Page 224 [224]
OCR
202 PINOCCHIO " Bring out Pinocchio! We want the little donkey! Bring out the little donkey! ” shouted all the boys in the theatre, touched and sorry for the sad accident. But the little donkey was seen no more that evening. The following morning the veterinary, that is, the doctor of animals, paid him a visit, and declared that he would remain lame for life. The director then said to the stable-boy: ‘What do you suppose I can do with a lame donkey? He would eat food without earning it. Take him to the market and sell him.” When they reached the market a purchaser was found at once. He asked the stable-boy: ‘How much do you want for that lame donkey?” " Twenty francs.” " T will give you twenty pence. Don’t suppose that I am buying him to make use of; 1 am buying him solely for his skin. I see that his skin is very hard, and I intend to make a drum with it for the band of my village.” I leave it to my readers to imagine poor Pinocchio’s feelings when he heard that he was destined to become a drum! As soon as the purchaser had paid his twenty pence he conducted the little donkey to
