Page:Collodi - The Story of a Puppet, translation Murray, 1892.djvu/31

 'As a rule,' said the Talking-cricket with the same composure, 'all those who follow that trade end almost always either in a hospital or in prison.'

'Take care, you wicked ill-omened croaker! . . . Woe to you if I fly into a passion! . . .'

'Poor Pinocchio! I really pity you! . . .'

'Why do you pity me?'

'Because you are a puppet and, what is worse, because you have a wooden head.'

At these last words Pinocchio jumped up in a rage, and snatching a wooden hammer from the bench he threw it at the Talking-cricket.

Perhaps he never meant to hit him; but unfortunately it struck him exactly on the head, so that the poor Cricket had scarcely breath to cry cri-cri-cri, and then he remained dried up and flattened against the wall.