The　strangest　thing　of　all　was　that　those　twenty…four
  donkeys；　instead　of　being　iron…shod　like　any　other　beast
  of　burden；　had　on　their　feet　laced　shoes　made　of　leather；
  just　like　the　ones　boys　wear。
  And　the　driver　of　the　wagon？
  Imagine　to　yourselves　a　little；　fat　man；　much　wider
  than　he　was　long；　round　and　shiny　as　a　ball　of　butter；　with
  a　face　beaming　like　an　apple；　a　little　mouth　that　always
  smiled；　and　a　voice　small　and　wheedling　like　that　of　a　cat
  begging　for　food。
  No　sooner　did　any　boy　see　him　than　he　fell　in　love　with
  him；　and　nothing　satisfied　him　but　to　be　allowed　to　ride
  in　his　wagon　to　that　lovely　place　called　the　Land　of　Toys。
  In　fact　the　wagon　was　so　closely　packed　with　boys　of
  all　ages　that　it　looked　like　a　box　of　sardines。　　They　were
  uncomfortable；　they　were　piled　one　on　top　of　the　other；
  they　could　hardly　breathe；　yet　not　one　word　of　complaint
  was　heard。　　The　thought　that　in　a　few　hours　they　would
  reach　a　country　where　there　were　no　schools；　no　books；
  no　teachers；　made　these　boys　so　happy　that　they　felt
  neither　hunger；　nor　thirst；　nor　sleep；　nor　discomfort。
  No　sooner　had　the　wagon　stopped　than　the　little　fat
  man　turned　to　Lamp…Wick。　　With　bows　and　smiles；　he
  asked　in　a　wheedling　tone：
  〃Tell　me；　my　fine　boy；　do　you　also　want　to　come　to
  my　wonderful　country？〃
  〃Indeed　I　do。〃
  〃But　I　warn　you；　my　little　dear；　there's　no　more　room
  in　the　wagon。　　It　is　full。〃
  〃Never　mind；〃　answered　Lamp…Wick。　　〃If　there's　no
  room　inside；　I　can　sit　on　the　top　of　the　coach。〃
  And　with　one　leap；　he　perched　himself　there。
  〃What　about　you；　my　love？〃　asked　the　Little　Man；
  turning　politely　to　Pinocchio。　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？
  Will　you　come　with　us；　or　do　you　stay　here？〃
  〃I　stay　here；〃　answered　Pinocchio。　　〃I　want　to　return
  home；　as　I　prefer　to　study　and　to　succeed　in　life。〃
  〃May　that　bring　you　luck！〃
  〃Pinocchio！〃　Lamp…Wick　called　out。　　〃Listen　to　me。
  Come　with　us　and　we'll　always　be　happy。〃
  〃No；　no；　no！〃
  〃Come　with　us　and　we'll　always　be　happy；〃　cried　four
  other　voices　from　the　wagon。
  〃Come　with　us　and　we'll　always　be　happy；〃　shouted　the
  one　hundred　and　more　boys　in　the　wagon；　all　together。
  〃And　if　I　go　with　you；　what　will　my　good　Fairy　say？〃
  asked　the　Marionette；　who　was　beginning　to　waver　and
  weaken　in　his　good　resolutions。
  〃Don't　worry　so　much。　　Only　think　that　we　are　going
  to　a　land　where　we　shall　be　allowed　to　make　all　the　racket
  we　like　from　morning　till　night。〃
  Pinocchio　did　not　answer；　but　sighed　deeply　once
  twicea　third　time。　　Finally；　he　said：
  〃Make　room　for　me。　　I　want　to　go；　too！〃
  〃The　seats　are　all　filled；〃　answered　the　Little　Man；
  〃but　to　show　you　how　much　I　think　of　you；　take　my　place
  as　coachman。〃
  〃And　you？〃
  〃I'll　walk。〃
  〃No；　indeed。　　I　could　not　permit　such　a　thing。　　I　much
  prefer　riding　one　of　these　donkeys；〃　cried　Pinocchio。
  No　sooner　said　than　done。　　He　approached　the　first
  donkey　and　tried　to　mount　it。　　But　the　little　animal　turned
  suddenly　and　gave　him　such　a　terrible　kick　in　the　stomach
  that　Pinocchio　was　thrown　to　the　ground　and　fell　with
