Page:Collodi - The Story of a Puppet, translation Murray, 1892.djvu/137

 road, tired and panting for breath. He was dragging alone, with fatigue and difficulty, two carts full of charcoal.

Pinocchio, judging by his face that he was a kind man, approached him, and casting down his eyes with shame he said to him in a low voice:

'Would you have the charity to give me a halfpenny, for I am dying of hunger?'

'You shall have not only a halfpenny,' said the man, 'but I will give you twopence, provided that you help me to drag home these two carts of charcoal.'

'I am surprised at you!' answered the puppet in a tone of offence. 'Let me tell you that I am not accustomed to do the work of a donkey: I have never drawn a cart! . . .'

'So much the better for you,' answered the man. 'Then, my boy, if you are really dying of hunger, eat two fine slices of your pride, and be careful not to get an indigestion.'

A few minutes afterwards a mason passed down the road carrying on his shoulders a basket of lime.

'Would you have the charity, good man, to give a halfpenny to a poor boy who is yawning for want of food?'

'Willingly,' answered the man. 'Come with me and carry the lime, and instead of a halfpenny I will give you five.'