJOYS FIVE MONTHS OF HAPPINESS 153 XXXII PINOCCHIO TURNS INTO A DONKEY 160XXXIII PINOCCHIO IS TRAINED FOR THE CIRCUS 167 XXXIV PINOCCHIO IS SWALLOWED BY THE DOG-FISH 178 XXXV A HAPPY SURPRISE FOR PINOCCHIO 186 XXXVI PINOCCHIO AT LAST CEASES TO BE A PUPPET AND BECOMES A BOY 194
LINE ILLUSTRATIONS
DECORATIVE TITLE PAGE 1THE RUNAWAY PUPPET 9GEPPETTO CARRIED OFF HIS FINE PIECE OF WOOD 12HE SET TO WORK TO CUT OUT HIS PUPPET 16A LITTLE CHICKEN POPPED OUT 17PINOCCHIO THREW HIS HAMMER AT THE TALKING-CRICKET 23UNTITLED 26POOR PINOCCHIO'S FEET BURN TO CINDERS 29GEPPETTO MAKES HIS PUPPET SOME CLOTHES 35THE PUPPETS BEGAN TO DANCE MERRILY 45PINOCCHIO MEETS THE CAT AND THE FOX 49SPLASH! SPLASH! THEY FELL INTO THE DITCH 52DINNER AT THE RED CRAW-FISH INN 57PINOCCHIO ESCAPES FROM HIS ASSASSINS 61THEY HUNG PINOCCHIO TO THE BIG OAK TREE 65FOUR RABBITS AS BLACK AS INK ENTERED 69THE FALCON SAVES PINOCCHIO 71PINOCCHIO REFUSES TO TAKE HIS MEDICINE 75TREACHEROUS COMPANIONS 81THE JUDGE WAS A BIG APE 87PINOCCHIO GETS HIS FOOT CAUGHT IN A TRAP 94THE NEW WATCH-DOG 97PINOCCHIO'S WILD RIDE ON THE PIGEON'S BACK 101AN IMMENSE SERPENT STRETCHED ACROSS THE ROAD 104PINOCCHIO BRAVES THE SEA TO SAVE HIS FATHER 109"SCHOOL GIVES ME PAIN ALL OVER THE BODY" 116PINOCCHIO STARTS OFF HAPPILY FOR SCHOOL 120"OH, I AM SICK OF BEING A PUPPET!" 121THE BOYS THREW THEIR BOOKS AT POOR PINOCCHIO 126THE FISHERMAN PUT HIS HAND INTO THE NET 133THE DOG SEIZES PINOCCHIO AND ESCAPES 139"HERE IS THE COACH!" SHOUTED CANDLEWICK 147THEY ARRIVE IN THE "LAND OF THE BOOBIES" 153THE BOYS ARE TURNED INTO DONKEYS 160THE LITTLE DONKEYS ARE SOLD 167ALL HIS FRIENDS WERE INVITED 172THE PUPPET WAS WRIGGLING LIKE AN EEL 178SWALLOWED BY THE DOG-FISH 186IT WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE ON THE TUNNY'S BACK 189THE BLIND CAT AND THE TAILLESS FOX 194
PINOCCHIO
CHAPTER I
THE PIECE OF WOOD THAT LAUGHED AND CRIED LIKE A CHILD
There was once upon a time a piece of wood in the shop of an oldcarpenter named Master Antonio. Everybody, however, called him MasterCherry, on account of the end of his nose, which was always as red andpolished as a ripe cherry.
No sooner had Master Cherry set eyes on the piece of wood than his facebeamed with delight, and, rubbing his hands together with satisfaction,he said softly to himself:
"This wood has come at the right moment; it will just do to make the legof a little table."
He immediately took a sharp axe with which to remove the bark and therough surface, but just as he was going to give the first stroke heheard a very small voice say imploringly, "Do not strike me so hard!"
He turned his terrified eyes all around the room to try and discoverwhere the little voice could possibly have come from, but he saw nobody!He looked under the bench--nobody; he looked into a cupboard that wasalways shut--nobody; he looked into a basket of shavings andsawdust--nobody; he even opened the door of the shop and gave a glanceinto the street--and still nobody. Who, then, could it be?
"I see how it is," he said, laughing and scratching his wig, "evidentlythat little voice was all my imagination. Let us set to work again."
And, taking up the axe, he struck a tremendous blow on the piece ofwood.
"Oh! oh! you have hurt me!" cried the same little voice dolefully.
