Thursday’s Serial: “ Le avventure di Pinocchio: Storia di un burattino” by Carlo Collodi (in Italian) - II

 

IV. La storia di Pinocchio col Grillo-parlante, dove si vede come i ragazzi cattivi hanno a noja di sentirsi correggere da chi ne sa più di loro.

Vi dirò dunque, ragazzi, che mentre il povero Geppetto era condotto senza sua colpa in prigione, quel monello di Pinocchio, rimasto libero dalle grinfie del carabiniere, se la dava a gambe giù attraverso ai campi, per far più presto a tornarsene a casa; e nella gran furia del correre saltava greppi altissimi, siepi di pruni e fossi pieni d'acqua, tale e quale come avrebbe potuto fare un capretto o un leprottino inseguito dai cacciatori.

Giunto dinanzi a casa, trovò l'uscio di strada socchiuso. Lo spinse, entrò dentro, e appena ebbe messo tanto di paletto, si gettò a sedere per terra, lasciando andare un gran sospirone di contentezza.

Ma quella contentezza durò poco, perchè sentì nella stanza qualcuno che fece:

— Crì-crì-crì!

— Chi è che mi chiama? — disse Pinocchio tutto impaurito.

— Sono io! —

Pinocchio si voltò, e vide un grosso grillo che saliva lentamente su su per il muro.

— Dimmi, Grillo, e tu chi sei?

— Io sono il Grillo-parlante, e abito in questa stanza da più di cent'anni.

— Oggi però questa stanza è mia, — disse il burattino — e se vuoi farmi un vero piacere, vattene subito, senza nemmeno voltarti indietro.

— Io non me ne anderò di qui, — rispose il Grillo — se prima non ti avrò detto una gran verità.

— Dimmela, e spicciati.

— Guai a quei ragazzi che si ribellano ai loro genitori, e che abbandonano capricciosamente la casa paterna. Non avranno mai bene in questo mondo; e prima o poi dovranno pentirsene amaramente.

— Canta pure, Grillo mio, come ti pare e piace: ma io so che domani, all'alba, voglio andarmene di qui, perchè se rimango qui, avverrà a me quel che avviene a tutti gli altri ragazzi, vale a dire mi manderanno a scuola, e per amore o per forza mi toccherà a studiare; e io, a dirtela in confidenza, di studiare non ho punta voglia e mi diverto più a correre dietro alle farfalle e a salire su per gli alberi a prendere gli uccellini di nido.

— Povero grullerello!... Ma non sai che, facendo così, diventerai da grande un bellissimo somaro, e che tutti si piglieranno gioco di te?

— Chetati, grillaccio del mal'augurio! — gridò Pinocchio.

Ma il grillo, che era paziente e filosofo, invece di aversi a male di questa impertinenza, continuò con lo stesso tono di voce:

— E se non ti garba di andare a scuola, perchè non impari almeno un mestiere tanto da guadagnarti onestamente un pezzo di pane?

— Vuoi che te lo dica? — replicò Pinocchio, che cominciava a perdere la pazienza. — Fra i mestieri del mondo non ce n'è che uno solo, che veramente mi vada a genio.

— E questo mestiere sarebbe?

— Quello di mangiare, bere, dormire, divertirmi, e fare dalla mattina alla sera la vita del vagabondo.

— Per tua regola — disse il Grillo-parlante con la sua solita calma — tutti quelli che fanno codesto mestiere, finiscono quasi sempre allo spedale o in prigione.

— Bada, grillaccio del mal'augurio!... se mi monta la bizza, guai a te! —

— Povero Pinocchio: mi fai proprio compassione!...

— Perchè ti faccio compassione?

— Perchè sei un burattino e, quel che è peggio, perchè hai la testa di legno. —

Preso di sul banco un martello di legno, lo scagliò contro il Grillo-parlante.

A queste ultime parole, Pinocchio saltò su tutt'infuriato, e preso di sul banco un martello di legno, lo scagliò contro il Grillo-parlante.

