The Greatest Adventure Books for Children. Люси Мод Монтгомери

      “Ask the Fairy to help me!”

      “The Fairy is asleep and does not want to be disturbed.”

      “But what do you want me to do, nailed to the door like this?”

      “Enjoy yourself counting the ants which are passing by.”

      “Bring me something to eat, at least, for I am faint with hunger.”

      “Immediately!”

      In fact, after three hours and a half, Pinocchio saw her return with a silver tray on her head. On the tray there was bread, roast chicken, fruit.

      “Here is the breakfast the Fairy sends to you,” said the Snail.

      At the sight of all these good things, the Marionette felt much better.

      What was his disgust, however, when on tasting the food, he found the bread to be made of chalk, the chicken of cardboard, and the brilliant fruit of colored alabaster!

      He wanted to cry, he wanted to give himself up to despair, he wanted to throw away the tray and all that was on it. Instead, either from pain or weakness, he fell to the floor in a dead faint.

      When he regained his senses, he found himself stretched out on a sofa and the Fairy was seated near him.

      “This time also I forgive you,” said the Fairy to him. “But be careful not to get into mischief again.”

      Pinocchio promised to study and to behave himself. And he kept his word for the remainder of the year. At the end of it, he passed first in all his examinations, and his report was so good that the Fairy said to him happily:

      “Tomorrow your wish will come true.”

      “And what is it?”

      “Tomorrow you will cease to be a Marionette and will become a real boy.”

      Pinocchio was beside himself with joy. All his friends and schoolmates must be invited to celebrate the great event! The Fairy promised to prepare two hundred cups of coffee-and-milk and four hundred slices of toast buttered on both sides.

      The day promised to be a very gay and happy one, but —

      Unluckily, in a Marionette’s life there’s always a BUT which is apt to spoil everything.

CHAPTER 30

       Table of Contents

      Pinocchio, instead of becoming a boy, runs away to the Land of Toys with his friend, Lamp-Wick.

      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