This time Master Cherry was petrified. His eyes started out of his headwith fright, his mouth remained open, and his tongue hung out almost tothe end of his chin, like a mask on a fountain. As soon as he hadrecovered the use of his speech he began to say, stuttering andtrembling with fear:
"But where on earth can that little voice have come from that said 'Oh!oh!'? Is it possible that this piece of wood can have learned to cry andto lament like a child? I cannot believe it. This piece of wood isnothing but a log for fuel like all the others, and thrown on the fireit would about suffice to boil a saucepan of beans. How then? Can anyonebe hidden inside it? If anyone is hidden inside, so much the worse forhim. I will settle him at once."
So saying, he seized the poor piece of wood and commenced beating itwithout mercy against the walls of the room.
Then he stopped to listen if he could hear any little voice lamenting.He waited two minutes--nothing; five minutes--nothing; tenminutes--still nothing!
"I see how it is," he then said, forcing himself to laugh, and pushingup his wig; "evidently the little voice that said 'Oh! oh!' was all myimagination! Let us set to work again."
Putting the axe aside, he took his plane, to plane and polish the bit ofwood; but whilst he was running it up and down he heard the same littlevoice say, laughing:
"Stop! you are tickling me all over!"
This time poor Master Cherry fell down as if he had been struck bylightning. When he at last opened his eyes he found himself seated onthe floor.
His face was changed, even the end of his nose, instead of beingcrimson, as it was nearly always, had become blue from fright.
CHAPTER II
MASTER CHERRY GIVES THE WOOD AWAY
At that moment some one knocked at the door.
"Come in," said the carpenter, without having the strength to rise tohis feet.
A lively little old man immediately walked into the shop. His name wasGeppetto, but when the boys of the neighborhood wished to make him angrythey called him Pudding, because his yellow wig greatly resembled apudding made of Indian corn.
Geppetto was very fiery. Woe to him who called him Pudding! He becamefurious and there was no holding him.
"Good-day, Master Antonio," said Geppetto; "what are you doing there onthe floor?"
"I am teaching the alphabet to the ants."
"Much good may that do you."
"What has brought you to me, neighbor Geppetto?"
"My legs. But to tell the truth. Master Antonio, I came to ask a favorof you."
"Here I am, ready to serve you," replied the carpenter, getting on hisknees.
"This morning an idea came into my head."
"Let us hear it."
"I thought I would make a beautiful wooden puppet; one that could dance,fence, and leap like an acrobat. With this puppet I would travel aboutthe world to earn a piece of bread and a glass of wine. What do youthink of it?"
"Bravo, Pudding!" exclaimed the same little voice, and it was impossibleto say where it came from.
Hearing himself called Pudding, Geppetto became as red as a turkey-cockfrom rage and, turning to the carpenter, he said in a fury:
"Why do you insult me?"
"Who insults you?"
"You called me Pudding!"
"It was not I!"
"Do you think I called myself Pudding? It was you, I say!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
And, becoming more and more angry, from words they came to blows, and,flying at each other, they bit and fought, and scratched.
When the fight was over Master Antonio was in possession of Geppetto'syellow wig, and Geppetto discovered that the grey wig belonging to thecarpenter remained between his teeth.
"Give me back my wig," screamed Master Antonio.
"And you, return me mine, and let us be friends again."
The two old men having each recovered his own wig, shook hands and sworethat they would remain friends to the end of their lives.
"Well, then, neighbor Geppetto," said the carpenter, to prove that peacewas made, "what is the favor that you wish of me?"
"I want a little wood to make my puppet; will you give me some?"
Master Antonio was delighted, and he immediately went to the bench andfetched the piece of wood that had caused him so much fear. But just ashe was going to give it to his friend the piece of wood gave a shakeand, wriggling violently out of his hands, struck with all of its forceagainst the dried-up shins of poor Geppetto.
"Ah! is that the courteous way in which you make your presents, MasterAntonio? You have almost lamed me!"
"I swear to you that it was not I!"
"Then you would have it that it was I?"
"The wood is entirely to blame!"
"I know that it was the wood; but it was you that hit my legs with it!"
"I did not hit you with it!"
"Liar!"
"Geppetto, don't insult me or I will call you Pudding!"
"Knave!"
"Pudding!"
"Donkey!"
"Pudding!"
"Baboon!"
"Pudding!"
On hearing himself called Pudding for the third time Geppetto, mad withrage, fell upon the carpenter and they fought desperately.