Forse non credeva nemmeno di colpirlo; ma disgraziatamente lo colse per l'appunto nel capo, tanto che il povero Grillo ebbe appena il fiato di fare crì-crì-crì, e poi rimase lì stecchito e appiccicato alla parete.

 

V. Pinocchio ha fame e cerca un uovo per farsi una frittata; ma sul più bello, la frittata gli vola via dalla finestra.

Intanto cominciò a farsi notte, e Pinocchio, ricordandosi che non aveva mangiato nulla, sentì un'uggiolina allo stomaco, che somigliava moltissimo all'appetito.

Ma l'appetito dei ragazzi cammina presto, e difatti, dopo pochi minuti l'appetito diventò fame, e la fame, dal vedere al non vedere si convertì in una fame da lupi, in una fame da tagliarsi col coltello.

Il povero Pinocchio corse subito al focolare dove c'era una pentola che bolliva, e fece l'atto di scoperchiarla, per vedere che cosa ci fosse dentro: ma la pentola era dipinta sul muro. Immaginatevi come restò. Il suo naso, che era già lungo, gli diventò più lungo almeno quattro dita.

Allora si dètte a correre per la stanza e a frugare per tutte le cassette e per tutti i ripostigli in cerca di un po' di pane, magari un po' di pan secco, un crosterello, un osso avanzato al cane, un po' di polenta muffita, una lisca di pesce, un nocciolo di ciliegia, insomma qualche cosa da masticare: ma non trovò nulla, il gran nulla, proprio nulla.

E intanto la fame cresceva, e cresceva sempre: e il povero Pinocchio non aveva altro sollievo che quello di sbadigliare e faceva degli sbadigli così lunghi, che qualche volta la bocca gli arrivava fino agli orecchi. E dopo avere sbadigliato, sputava, e sentiva che lo stomaco gli andava via.

Allora piangendo e disperandosi, diceva:

— Il Grillo-parlante aveva ragione. Ho fatto male a rivoltarmi al mio babbo e a fuggire di casa.... Se il mio babbo fosse qui ora non mi troverei a morire di sbadigli! Oh! che brutta malattia che è la fame! —

Quand'ecco che gli parve di vedere nel monte della spazzatura qualche cosa di tondo e di bianco, che somigliava tutto ad un uovo di gallina. Spiccare un salto e gettarvisi sopra, fu un punto solo. Era un uovo davvero.

La gioia del burattino è impossibile descriverla: bisogna sapersela figurare. Credendo quasi che fosse un sogno, si rigirava quest'uovo fra le mani, e lo toccava e lo baciava e baciandolo diceva:

— E ora come dovrò cuocerlo? Ne farò una frittata?... No, è meglio cuocerlo nel piatto!... o non sarebbe più saporito se lo friggessi in padella? O se invece lo cuocessi a uso uovo a bere? No, la più lesta di tutte è di cuocerlo nel piatto o nel tegamino: ho troppa voglia di mangiarmelo! —

Detto fatto, pose un tegamino sopra un caldano pieno di brace accesa: messe nel tegamino, invece d'olio o di burro, un po' d'acqua: e quando l'acqua principiò a fumare, tac!... spezzò il guscio dell'uovo, e fece l'atto di scodellarvelo dentro.

Ma invece della chiara e del torlo scappò fuori un pulcino tutto allegro e complimentoso, il quale facendo una bella riverenza disse:

— Mille grazie, signor Pinocchio, d'avermi risparmiata la fatica di rompere il guscio! Arrivedella, stia bene e tanti saluti a casa! —

Ciò detto, distese le ali, e, infilata la finestra che era aperta, se ne volò via a perdita d'occhio.

Il povero burattino rimase lì, come incantato, cogli occhi fissi, colla bocca aperta e coi gusci dell'uovo in mano. Riavutosi, peraltro, dal primo sbigottimento, cominciò a piangere, a strillare, a battere i piedi in terra per la disperazione, e piangendo diceva:

— Eppure il Grillo-parlante aveva ragione! Se non fossi scappato di casa e se il mio babbo fosse qui, ora non mi troverei a morire di fame. Eh! che brutta malattia che è la fame!... —

E perchè il corpo gli seguitava a brontolare più che mai, e non sapeva come fare a chetarlo, pensò di uscir di casa e di dare una scappata al paesello vicino, nella speranza di trovare qualche persona caritatevole, che gli facesse l'elemosina di un po' di pane.

