PINOCCHIO

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21789, 19 October 1940, Page 11

PINOCCHIO

Last week we read how Pinocchio, having been rescued from a tree to which he had been tied by two robbers, was brought to the Fairy Palace, where he was found to be in a high fever and was put to bed. The Fairy gave Pinocchio some medicine, and he immediately jumped out of bed, quite well again. Chapter 6 The Field of Marvels The fairy told Pinocchio that his father, poor old Joe, was longing to see him, and the puppet set out for home. But on his way he again met the fox and the cat, who continued to urge him to bury his sovereigns in the Field of Marvels. At last Pinocchio agreed, and they all set oft together. They walked through the city, and, once outside the walls, found themselves in a large field. "Here we are!” said the fox. "Now stoop down and scoop out a little hole with your hands, and drop your money inside.” Pinocchio obeyed. He scooped out a hole and put in his sovereigns. "Now then,’’ said the fox, "go to the ditch near by and fetch a pailful of water to pour over the ground.” Pinocchio did so. "Now we can go,” said the fox. “In about 20 minutes you must come back, I and you’ll find that a young tree has 1 sprouted up, with its branches full of sovereigns.” The fox and cat went off by themselves, and Pinocchio by himself. When he reached the town he began counting the minutes one by one, and when it seemed to him that the 20 minutes must be up he started off along the road that led to the Field of Marvels. When he got there he stopped and looked round him, but no sovereigntree was to be seen. Then he heard a loud laugh quite close to him. He looked up, and saw a large parrot sitting in the tree, and plucking out the few feathers he still possessed. “What are you laughing about?” asked Pinocchio angrily. "Do you know,” said the parrot, “that while you were dawdling about in the town, the fox and the cat came back to this field and stole the money that you buried, and then took to their heels?” Pinocchio stood and gaped, and, not wanting to believe all that the parrot, had told him, began scraping away the earth with his fingers and nails as fast as he could, but not a sign of the money was to be seen. Now, it happened that a large dove was flying by overhead, and. seeing Pinocchio, she stopped for a while on outstretched wing, and called out from above: “I say, little boy, you don”t happen to know of a boy called Pinocchio?” "Pinocchio!” answered the puppet, jumping to his feet. "I’m Pinocchio!” "Then I suppose you know old Joe also?” “Why, he is my own daddy! Where is he?” “I left him three days ago on the seashore. He was building himself a little ship to sail across the ocean in. Poor man, for more than three months he has been wandering about in search of you, and as he has not been able to find you he has now taken it into his head to look for you in the New World.” "How far is it from here to the shore?” asked Pinocchio. "More than a thousand miles. If you want to come I’ll carry you. Get on my back.” And away they went over hill and dale to the seashore. The shore was crowded with people, who were shouting and wildly waving at something iar out at sea. "What is the matter?” Pinocchio asked of an old woman in the crowd. "The matter is that a poor old father, having lost his only son, would get into that boat to go in search of him across the seas, and to-day the sea is very rough, and the boat is in danger of sinking.”

"It’s my daddy! It’s my daddy!” cried the puppet. Suddenly a terrific wave came, and the boat disappeared. "Poor fellow!” murmured the fisherfolk who were watching on the shore. Suddenly they heard a fearful yell, and, turning round, they beheld a small boy fling himself suddenly into the water. Pinocchio, being made entirely of wood, floated easily, and swam like a fish. Cheered up by the hope of being in time to save his father, he swam all night. At daybreak he was swallowed by an enormous shark, and, wandering about inside its body, he suddenly came upon old Joe, seated at a table, and eating a meal by candlelight. After embracing, they decided to escape, and, climbing up to the shark’s mouth while he was asleep, they once more jumped into the sea. Pinocchio swam to shore with old Joe on his shoulders, being helped by a tunny fish which he had met inside the shark. After they had landed they went in search of a house or a hut, and presently they saw a little red-tiled straw cottage standing in the middle of the fields. Here they obtained a lodging and some milk, and Pinocchio soon got work with a farmer close by, pumping up water in his fields. This enabled him to keep old Joe. In the evenings he learned to read and write. Pinocchio Has a Great Surprise Pinocchio worked so well that he was able not only to keep his father in comfort, but had managed to put aside a couple of shillings with which to buy himself a new suit. One morning he said to old Joe: "I am going to the market near by to buy myself a jacket, a cap, and a pair "t shoes. When I come home,” he added, laughing, “I shall be so smart that you'll take me for a gentleman.” And he went out and started running off, as happy and contented as could be, when suddenly he heaid himself called, and, turning round, no saw a snail peeping out of the hedge.

snail. “Don’t you remember the snail that was housemaid at the fairy’s?” "Oh, yes! Where is the fairy? What is she doing? Has she forgiven me? Does she remember me? Is she still fond of me?” To these hasty questions, asked ail in a breath, the snail answered: "My dear Pinocchio, the poor fairy is lying in one of the wards at the workhouse. After many misfortunes she fell seriously ill, and hasn’t even a penny to buy herself a crust of bread.” “Oh, my poor, poor fairy! If I had a million pounds I’d run and fetch all, but I have only got a couple of shillings. Here they are. I was just going to buy myself a new suit. Take them, snail, and carry them quickly to the fairy.” When* Pinocchio got home his father asked him: "Where is your new suit?” "I couldn’t find one to fit me,” he said. That evening Pinocchio, instead of sitting up till 10 o'clock, sat up till midnight and made 16 baskets to sell. Then he went to bed and fell asleep. And as he slept the fairy appeared to I him in a dream, as beautiful and smiling as ever, and, having kissed him, she said to him: “Well done, i Pinocchio! In return for your kind- • heartedness I will forgive you all the mischief you have done. Boys who take care of their parents in their old age I deserve all the praise and affection one | can give them, even though they may | not be little models of good behaviour. I Be sensible in the future find you’ll be ; happy.” > With these words the dream ended, and Pinocchio woke up and opened his eyes. What was his astonishment to discover that he was no longer a wooden puppet, but a real little boy of flesh and blood, just like all the others. He glanced round him, and. behold, the straw walls of the cottage had : i disappeared, and in their place was a i ' beautiful little room, prettily arranged, i ; Jumping out of bed, he found a new : suit of clothes all ready for him, with ■ a new cap and a pair of high/boots. As soon as he was dressed h 6 put his , hands into his pockets and /drew forth ’ a little ivory purse, with the following , words engraved upon it: "The fairy returns tlie two shillings to her dear , | little Pinocchio, with many loving thanks.” He opened the purse, and , found not coppers, but 24 golden sovereigns. Going into the next room, he found j old Joe as strong and healthy and good-humoured as ever. He had j already taken up his old calling of , wood-carver, and was busy designing a beautiful frame, adorned with flowers and all sorts of animal-like heads. ! "This sudden change in our house is all your doing,” said Joe gratefully. “How can it be my doing?” “Why, because when a naughty boy turns good he can make his home happier than ever before.” "And where has the old wooden Pinocchio hidden himself?” "Here he is!” answered Joe, pointing to a large puppet lying propped up ' against a chair. Pinocchio turned round to look, and when he had had a good look he said to himself, in great content: “How funny I was when I was a puppet! And how glad I am to be a real boy!” THE END.