e, with fatigue and difficulty, two carts full of
charcoal.

Pinocchio, judging by his face that he was a kind man, approached him
and, casting down his eyes with shame, he said to him in a low voice:

"Would you have the charity to give me a nickel, for I am dying of
hunger?"

"You shall have not only a nickel," said the man, "but I will give you a
quarter, provided that you help me to drag home these two carts of
charcoal."

"I am surprised at you!" answered the puppet in a tone of offense. "Let
me tell you that I am not accustomed to do the work of a donkey: I have
never drawn a cart!"

"So much the better for you," answered the man. "Then, my boy, if you
are really dying of hunger, eat two fine slices of your pride, and be
careful not to get indigestion."

A few minutes afterwards a mason passed down the road carrying on his
shoulders a basket of lime.

"Would you have the charity, good man, to give a nickel to a poor boy
who is yawning for want of food?"

"Willingly," answered the man. "Come with me and carry the lime, and
instead of a nickel I will give you a quarter."

"But the lime is heavy," objected Pinocchio, "and I don't want to tire
myself."

"If you don't want to tire yourself, then, my boy, amuse yourself with
yawning, and much good may it do you."

In less than half an hour twenty other people went by, and Pinocchio
asked charity of them all, but they all answered:

"Are you not ashamed to beg? Instead of idling about the roads, go and
look for a little work and learn to earn your bread."

At last a nice little woman carrying two cans of water came by.

"Will you let me drink a little water out of your can?" asked Pinocchio,
who was burning with thirst.

"Drink, my boy, if you wish it!" said the little woman, setting down the
two cans.

Pinocchio drank like a fish, and as he dried his mouth he mumbled:

"I have quenched my thirst. If I could only appease my hunger!"

The good woman, hearing these words, said at once:

"If you will help me to carry home these two cans of water I will give
you a fine piece of bread."

Pinocchio looked at the can and answered neither yes nor no.

"And besides the bread you shall have a nice dish of cauliflower dressed
with oil and vinegar," added the good woman.

Pinocchio gave another look at the can and answered neither yes nor no.

"And after the cauliflower I will give you a beautiful bonbon full of
syrup."

The temptation of this last da