 

VI. Pinocchio si addormenta coi piedi sul caldano, e la mattina dopo si sveglia coi piedi tutti bruciati.

Per l'appunto era una nottataccia d'inferno. Tonava forte forte, lampeggiava come se il cielo pigliasse fuoco, e un ventaccio freddo e strapazzone, fischiando rabbiosamente e sollevando un immenso nuvolo di polvere, faceva stridere e cigolare tutti gli alberi della campagna.

Pinocchio aveva una gran paura dei tuoni e dei lampi: se non che la fame era più forte della paura: motivo per cui accostò l'uscio di casa, e presa la carriera, in un centinaio di salti arrivò fino al paese, colla lingua fuori e col fiato grosso, come un can da caccia.

Ma trovò tutto buio e tutto deserto. Le botteghe erano chiuse; le porte di casa chiuse, le finestre chiuse, e nella strada nemmeno un cane. Pareva il paese dei morti.

Allora Pinocchio, preso dalla disperazione e dalla fame, si attaccò al campanello d'una casa, e cominciò a sonare a distesa, dicendo dentro di sè:

— Qualcuno si affaccerà. —

Difatti si affacciò un vecchio, col berretto da notte in capo, il quale gridò tutto stizzito:

— Che cosa volete a quest'ora?

Tornò a casa bagnato come un pulcino....

— Che mi fareste il piacere di darmi un po' di pane?

— Aspettatemi costì che torno subito, — rispose il vecchino, credendo di aver da fare con qualcuno di quei ragazzacci rompicolli che si divertono di notte a sonare i campanelli delle case, per molestare la gente per bene, che se la dorme tranquillamente.

Dopo mezzo minuto la finestra si riaprì, e la voce del solito vecchino gridò a Pinocchio:

— Fàtti sotto e para il cappello. —

Pinocchio che non aveva ancora un cappello, si avvicinò e sentì pioversi addosso un'enorme catinellata d'acqua che lo annaffiò tutto, dalla testa ai piedi, come se fosse un vaso di giranio appassito.

Tornò a casa bagnato come un pulcino e rifinito dalla stanchezza e dalla fame: e perchè non aveva più forza di reggersi ritto, si pose a sedere, appoggiando i piedi fradici e impillaccherati sopra un caldano pieno di brace accesa.

E lì si addormentò; e nel dormire i piedi che erano di legno gli presero fuoco, e adagio adagio gli si carbonizzarono e diventarono cenere.

E Pinocchio seguitava a dormire e a russare, come se i suoi piedi fossero quelli d'un altro. Finalmente sul far del giorno si svegliò, perchè qualcuno aveva bussato alla porta.

— Chi è? — domandò sbadigliando e stropicciandosi gli occhi.

— Sono io! — rispose una voce.

Quella voce era la voce di Geppetto.

Wednesday's Good Reading: "Oltre qui fu, dove ’l mie amor mi tolse" by Michelangelo Buonarroti (in Italian)

 
  Oltre qui fu, dove ’l mie amor mi tolse,
suo mercè, il core e vie più là la vita;
qui co’ begli occhi mi promisse aita,
e co’ medesmi qui tor me la volse.
  Quinci oltre mi legò, quivi mi sciolse;
per me qui piansi, e con doglia infinita
da questo sasso vidi far partita
colui c’a me mi tolse e non mi volse.

