"Singon, Cricket mine, as you please. What I know is,that tomorrow, at dawn, I leavethis place forever. If Istay here the same thing will happen to me whichhappensto all other boys and girls. They are sent to school, andwhether theywant 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 likethat,you will grow into a perfect donkey and that you'llbe the laughingstock ofeveryone?""Keep still, you ugly Cricket!" cried Pinocchio.

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

　　"If you do not like going to school, why don't you atleastlearn a trade, so that you can earn an honest living?""Shall I tellyou something?" asked Pinocchio, who wasbeginning to lose patience."Of all the trades in the world,there is only one that really suitsme.""And what can that be?""That of eating, drinking,sleeping, playing, andwandering around from morning till night.""Letme tell you, for your own good, Pinocchio," said the Talking Cricket inhis calm voice, "that those whofollow that trade always end up in thehospital or in prison.""Careful, ugly Cricket! If you make me angry,you'll be sorry!""Poor Pinocchio, I am sorry for you.""Why?""Becauseyou are a Marionette and, what is much worse,you have a wooden head. "Atthese 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.

　　Perhaps he did not think he would strike it. But, sad to relate, mydear children, he did hit the Cricket, straight on its head.

　　With a last weak "cri-cri-cri" the poor Cricket fell from thewall, dead!

“您高兴唱就下去吧，我的蟋蟀，可我明天天不亮，一准就离开这里，我要是呆在这里，就逃不出所有孩子都会遇到的事情：把我送去上学，不是软骗就是硬来，逼着我读书。跟您说句心里话，我一点不想读书，我更爱追蝴蝶，爬树掏鸟窝。”
　　“可怜的小傻瓜！可你不知道吗，这样你会变成一头大蠢驴，所有的人都要拿你开玩笑的？”
　　“闭口吧你，你这不吉利的坏蟋蟀！”皮诺乔叫道。
　　可蟋蟀又耐心又有智慧，木偶这样粗暴无礼，它一点不生气、还是用它原来的声调说：
　　“你要是不爱上学，那为什么不学个什么行当，好正正直直地给自己挣块面包呢？”
　　“你要我告诉你吗？”皮诺乔开始不耐烦了，回答说，“世界上所有的行当当中，只有—个行当真正合我的心意。”
　　“什么行当？”
　　“就是吃、喝、睡觉，玩儿，从早逛到晚。”
　　“告诉你，”会说话的蟋蟀还是那么心平行和地说，“凡是干这种行当的，最后几乎不是进医院就是进监牢。”
　　“当心点，不吉利的坏蟋蟀！……你惹我生气了可要倒霉！”
　　“可怜的皮诺乔！你真叫我可怜！……”
　　“我为什么叫你可怜？”
　　“因为你是—个木偶，更糟的是，因为你有一个木头脑袋。”
　　听了最后这句话，皮诺乔火冒三丈，猛地跳起来，打工作台上抓一个木头槌子，就向会说话的蟋蟀扔过去。
　　他也许根本不想打中它，可是真不巧，正好打中了它的头，可怜的蟋蟀只来得及叫一声唧唧，就给打死了，贴在墙上。