PINOCCHIO ASSISTS IN WELCOMING THE CIRCUS
That day the school bell rang longer and louder perhaps than it was
wont to ring on other days. What of that? From the tent came the loud
clanging of hammers, the sounds of instruments, the neighing of horses,
the roaring of lions and tigers and panthers, the howling of wolves,
the bleating of camels, the screeching of monkeys! Wonderful noises!
Who cared for the school bell? Pinocchio? No, not he.
Suddenly there was a loud command. All was still.
The two Moors raised the tent folds with their spears. Out came a crowd
of men dressed in all sorts of fine clothes, and women in coats of mail
and beautiful cloaks of silk, with splendid diadems on their heads.
They were all mounted upon horses covered with rich trappings of red
and white.
Out they marched, and behind them came a golden carriage drawn by four
white ponies. In it was the big man with the deep voice. There he sat
in the beautiful carriage with his dazzling high hat and his tall white
collar. He wore a black suit with a pair of high boots. As he rode on
he waved his white gloves and bowed right and left. The band with its
trumpets and drums and cymbals struck up a stirring march, and a parade
such as the townsfolk had never seen before passed out among the crowds
that now filled the square.
The marionette could not believe his eyes. He rubbed them to see if he
was really awake. He forgot all about his hunger. What did he care for
that? The wonders of the whole world were before him.
The parade soon reentered the tent. The two Moors, mounted upon their
snow-white horses, again stood at the entrance. Then the director, the
man with the loud voice, came out, hat in hand, and began to address
the people.