Tuesday's Serial: “Lavengro” by George Borrow (in English) - XXXVI

Chapter 69

effects of corn—one night longer—the hoofs—a stumble—are you hurt?—what a difference—drowsy—maze of bushes—housekeeping—sticks and furze—the driftway—an account of stock

 

It was two or three hours past noon when I took my departure from the place of the last adventure, walking by the side of my little cart; the pony, invigorated by the corn, to which he was probably not much accustomed, proceeded right gallantly; so far from having to hasten him forward by the particular application which the tinker had pointed out to me, I had rather to repress his eagerness, being, though an excellent pedestrian, not unfrequently left behind. The country through which I passed was beautiful and interesting, but solitary; few habitations appeared. As it was quite a matter of indifference to me in what direction I went, the whole world being before me, I allowed the pony to decide upon the matter; it was not long before he left the high-road, being probably no friend to public places. I followed him I knew not whither, but, from subsequent observation, have reason to suppose that our course was in a north-west direction. At length night came upon us, and a cold wind sprang up, which was succeeded by a drizzling rain.

I had originally intended to pass the night in the cart, or to pitch my little tent on some convenient spot by the road's side; but, owing to the alteration in the weather, I thought that it would be advisable to take up my quarters in any hedge alehouse at which I might arrive. To tell the truth, I was not very sorry to have an excuse to pass the night once more beneath a roof. I had determined to live quite independent, but I had never before passed a night by myself abroad, and felt a little apprehensive at the idea; I hoped, however, on the morrow, to be a little more prepared for the step, so I determined for one night—only for one night longer—to sleep like a Christian; but human determinations are not always put into effect, such a thing as opportunity is frequently wanting, such was the case here. I went on for a considerable time, in expectation of coming to some rustic hostelry, but nothing of the kind presented itself to my eyes; the country in which I now was seemed almost uninhabited, not a house of any kind was to be seen—at least I saw none—though it is true houses might be near without my seeing them, owing to the darkness of the night, for neither moon nor star was abroad. I heard, occasionally, the bark of dogs; but the sound appeared to come from an immense distance. The rain still fell, and the ground beneath my feet was wet and miry; in short, it was a night in which even a tramper by profession would feel more comfortable in being housed than abroad. I followed in the rear of the cart, the pony still proceeding at a sturdy pace, till methought I heard other hoofs than those of my own nag; I listened for a moment, and distinctly heard the sounds of hoofs approaching at a great rate, and evidently from the quarter towards which I and my little caravan were moving. We were in a dark lane—so dark that it was impossible for me to see my own hand. Apprehensive that some accident might occur, I ran forward, and, seizing the pony by the bridle, drew him as near as I could to the hedge. On came the hoofs—trot, trot, trot; and evidently more than those of one horse; their speed as they advanced appeared to slacken—it was only, however, for a moment. I heard a voice cry, 'Push on,—this is a desperate robbing place,—never mind the dark'; and the hoofs came on quicker than before. 'Stop!' said I, at the top of my voice; 'stop! or—' Before I could finish what I was about to say there was a stumble, a heavy fall, a cry, and a groan, and putting out my foot I felt what I conjectured to be the head of a horse stretched upon the road. 'Lord have mercy upon us! what's the matter?' exclaimed a voice. 'Spare my life,' cried another voice, apparently from the ground; 'only spare my life, and take all I have.' 'Where are you, Master Wise?' cried the other voice. 'Help! here, Master Bat,' cried the voice from the ground; 'help me up or I shall be murdered.' 'Why, what's the matter?' said Bat. 'Some one has knocked me down, and is robbing me,' said the voice from the ground. 'Help! murder!' cried Bat; and, regardless of the entreaties of the man on the ground that he would stay and help him up, he urged his horse forward and galloped away as fast as he could. I remained for some time quiet, listening to various groans and exclamations uttered by the person on the ground; at length I said, 'Halloa! are you hurt?' 'Spare my life, and take all I have!' said the voice from the ground. 'Have they not done robbing you yet?' said I; 'when they have finished let me know, and I will come and help you.' 'Who is that?' said the voice; 'pray come and help me, and do me no mischief.' 'You were saying that some one was robbing you,' said I; 'don't think I shall come till he is gone away.' 'Then you ben't he?' said the voice. 'Aren't you robbed?' said I. 'Can't say I be,' said the voice; 'not yet at any rate; but who are you? I don't know you.' 'A traveller whom you and your partner were going to run over in this dark lane; you almost frightened me out of my senses.' 'Frightened!' said the voice, in a louder tone; 'frightened! oh!' and thereupon I heard somebody getting upon his legs. This accomplished, the individual proceeded to attend to his horse, and with a little difficulty raised him upon his legs also. 'Aren't you hurt?' said I. 'Hurt!' said the voice; 'not I; don't think it, whatever the horse may be. I tell you what, my fellow, I thought you were a robber, and now I find you are not; I have a good mind—' 'To do what?' 'To serve you out; aren't you ashamed—?' 'At what?' said I; 'not to have robbed you? Shall I set about it now?' 'Ha, ha!' said the man, dropping the bullying tone which he had assumed; 'you are joking—robbing! who talks of robbing? I wonder how my horse's knees are; not much hurt, I think—only mired.' The man, whoever he was, then got upon his horse; and, after moving him about a little, said, 'Good night, friend; where are you?' 'Here I am,' said I, 'just behind you.' 'You are, are you? Take that.' I know not what he did, but probably pricking his horse with the spur the animal kicked out violently; one of his heels struck me on the shoulder, but luckily missed my face; I fell back with the violence of the blow, whilst the fellow scampered off at a great rate. Stopping at some distance, he loaded me with abuse, and then, continuing his way at a rapid trot, I heard no more of him.

