The Talking Cricket

Chapter Four of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi.

Chapter Four: The Talking Cricket Scolds Pinocchio.

While poor Geppetto was being taken to prison for no fault of his, that imp Pinocchio, finding himself free from the clutches of the soldier, ran off as fast as his legs could carry him.

That he might reach home the quicker, he rushed across the fields, and in his mad hurry he jumped high banks, thorn hedges, and ditches full of water.

But soon he heard someone in the room who was saying, "Croak, croak." "Who calls me?" said Pinocchio in a fright.

"It is I." Pinocchio turned round and saw a big cricket crawling slowly up the wall.

"Tell me, Cricket, who may you be?" "I am the Talking Cricket, and I have lived in this room a hundred years or more." "Now, however, this room is mine," said the puppet, "and if you would do me a pleasure, go away at once without even turning round." "I will not go," answered the cricket, "until I have told you a great truth." "Tell it me then, and be quick about it." "Woe to those boys who rebel against their parents and run away from home.

They will never come to any good in the world, and sooner or later they will repent bitterly." "Sing away, Cricket, as you please and as long as you please.

"'Tell me, cricket, who are you?'

I am the Talking Cricket, and I have been living in this room for more

than one hundred years." "'Today, however, this room is mine,' said the Marionette.

"'And if you wish to do me a favor, get out now, and don't turn around even once.' "'I refuse to leave this spot,' answered the Cricket, "'until I have told you a great truth.'

only one that really suits me.

and what can that be that of eating drinking sleeping playing and wandering around from morning till night

let me tell you for your own good pinocchio said the talking cricket in his calm voice that those who follow that trade always end up in the

hospital or in prison careful ugly cricket if you make me angry you'll be sorry poor pinocchio i am sorry for you why because you are a marionette and what is much

"'I am!' Pinocchio turned and saw a large cricket crawling slowly up the wall.

Tell me, Cricket, who are you?" "'I am the Talking Cricket, and I have been living in this room for more than one hundred years.' "'Today, however, this room is mine,' said the Marionette.

"'And if you wish to do me a favor, get out now, and don't turn around even once.' "'I refuse to leave this spot,' answered the Cricket, "'until I have told you a great truth.'

"'Tell it, then, and hurry.' Woe to boys who refuse to obey their parents and run away from home.

world, there is only one that really suits me.

and what can that be that of eating drinking sleeping playing and wandering around from morning till night

let me tell you for your own good pinocchio said the talking cricket in his calm voice that those who follow that trade always end up in the hospital

or in prison careful ugly cricket if you make me angry you'll be sorry poor pinocchio i am sorry for you why because you are a marionette and what is much worse

But his happiness lasted only a short time, for just then he heard someone saying, "'Crick! Crick! Crick!' "'Who is calling me?' asked Pinocchio, greatly frightened.

"'I am!' Pinocchio turned and saw a large cricket crawling slowly up the wall.

Tell me, Cricket, who are you?"

"'I am the Talking Cricket, and I have been living in this room for more than one

hundred years.' "'Today, however, this room is mine,' said the Marionette.

"'And if you wish to do me a favor,

get out now, and don't turn around even once.' "'I refuse to leave this spot,' answered the Cricket, "'until I have told you a great truth.' "'Tell it, then, and hurry.' Woe to boys who refuse to obey their parents and run away from home.

They will never be happy in this world, and when they are older they will be very sorry for it.

"'I am!' Pinocchio turned and saw a large cricket crawling slowly up the wall.

Tell me, Cricket, who are you?" "'I am the Talking Cricket, and I have been living in this room for more than one hundred years.' "'Today, however, this room is mine,' said the Marionette.

"'And if you wish to do me a favor, get out now, and don't turn around even once.' "'I refuse to leave this spot,' answered the Cricket, "'until I have told you a

great truth.' "'Tell it, then, and hurry.' Woe to boys who refuse to obey their parents and run away from home.

the trades in the world, there is only one that really suits me.

and what can that be that of eating drinking sleeping playing and wandering around from morning till night let me

tell you for your own good pinocchio said the talking cricket in his calm voice that those who follow that trade always end up in the

hospital or in prison careful ugly cricket if you make me angry you'll be sorry poor pinocchio i am sorry for you why because you are a marionette and what is much worse you have a

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THIS IS AN ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE STORY, BUT YOU MAY READ IT, DEAR CHILDREN, IN THE CHAPTERS THAT FOLLOW.

END OF CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 THE STORY OF PINOCCHIO AND THE TALKING CRICKET IN WHICH ONE SEES THAT BAD CHILDREN DO NOT LIKE TO BE CORRECTED BY THOSE WHO KNOW MORE THAN THEY DO Very little time did it take to get poor old Geppetto to prison.

In the meantime, that rascal Pinocchio, free now from the clutches of the carabineer, was running wildly across the fields and meadows, taking one shortcut after another toward home.

In his wild flight, he leapt over brambles and bushes and across brooks and ponds, as if he were a goat or a hare chased by hounds.

But his happiness lasted only a short time, for just then he heard someone saying, "'Cree, cree, cree!' "'Who is calling me?' asked Pinocchio, greatly frightened.

