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206 PINOCCHIO in the world. But instead, induced by my dislike to study and the advice of bad companions, I ran away from home ... and one fine day when I awoke I found myself changed into a donkey with long ears... and a long tail!... What a disgrace it was to me!—a disgrace, dear master, that the blessed St. Anthony would not inflict even upon you! ‘Taken to the market to be sold I was bought by the director of an equestrian company, who took it into his head to make a famous dancer of me, and a famous leaper through hoops. but one night during a performance I had a bad fall in the circus and lamed both my legs. Then the director, not knowing what to do with a lame donkey, sent me to be sold, and you were the purchaser!.. .” " Only too true! And I paid twenty pence for you. And now who will give me back my poor pennies? " " And why did you buy me? You bought me to make a drum of my skin!...adrum!...” “Only too true! And now where shall I find another skin? . . .” " Dont despair, master. ‘There are such a number of little donkeys in the world! ” “Tell me, you impertinent rascal, does your story end here?” “No,” answered the puppet; “I have
