Fire Eater gives Pinocchio five gold pieces for his father, Geppetto;but theMarionette meets a Fox and a Cat and follows themThe next day Fire Eater calledPinocchio aside and asked him:

　　"What is your father'sname?""Geppetto.""And what is his trade?""He's awood carver.""Does he earn much?""He earns so much that henever has a penny in hispockets. Just think that, in order to buy me anA-B-Cbook for school, he had to sell the only coat he owned, acoat so full ofdarns and patches that it was a pity.""Poor fellow! I feel sorry forhim. Here, take thesefive gold pieces. Go, give them to him with my kindestregards."Pinocchio, as may easily be imagined, thanked hima thousandtimes. He kissed each Marionette in turn,even the officers, and, beside himselfwith joy, set out onhis homeward journey.

　　He had gone barely half a mile when he met a lameFox and a blindCat, walking together like two goodfriends. The lame Fox leaned on the Cat, andthe blindCat let the Fox lead him along.

　　"Good morning, Pinocchio," said the Fox, greeting him courteously.

　　"How do you know my name?" asked the Marionette.

　　"I know your father well.""Where have you seenhim?""I saw him yesterday standing at the door of hishouse.""And what was he doing?""He was in his shirt sleevestrembling with cold.""Poor Father! But, after today, God willing, hewillsuffer no longer.""Why?""Because I have become a richman.""You, a rich man?" said the Fox, and he began to laughout loud.The Cat was laughing also, but tried to hide itby stroking his long whiskers.

　　"There is nothing to laugh at," cried Pinocchio angrily.

　　"I am very sorry to make your mouth water, but these,as youknow, are five new gold pieces."And he pulled out the gold pieces whichFire Eaterhad given him.

　第二天早晨，吃火人把皮诺乔叫到一旁，问他说：
　　“你父亲叫什么名字？”
　　“叫杰佩托。”
　　“他是干什么的，”
　　“他很穷。”
　　“他赚的钱多吗？”
　　“要问他赚的钱，从不见他口袋里有一个子儿。请想象一下吧，为了买一本识字课本给我上学，他得卖掉身上仅有的一件短上衣。这件短上衣完全是补丁，没一处好的。”
　　“可怜的人！我很同情他。这里是五个金币。马上带回去给他，并且替我问他好。”
　　不用说，皮诺乔向木偶戏班班主千谢万谢，他把戏班里所有的木偶一个个拥抱过，包括两个守卫，然后欢天喜地回家去了。
　　可还没有走上半公里路，他就在路上碰到一只瘸腿狐狸和一只瞎眼猫。它俩一路上相互搀扶，似是两个患难朋友。瘸腿狐狸靠在猫身上，瞎眼猫由狐狸领着路。
　　“早上好，皮诺乔，”狐狸向他恭恭敬敬问好说。
　　“你怎么知道我的名字？”木偶问它。
　　“我跟你爸爸挺熟。”
　　“你在哪儿见过他？”
　　“昨天在他家门口见过。”
　　“他在干什么？”
　　“他穿着一件衬衫，冷得直打哆嗦。”
　　“可怜的爸爸！可是谢谢老天爷，从今往后，他就不用再打哆嗦了！……”
　　“为什么？”
　　“因为我变成个体面先生啦。”
　　“你是个体面先生？”狐狸说着，放肆地大笑，猫也跟着笑，可为了不让皮诺乔看见，用两个前爪子假装在理着胡子。
　　“没什么可笑的，”皮诺乔生气地叫道，“我真不想叫你们流口水，可这儿，要是你们想知道的话，这儿有五个呱呱叫的金币。”