  his　legs　in　the　air。
  At　this　unlooked…for　entertainment；　the　whole　company
  of　runaways　laughed　uproariously。
  The　little　fat　man　did　not　laugh。　　He　went　up　to　the
  rebellious　animal；　and；　still　smiling；　bent　over　him　lovingly
  and　bit　off　half　of　his　right　ear。
  In　the　meantime；　Pinocchio　lifted　himself　up　from　the
  ground；　and　with　one　leap　landed　on　the　donkey's　back。
  The　leap　was　so　well　taken　that　all　the　boys　shouted；
  〃Hurrah　for　Pinocchio！〃　and　clapped　their　hands　in　hearty　applause。
  Suddenly　the　little　donkey　gave　a　kick　with　his　two
  hind　feet　and；　at　this　unexpected　move；　the　poor　Marionette
  found　himself　once　again　sprawling　right　in　the
  middle　of　the　road。
  Again　the　boys　shouted　with　laughter。　　But　the　Little
  Man；　instead　of　laughing；　became　so　loving　toward　the
  little　animal　that；　with　another　kiss；　he　bit　off　half　of
  his　left　ear。
  〃You　can　mount　now；　my　boy；〃　he　then　said　to　Pinocchio。
  〃Have　no　fear。　　That　donkey　was　worried　about　something；
  but　I　have　spoken　to　him　and　now　he　seems　quiet　and　reasonable。〃
  Pinocchio　mounted　and　the　wagon　started　on　its　way。
  While　the　donkeys　galloped　along　the　stony　road；　the
  Marionette　fancied　he　heard　a　very　quiet　voice　whispering　to　him：
  〃Poor　silly！　　You　have　done　as　you　wished。　　But　you
  are　going　to　be　a　sorry　boy　before　very　long。〃
  Pinocchio；　greatly　frightened；　looked　about　him　to　see
  whence　the　words　had　come；　but　he　saw　no　one。　　The
  donkeys　galloped；　the　wagon　rolled　on　smoothly；　the
  boys　slept　（Lamp…Wick　snored　like　a　dormouse）　and　the
  little；　fat　driver　sang　sleepily　between　his　teeth。
  After　a　mile　or　so；　Pinocchio　again　heard　the　same
  faint　voice　whispering：　　〃Remember；　little　simpleton！
  Boys　who　stop　studying　and　turn　their　backs　upon　books
  and　schools　and　teachers　in　order　to　give　all　their　time
  to　nonsense　and　pleasure；　sooner　or　later　come　to　grief。
  Oh；　how　well　I　know　this！　　How　well　I　can　prove　it　to　you！
  A　day　will　come　when　you　will　weep　bitterly；　even　as　I
  am　weeping　nowbut　it　will　be　too　late！〃
  At　these　whispered　words；　the　Marionette　grew　more
  and　more　frightened。　　He　jumped　to　the　ground；　ran　up
  to　the　donkey　on　whose　back　he　had　been　riding；　and
  taking　his　nose　in　his　hands；　looked　at　him。　　Think　how
  great　was　his　surprise　when　he　saw　that　the　donkey　was
  weepingweeping　just　like　a　boy！
  〃Hey；　Mr。　Driver！〃　cried　the　Marionette。　　〃Do　you　know　what
  strange　thing　is　happening　here！　　This　donkey　weeps。〃
  〃Let　him　weep。　　When　he　gets　married；　he　will　have　time　to　laugh。〃
  〃Have　you　perhaps　taught　him　to　speak？〃
  〃No；　he　learned　to　mumble　a　few　words　when　he　lived
  for　three　years　with　a　band　of　trained　dogs。〃
  〃Poor　beast！〃
  〃Come；　come；〃　said　the　Little　Man；　〃do　not　lose　time　over
  a　donkey　that　can　weep。　　Mount　quickly　and　let　us　go。
  The　night　is　cool　and　the　road　is　long。〃
  Pinocchio　obeyed　without　another　word。　　The　wagon
  started　again。　　Toward　dawn　the　next　morning　they　finally
  reached　that　much…longed…for　country；　the　Land　of　Toys。
  This　great　land　was　entirely　different　from　any　other
