Stranica 112 [112]
OCR
98 PINOCCHIO could perceive a tree with its branches faden with money: but he saw nothing. He advanced another hundred steps—nothing: he entered the field . . . he went right up to the little hole where he had buried his sovereigns—and nothing. He then became very thoughtful, and forgetting the rules of society and good manners he took his hands out of his pockets and gave his head a long scratch. At that moment he heard an explosion of laughter close to him, and looking up he saw a large Parrot perched on a tree, who was pruning the few feathers he had left. “Why are you laughing?” asked Pinocchio in an angry voice. "I am laughing because in pruning my feathers I tickled myself under my wings.” The puppet did not answer, but went to the canal and, filling the same old shoe full of water, he proceeded to water the earth afresh that covered his gold pieces. Whilst he was thus occupied another laugh, and still more impertinent than the first, rang out in the silence of that solitary place. “Once for all,” shouted Pinocchio mn a rage, " may I know, you ill-educated Parrot, what you are laughing at?” “TI am laughing at those simpletons who believe in all the foolish things that are told
