CHAPTER I

Produced by Walter Moore, James Linden and James Nugen

PINOCCHIO IN AFRICA

Translated from the Italian

of Cherubini by

Angelo Patri

Principal of Public School No. 4

Borough of Bronx

New York City

Original Drawings by

Charles Copeland

Ginn and Company

Boston · New York · Chicago · London

Copyright, 1911, by Angelo Patri

All Rights Reserved

811.4

The Athenaum Press

Ginn and Company Proprietors

Boston · U.S.A.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I Why Pinocchio Did Not Go To School

II Pinocchio Assists In Welcoming The Circus

III Pinocchio Among The Wild Animals

IV Pinocchio Makes Friends With The Wild Animals

V Pinocchio Determines To Go To Africa

VI Pinocchio In Doubt

VII He Bids Good-By To The Animals

VIII Pinocchio Does Not Sleep

IX Pinocchio Eats Dates

X Pinocchio Lands On A Rock

XI The First Night In Africa

XII Pinocchio Is Well Received

XIII Pinocchio Is Arrested

XIV Pinocchio's Father

XV Pinocchio Sells Drinking Water

XVI A Ride On A Dog's Back

XVII The Cave

XVIII The Caravan

XIX The Baby Pulls His Nose

XX Pinocchio Travels With The Caravan

XXI He Is Offered For Sale

XXII The Bird In The Forest

XXIII His Adventure With A Lion

XXIV Pinocchio Is Brought Before The King

XXV The Monkeys Stone The Marionette

XXVI Pinocchio Dreams Again

XXVII Pinocchio Is Carried Away In An Eggshell

XXVIII Pinocchio Escapes Again

XXIX Pinocchio Is Swallowed By A Crocodile

XXX Pinocchio Is Made Emperor

XXXI His First Night As Emperor

XXXII He Sends For The Royal Doctor

XXXIII An Old Story

XXXIV His Duties As Emperor

XXXV Pinocchio Makes His First Address

XXXVI The Emperor Becomes As Black As A Crow

XXXVII The Hippopotamus Hunt

XXXVIII The Emperor Surprises His Subjects By His Wisdom

XXXIX Pinocchio Travels Through The Empire

XL Pinocchio Is Placed In A Cage

XLI Pinocchio Performs For The Public

XLII Pinocchio Breaks The Cage And Makes His Escape

PREFACE

Collodi’s “Pinocchio” tells the story of a wooden marionette and of his

efforts to become a real boy. Although he was kindly treated by the old

woodcutter, Geppetto, who had fashioned him out of a piece of kindling

wood, he was continually getting into trouble and disgrace. Even

Fatina, the Fairy with the Blue Hair, could not at once change an idle,

selfish marionette into a studious and reliable boy. His adventures,

including his brief transformation into a donkey, give the author an

opportunity to teach a needed and wholesome lesson without disagreeable

moralizing.

Pinocchio immediately leaped into favor as the hero of Italian juvenile

romance. The wooden marionette became a popular subject for the

artist’s pencil and the storyteller’s invention. Brought across the

seas, he was welcomed by American children and now appears in a new

volume which sets forth his travels in Africa. The lessons underlying

his fantastic experiences are clear to the youngest readers but are

never allowed to become obtrusive. The amusing illustrations of the

original are fully equaled in the present edition, while the whimsical

nonsense which delights Italian children has been reproduced as closely

as a translation permits.

CHAPTER I

WHY PINOCCHIO DID NOT GO TO SCHOOL

One morning Pinocchio slipped out of bed before daybreak. He got up

with a great desire to study, a feeling, it must be confessed, which

did not often take hold of him. He dipped his wooden head into the

cool, refreshing water, puffed very hard, dried himself, jumped up and

down to stretch his legs, and in a few moments was seated at his small

worktable.

There was his home work for the day,—twelve sums, four pages of

penmanship, and the fable of “The Dog and the Rabbit” to learn by

heart. He began with the fable, reciting it in a loud voice, like the

hero in the play: “‘A dog was roaming about the fields, when from

behind a little hill jumped a rabbit, which had been nibbling the

tender grass.’

“Roaming, nibbling.—The teacher says this is beautiful language. Maybe

it is; I have nothing to say about that. Well, one more.

“‘A dog was roaming about the fields—when he saw—run out—a rabbit

which—which—’ I don’t know it; let’s begin again. ‘A dog was running

about eating, eating—’ But eating what? Surely he did not eat grass!

“This fable is very hard; I cannot learn it. Well, I never did have

much luck with dogs and rabbits! Let me try the sums. Eight and seven,

seventeen; and three, nineteen; and six, twenty-three, put down two and

carry three. Nine and three, eleven; and four, fourteen; put down the

whole number—one, four; total, four hundred thirteen.

“Ah! good! very good! I do not wish to boast, but I have always had a

great liking for arithmetic. Now to prove the answer: eight and seven,

sixteen; and three, twenty-one; and six, twenty-four; put down four—

why! it’s wrong! Eight and seven, fourteen; and three, nineteen; and

six—wrong again!

“I know what the trouble is; the wind is not in the right quarter

to-day for sums. Perhaps it would be better to take a walk in the open.”

No sooner said than done. Pinocchio went out into the street and filled

his lungs with the fresh morning air.

“Ah! here, at least, one can breathe. It is a pity that I am beginning

to feel hungry! Strange how things go wrong sometimes! Take the

lessons—” he went on.

Listen! A noise of creaking wheels, of bells ringing, the voices of

people, the cries of animals! Pinocchio stopped short. What could it

all mean?

Down the street came a huge wagon drawn by three big mules. Behind it

was a long train of men and women dressed in the strangest fashion.

Some were on foot, some on horseback, some sat or lay on other wagons

larger and heavier than the first. Two Moors, their scarlet turbans

blazing in the sun, brought up the rear. With spears at rest and with

shields held before them, they rode along, mounted on two snow-white

horses.

Pinocchio stood with his mouth open. Only after the two Moors had

passed did he discover the fact that he had legs, and that these were

following on behind the procession. And he walked, walked, walked,

until the carriages and all the people stopped in the big town square.

A man with a deep voice began to give orders. In a short time there

arose an immense tent, which hid from Pinocchio and the many others who

had gathered in the square all those wonderful wagons, horses, mules,

and strange people.

It may seem odd, but it is a fact that the school bell began to ring

and Pinocchio never heard it!