When the battle was over, Master Antonio had two more scratches on hisnose, and his adversary had lost two buttons off his waistcoat. Theiraccounts being thus squared, they shook hands and swore to remain goodfriends for the rest of their lives.
Geppetto carried off his fine piece of wood and, thanking MasterAntonio, returned limping to his house.
CHAPTER III
GEPPETTO NAMES HIS PUPPET PINOCCHIO
Geppetto lived in a small ground-floor room that was only lighted fromthe staircase. The furniture could not have been simpler--a ricketychair, a poor bed, and a broken-down table. At the end of the room therewas a fireplace with a lighted fire; but the fire was painted, and bythe fire was a painted saucepan that was boiling cheerfully and sendingout a cloud of smoke that looked exactly like real smoke.
As soon as he reached home Geppetto took his tools and set to work tocut out and model his puppet.
A Little Chicken Popped Out, Very Gay and Polite]
"What name shall I give him?" he said to himself; "I think I will callhim Pinocchio. It is a name that will bring him luck. I once knew awhole family so called. There was Pinocchio the father, Pinocchia themother, and Pinocchi the children, and all of them did well. Therichest of them was a beggar."
Having found a name for his puppet he began to work in good earnest, andhe first made his hair, then his forehead, and then his eyes.
The eyes being finished, imagine his astonishment when he perceived thatthey moved and looked fixedly at him.
Geppetto, seeing himself stared at by those two wooden eyes, said in anangry voice:
"Wicked wooden eyes, why do you look at me?"
No one answered.
He then proceeded to carve the nose, but no sooner had he made it thanit began to grow. And it grew, and grew, and grew, until in a fewminutes it had become an immense nose that seemed as if it would neverend.
Poor Geppetto tired himself out with cutting it off, but the more he cutand shortened it, the longer did that impertinent nose become!
The mouth was not even completed when it began to laugh and deride him.
"Stop laughing!" said Geppetto, provoked; but he might as well havespoken to the wall.
"Stop laughing, I say!" he roared in a threatening tone.
The mouth then ceased laughing, but put out its tongue as far as itwould go.
Geppetto, not to spoil his handiwork, pretended not to see and continuedhis labors. After the mouth he fashioned the chin, then the throat, thenthe shoulders, the stomach, the arms and the hands.
The hands were scarcely finished when Geppetto felt his wig snatchedfrom his head. He turned round, and what did he see? He saw his yellowwig in the puppet's hand.
"Pinocchio! Give me back my wig instantly!"
But Pinocchio, instead of returning it, put it on his own head and wasin consequence nearly smothered.
Geppetto at this insolent and derisive behavior felt sadder and moremelancholy than he had ever been in his life before; and, turning toPinocchio, he said to him:
"You young rascal! You are not yet completed and you are alreadybeginning to show want of respect to your father! That is bad, my boy,very bad!"
And he dried a tear.
The legs and the feet remained to be done.
When Geppetto had finished the feet he received a kick on the point ofhis nose.
"I deserve it!" he said to himself; "I should have thought of it sooner!Now it is too late!"
He then took the puppet under the arms and placed him on the
floor toteach him to walk.
Pinocchio's legs were stiff and he could not move, but Geppetto led himby the hand and showed him how to put one foot before the other.
When his legs became limber Pinocchio began to walk by himself and torun about the room, until, having gone out of the house door, he jumpedinto the street and escaped.
Poor Geppetto rushed after him but was not able to overtake him, forthat rascal Pinocchio leaped in front of him like a hare and knockinghis wooden feet together against the pavement made as much clatter astwenty pairs of peasants' clogs.
"Stop him! stop him!" shouted Geppetto; but the people in the street,seeing a wooden puppet running like a race-horse, stood still inastonishment to look at it, and laughed and laughed.
At last, as good luck would have it, a soldier arrived who, hearing theuproar, imagined that a colt had escaped from his master. Plantinghimself courageously with his legs apart in the middle of the road, hewaited with the determined purpose of stopping him and thus preventingthe chance of worse disasters.
When Pinocchio, still at some distance, saw the soldier barricading thewhole street, he endeavored to take him by surprise and to pass betweenhis legs. But he failed entirely.
The soldier without disturbing himself in the least caught him cleverlyby the nose and gave him to Geppetto. Wishing to punish him, Geppettointended to pull his ears at once. But imagine his feelings when hecould not succeed in finding them. And do you know the reason? In hishurry to model him he had forgotten to make any ears.
