tter than all of them and I always
speak the truth. I promise you, papa, that I will learn a trade and that
I will be the consolation and the staff of your old age."

Geppetto's eyes filled with tears and his heart was sad at seeing his
poor Pinocchio in such a pitiable state. He did not say another word,
but, taking his tools and two small pieces of well-seasoned wood, he set
to work with great diligence.

In less than an hour the feet were finished: two little feet--swift,
well-knit and nervous. They might have been modelled by an artist of
genius.

Geppetto then said to the puppet:

"Shut your eyes and go to sleep!"

And Pinocchio shut his eyes and pretended to be asleep.

And whilst he pretended to sleep, Geppetto, with a little glue which he
had melted in an egg-shell, fastened his feet in their place, and it was
so well done that not even a trace could be seen of where they were
joined.

No sooner had the puppet discovered that he had feet than he jumped down
from the table on which he was lying and began to spring and to cut a
thousand capers about the room, as if he had gone mad with the greatness
of his delight.

"To reward you for what you have done for me," said Pinocchio to his
father, "I will go to school at once."

"Good boy."

"But to go to school I shall want some clothes."

Geppetto, who was poor and who had not so much as a penny in his pocket,
then made him a little dress of flowered paper, a pair of shoes from the
bark of a tree, and a cap of the crumb of bread.

Pinocchio ran immediately to look at himself in a crock of water, and he
was so pleased with his appearance that he said, strutting about like a
peacock:

"I look quite like a gentleman!"

"Yes, indeed," answered Geppetto, "for bear in mind that it is not fine
clothes that make the gentleman, but rather clean clothes."

"By the bye," added the puppet, "to go to school I am still in
want--indeed, I am without the best thing, and the most important."

"And what is it?"

"I have no spelling-book."

"You are right: but what shall we do to get one?"

"It is quite easy. We have only to go to the bookseller's and buy it."

"And the money?"

"I have got none."

"Neither have I," added the good old man, very sadly.

And Pinocchio, although he was a very merry boy, became sad also,
because poverty, when it is real poverty, is understood by
everybody--even by boys.

"Well, patience!" exclaimed Geppetto, all at once risi