Page:Collodi - The Story of a Puppet, translation Murray, 1892.djvu/30

 made up my mind to run away to-morrow at daybreak, because if I remain I shall not escape the fate of all other boys; I shall be sent to school and shall be made to study either by love or by force. To tell you in confidence, I have no wish to learn; it is much more amusing to run after butterflies, or to climb trees and to take the young birds out of their nests.'

'Poor little goose! But do you not know that in that way you will grow up a perfect donkey, and that every one will make game of you?'

'Hold your tongue, you wicked ill-omened croaker!' shouted Pinocchio.

But the Cricket, who was patient and philosophical, instead of becoming angry at this impertinence, continued in the same tone:

'But if you do not wish to go to school why not at least learn a trade, if only to enable you to earn honestly a piece of bread!'

'Do you want me to tell you?' replied Pinocchio, who was beginning to lose patience. 'Amongst all the trades in the world there is only one that really takes my fancy.'

'And that trade—what is it?'

'It is to eat, drink, sleep, and amuse myself, and to lead a vagabond life from morning to night.'