The Adventures of Pinocchio - Chapter
30
Coming at last out of the surprise
into which the Fairy's
words had thrown him, Pinocchio asked for permission to
give out the invitations.
"Indeed, you may invite
your friends to tomorrow's party.
Only remember to return home before dark. Do you understand?"
"I'll be back in one hour without fail," answered
the Marionette.
"Take care, Pinocchio! Boys
give promises very easily,
but they as easily forget them."
"But I am not like those
others. When I give my word I keep it."
"We shall see. In case you
do disobey, you will be the one
to suffer, not anyone else."
"Why?"
"Because boys who do not
listen to their elders always come to grief."
"I certainly have," said Pinocchio, "but
from now on, I obey."
"We shall see if you are
telling the truth."
Without adding another word, the Marionette bade the good
Fairy good-by, and singing and dancing, he left the house.
In a little more than an hour, all his friends were
invited. Some accepted quickly and gladly. Others had to
be coaxed, but when they heard that the toast was to be
buttered on both sides, they all ended by accepting
the invitation with the words, "We'll come to please
you."
Now it must be known that, among all his friends,
Pinocchio had one whom he loved most of all.
The boy's real name was Romeo, but everyone called him
Lamp-Wick, for he was long and thin and had a woebegone
look about him.
Lamp-Wick was the laziest boy in the school and the
biggest mischief-maker, but Pinocchio loved him dearly.
That day, he went straight to his friend's house to invite
him
to the party, but Lamp-Wick was not at home. He went a
second time,
and again a third, but still without success.
Where could he be? Pinocchio searched here and there and
everywhere,
and finally discovered him hiding near a farmer's wagon.
"What are you doing there?" asked
Pinocchio, running up to him.
"I am waiting for midnight
to strike to go--"
"Where?"
"Far, far away!"
"And I have gone to your
house three times to look for you!"
"What did you want from
me?"
"Haven't you heard the news?
Don't you know what good luck is mine?"
"What is it?"
"Tomorrow I end my days
as a Marionette and become a boy,
like you and all my other friends."
"May it bring you luck!"
"Shall I see you at my party
tomorrow?"
"But I'm telling you that
I go tonight."
"At what time?"
"At midnight."
"And where are you going?"
"To a real country--the
best in the world--a wonderful place!"
"What is it called?"
"It is called the Land of
Toys. Why don't you come, too?"
"I? Oh, no!"
"You are making a big mistake,
Pinocchio. Believe me,
if you don't come, you'll be sorry. Where can you find
a place that will agree better with you and me? No schools,
no teachers, no books! In that blessed place there is no
such thing as study. Here, it is only on Saturdays that
we have no school. In the Land of Toys, every day, except
Sunday, is a Saturday. Vacation begins on the first
of January and ends on the last day of December. That
is the place for me! All countries should be like it!
How happy we should all be!"
"But how does one spend
the day in the Land of Toys?"
"Days are spent in play
and enjoyment from morn till
night. At night one goes to bed, and next morning, the
good times begin all over again. What do you think of it?"
"H'm--!" said Pinocchio,
nodding his wooden head, as if to say,
"It's the kind of life which would agree with me perfectly."
"Do you want to go with
me, then? Yes or no? You
must make up your mind."
"No, no, and again no! I
have promised my kind Fairy
to become a good boy, and I want to keep my word. Just
see: The sun is setting and I must leave you and run.
Good-by and good luck to you!"
"Where are you going in
such a hurry?"
"Home. My good Fairy wants
me to return home before night."
"Wait two minutes more."
"It's too late!"
"Only two minutes."
"And if the Fairy scolds
me?"
"Let her scold. After she gets tired, she will stop," said
Lamp-Wick.
"Are you going alone or
with others?"
"Alone? There will be more
than a hundred of us!"
"Will you walk?"
"At midnight the wagon passes
here that is to take us
within the boundaries of that marvelous country."
"How I wish midnight would
strike!"
"Why?"
"To see you all set out
together."
"Stay here a while longer
and you will see us!"
"No, no. I want to return
home."
"Wait two more minutes."
"I have waited too long
as it is. The Fairy will be worried."
"Poor Fairy! Is she afraid
the bats will eat you up?"
"Listen, Lamp-Wick," said the Marionette, "are
you
really sure that there are no schools in the Land of Toys?"
"Not even the shadow of one."
"Not even one teacher?"
"Not one."
"And one does not have to
study?"
"Never, never, never!"
"What a great land!" said
Pinocchio, feeling his mouth water.
"What a beautiful land! I have never been there,
but I can well imagine it."
"Why don't you come, too?"
"It is useless for you to
tempt me! I told you I promised
my good Fairy to behave myself, and I am going to
keep my word."
"Good-by, then, and remember
me to the grammar
schools, to the high schools, and even to the colleges
if
you meet them on the way."
"Good-by, Lamp-Wick. Have
a pleasant trip, enjoy
yourself, and remember your friends once in a while."
With these words, the Marionette started on his way
home. Turning once more to his friend, he asked him:
"But are you sure that,
in that country, each week is
composed of six Saturdays and one Sunday?"
"Very sure!"
"And that vacation begins
on the first of January and
ends on the thirty-first of December?"
"Very, very sure!"
"What a great country!" repeated
Pinocchio, puzzled
as to what to do.
Then, in sudden determination, he said hurriedly:
"Good-by for the last time,
and good luck."
"Good-by."
"How soon will you go?"
"Within two hours."
"What a pity! If it were
only one hour, I might wait for you."
"And the Fairy?"
"By this time I'm late,
and one hour more or less makes
very little difference."
"Poor Pinocchio! And if
the Fairy scolds you?"
"Oh, I'll let her scold.
After she gets tired, she will stop."
In the meantime, the night became darker and darker.
All at once in the distance a small light flickered. A
queer sound could be heard, soft as a little bell, and
faint
and muffled like the buzz of a far-away mosquito.
"There it is!" cried
Lamp-Wick, jumping to his feet.
"What?" whispered Pinocchio.
"The wagon which is coming
to get me. For the last
time, are you coming or not?"
"But is it really true that
in that country boys never
have to study?"
"Never, never, never!"
"What a wonderful, beautiful,
marvelous country! Oh--h--h!!" |