"'I am!' Pinocchio turned and saw a large cricket crawling slowly up the wall.

"'Tell me, Cricket, who are you?' "'I am the Talking Cricket, and I have been living in this room for more than one hundred years.' "'Today, however, this room is mine,' said the Marionette, "'and if you wish to do me a favor, get out now, and don't turn around even once.' "'I refuse to leave this spot,' answered the Cricket, "'until I have told you a great truth.' "'Tell it, then, and hurry.' Woe to boys who refuse to obey their parents and run away from home.

They will never be happy in this world.

But his happiness lasted only a short time, for just then he heard someone saying, "Crick, crick, crick." "Who is calling me?" asked Pinocchio, greatly frightened.

"I am." Pinocchio turned and saw a large cricket crawling slowly up the wall.

"Tell me, Cricket, who are you?" "I am the Talking Cricket and I have been living in this room for more than one hundred years." "Today, however, this room is mine," said the Marionette, "and if you wish to do me a favor, get out now and don't turn around even once." "I refuse to leave this spot," answered the Cricket, "until I have told you a great truth." "Tell it then and hurry." "Woe to boys who refuse to obey their parents and run away from home! They will never be happy in this world, and when they are older, they will be very sorry for it." "Sing on, Cricket mine, as you please.

What I know is that tomorrow, at dawn, I leave this place forever.

If I stay here, the same thing will happen to me which happens to all other boys and girls.

They are sent to school, and whether they want to or not, they must study.

As for me, let me tell you, I hate to study.

It's much more fun, I think, to chase after butterflies, climb trees, and steal birds' nests." "Poor little silly! Don't you know that if you go on like that, you will grow into a perfect donkey, and then you'll be the laughingstock of everyone?" "Keep still, you ugly Cricket!" cried Pinocchio.

But his happiness lasted only a short time, for just then he heard someone saying, "'Crick! Crick! Crick!' "'Who is calling me?' asked Pinocchio, greatly frightened.

"'I am!' Pinocchio turned and saw a large cricket crawling slowly up the wall.

Tell me, Cricket,

who are you?" "'I am the Talking Cricket, and I have been living in this room for more than one hundred years.'

"'Today, however, this room is mine,' said the Marionette.

"'And if you wish to do me a favor,

get out now, and don't turn around even once.' "'I refuse to leave this spot,' answered the Cricket, "'until I have told you a great truth.' "'Tell it, then, and hurry.' Woe to boys who refuse to obey their parents and run away from home.

They will never be happy in this world, and when they are older they will be very sorry for it.

But his happiness lasted only a short time, for just then he heard someone saying, "Crick, crick, crick." "Who is calling me?" asked Pinocchio, greatly frightened.

"I am." Pinocchio turned and saw a large cricket crawling slowly up the wall.

"Tell me, Cricket, who are you?" "I am the Talking Cricket, and I have been living in this room for more than one hundred years." "Today, however, this room is mine," said the Marionette, "and if you wish to do me a favor, get out now and don't turn around even once." "I refuse to leave this spot," answered the Cricket, "until I have told you a great truth." "Tell it then and hurry." "Woe to boys who refuse to obey their parents and run away from home.

They will never be happy in this world, and when they are older, they will be very sorry for it." "Sing on, Cricket mine, as you please.

What I know is that tomorrow, at dawn, I leave this place forever.

If I stay here, the same thing will happen to me which happens to all other boys and girls.

They are sent to school, and whether they want to or not, they must study.

As for me, let me tell you, I hate to study.

"I am." Pinocchio turned and saw a large cricket crawling slowly up the wall.

"Tell me, Cricket, who are you?" "I am the Talking Cricket, and I have been living in this room for more than one hundred years." "Today, however, this room is mine," said the Marionette, "and if you wish to do me a favor, get out now and don't turn around even once." "I refuse to leave this spot," answered the Cricket, "until I have told you a great truth." "Tell it then and hurry." "Woe to boys who refuse to obey their parents and run away from home.

They will never be happy in this world, and when they are older, they will be very sorry for it." "Sing on, Cricket mine, as you please.

What I know is that tomorrow at dawn, I leave this place forever.

But the Cricket, who was a wise old philosopher, instead of being offended at Pinocchio's impudence, continued in the same tone.

"If you do not like going to school, why don't you at least learn a trade so that you can earn an honest living?" "Shall I tell you something?" asked Pinocchio, who was beginning to lose patience.

"Of all the trades in the world, there is only one that really suits me." "And what can that be?" "That of eating, drinking, sleeping, playing, and wandering around from morning till night." "Let me tell you for your own good, Pinocchio," said the Talking Cricket in his calm voice, "that those who follow that trade always end up in the hospital or in prison." "Careful, ugly Cricket.

If you make me angry, you'll be sorry." "Poor Pinocchio, I am sorry for you." "Why?" "Because you are a Marionette, and what is much worse, you have a wooden head." At these last words, Pinocchio jumped up in a fury, took a hammer from the bench, and threw it with all his strength at the Talking Cricket.