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THE ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO
PART 1 CHAPTER 8
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Geppetto makes Pinocchio a new pair of feet. He sells his own coat to buy Pinocchio an A-B-C book.
AS SOON AS he was no longer hungry, Pinocchio began to tell Geppetto how much he wanted a new pair of feet.
But Mr Geppetto, in order to punish him for being so bad, did nothing for him all morning. Then he said: "Why should I make you some new feet? You will just run away all over again!"
Pinocchio began to cry. "I promise you," he answered, "that from now on I'll be good . . . "
"Boys and girls always promise to be good when they want something," said Geppetto.
"Oh," said Pinocchio, thinking hard. "Well, then, I promise to go to school every day, to learn as much as I can, and to do my best . . . ."
"And boys and girls often tell that story, too, when they want something."
"But I am not like other children! I am better than all of them. I always tell the truth. I promise you, Father, that I'll learn a trade, and I'll take care of you when you are an old man."
Geppetto could see how unhappy Pinocchio was. The old man was still angry with him, but he felt his eyes filling with tears. He said no more. He got his tools and two pieces of wood, and started work.
In less than an hour the feet were finished --two strong, quick good-looking, little feet. You would think an artist had made them.
"Close your eyes and go to sleep!" Geppetto said to the puppet.
Pinocchio closed his eyes. He pretended to be asleep, but he could feel things happening at the ends of his legs.
Geppetto stuck on the two feet with some strong glue. He did his work well. When he had finished you would think Pinocchio's legs and feet were made from just one unbroken piece of wood.
As soon as the puppet felt his new feet, he jumped up and started to skip and run around the room. I cannot tell you how happy he was!
"Oh, Father," he said. "Thank you, thank you for making me these new feet. I am so thankful to you that I will go to school. But . . . " he stopped to think, "but, I will need some special clothes."
Geppetto was really poor. He did not have one penny in his pocket. He made his puppet son a jacket and trousers from some old wall-paper. The wall-paper had pictures of flowers on it. He also made him a pair of shoes from another piece of wood, and, to go on Pinocchio's head, a hat made from an old piece of dry bread.
Pinocchio ran to look at himself in a bowl of water. He felt so happy and pleased with himself that he said: "Now I look like a gentleman."
"That's the truth," answered Geppetto. "But remember that for you to be a gentleman, fine clothes are not enough. You must keep your clothes neat and clean."
"Yes, that's right," answered Pinocchio, "but clothes are just one thing I need for school. There is something else; something important."
"What's that?"
"An A-B-C book."
"Of course! But how shall we get you an A-B-C book?"
"That's easy. We'll go to a bookshop and buy one."
"And how will you pay for it? Where is your money?"
"I have none."
"Neither have I," said the old man sadly. He knew his pockets were empty.
Pinocchio became sad, too. When you are really poor you cannot do anything you want. Everyone understands that --even naughty boys like Pinocchio.
Geppetto suddenly looked as if he had had an idea. He jumped up from his chair. He put on his coat, and ran out of the house without saying another word.
After a while he returned. In his hands he had the A-B-C book for his son, but where was his coat? The poor old man was just wearing his trousers and a thin old shirt, and the day was cold.
"What have you done with your coat, Father?"
"I have sold it."
"Why did you do that?"
"It is nearly summer. I felt too warm."
Pinocchio knew that that was not the truth, but he understood what his father had done for him. Tears of happiness ran down his cheeks. He jumped up to put his arms round his father's neck, and hugged him and kissed him again and again.