  place　in　the　world。　　Its　population；　large　though　it　was；
  was　composed　wholly　of　boys。　　The　oldest　were　about
  fourteen　years　of　age；　the　youngest；　eight。　　In　the　street；
  there　was　such　a　racket；　such　shouting；　such　blowing　of
  trumpets；　that　it　was　deafening。　　Everywhere　groups　of
  boys　were　gathered　together。　　Some　played　at　marbles；　at
  hopscotch；　at　ball。　　Others　rode　on　bicycles　or　on　wooden
  horses。　　Some　played　at　blindman's　buff；　others　at　tag。
  Here　a　group　played　circus；　there　another　sang　and　recited。
  A　few　turned　somersaults；　others　walked　on　their　hands
  with　their　feet　in　the　air。　　Generals　in　full　uniform　leading
  regiments　of　cardboard　soldiers　passed　by。　　Laughter；
  shrieks；　howls；　catcalls；　hand…clapping　followed　this
  parade。　　One　boy　made　a　noise　like　a　hen；　another　like
  a　rooster；　and　a　third　imitated　a　lion　in　his　den。　　All
  together　they　created　such　a　pandemonium　that　it　would
  have　been　necessary　for　you　to　put　cotton　in　your　ears。
  The　squares　were　filled　with　small　wooden　theaters；
  overflowing　with　boys　from　morning　till　night；　and　on　the
  walls　of　the　houses；　written　with　charcoal；　were　words
  like　these：　　HURRAH　FOR　THE　LAND　OF　TOYS！　　DOWN　WITH
  ARITHMETIC！　　NO　MORE　SCHOOL！
  As　soon　as　they　had　set　foot　in　that　land；　Pinocchio；
  Lamp…Wick；　and　all　the　other　boys　who　had　traveled　with
  them　started　out　on　a　tour　of　investigation。　　They
  wandered　everywhere；　they　looked　into　every　nook　and
  corner；　house　and　theater。　　They　became　everybody's　friend。
  Who　could　be　happier　than　they？
  What　with　entertainments　and　parties；　the　hours；　the　days；
  the　weeks　passed　like　lightning。
  〃Oh；　what　a　beautiful　life　this　is！〃　said　Pinocchio　each
  time　that；　by　chance；　he　met　his　friend　Lamp…Wick。
  〃Was　I　right　or　wrong？〃　answered　Lamp…Wick。　　〃And
  to　think　you　did　not　want　to　come！　　To　think　that　even
  yesterday　the　idea　came　into　your　head　to　return　home
  to　see　your　Fairy　and　to　start　studying　again！　　If　today
  you　are　free　from　pencils　and　books　and　school；　you　owe
  it　to　me；　to　my　advice；　to　my　care。　　Do　you　admit　it？　　Only
  true　friends　count；　after　all。〃
  〃It's　true；　Lamp…Wick；　it's　true。　　If　today　I　am　a　really
  happy　boy；　it　is　all　because　of　you。　　And　to　think　that　the
  teacher；　when　speaking　of　you；　used　to　say；　‘Do　not　go
  with　that　Lamp…Wick！　　He　is　a　bad　companion　and　some
  day　he　will　lead　you　astray。'〃
  〃Poor　teacher！〃　answered　the　other；　nodding　his　head。
  〃Indeed　I　know　how　much　he　disliked　me　and　how　he
  enjoyed　speaking　ill　of　me。　　But　I　am　of　a　generous　nature；
  and　I　gladly　forgive　him。〃
  〃Great　soul！〃　said　Pinocchio；　fondly　embracing　his　friend。
  Five　months　passed　and　the　boys　continued　playing　and
  enjoying　themselves　from　morn　till　night；　without　ever
  seeing　a　book；　or　a　desk；　or　a　school。　　But；　my　children；
  there　came　a　morning　when　Pinocchio　awoke　and　found
  a　great　surprise　awaiting　him；　a　surprise　which　made　him
  feel　very　unhappy；　as　you　shall　see。
  CHAPTER　32
  Pinocchio's　ears　become　like　those　of　a　Donkey。
  In　a　little　while　he　changes　into　a　real　Donkey　and　begins　to　bra