'What a difference!' said I, getting up; 'last night I was fêted in the hall of a rich genius, and to-night I am knocked down and mired in a dark lane by the heel of Master Wise's horse—I wonder who gave him that name? And yet he was wise enough to wreak his revenge upon me, and I was not wise enough to keep out of his way. Well, I am not much hurt, so it is of little consequence.'

I now bethought me that, as I had a carriage of my own, I might as well make use of it; I therefore got into the cart, and, taking the reins in my hand, gave an encouraging cry to the pony, whereupon the sturdy little animal started again at as brisk a pace as if he had not already come many a long mile. I lay half reclining in the cart, holding the reins lazily, and allowing the animal to go just where he pleased, often wondering where he would conduct me. At length I felt drowsy, and my head sank upon my breast; I soon aroused myself, but it was only to doze again; this occurred several times. Opening my eyes after a doze somewhat longer than the others, I found that the drizzling rain had ceased, a corner of the moon was apparent in the heavens, casting a faint light; I looked around for a moment or two, but my eyes and brain were heavy with slumber, and I could scarcely distinguish where we were. I had a kind of dim consciousness that we were traversing an uninclosed country—perhaps a heath; I thought, however, that I saw certain large black objects looming in the distance, which I had a confused idea might be woods or plantations; the pony still moved at his usual pace. I did not find the jolting of the cart at all disagreeable, on the contrary, it had quite a somniferous effect upon me. Again my eyes closed; I opened them once more, but with less perception in them than before, looked forward, and, muttering something about woodlands, I placed myself in an easier posture than I had hitherto done, and fairly fell asleep.

How long I continued in that state I am unable to say, but I believe for a considerable time; I was suddenly awakened by the ceasing of the jolting to which I had become accustomed, and of which I was perfectly sensible in my sleep. I started up and looked around me, the moon was still shining, and the face of the heaven was studded with stars; I found myself amidst a maze of bushes of various kinds, but principally hazel and holly, through which was a path or driftway with grass growing on either side, upon which the pony was already diligently browsing. I conjectured that this place had been one of the haunts of his former master, and, on dismounting and looking about, was strengthened in that opinion by finding a spot under an ash tree which, from its burnt and blackened appearance, seemed to have been frequently used as a fireplace. I will take up my quarters here, thought I; it is an excellent spot for me to commence my new profession in; I was quite right to trust myself to the guidance of the pony. Unharnessing the animal without delay, I permitted him to browse at free will on the grass, convinced that he would not wander far from a place to which he was so much attached; I then pitched the little tent close beside the ash tree to which I have alluded, and conveyed two or three articles into it, and instantly felt that I had commenced housekeeping for the first time in my life. Housekeeping, however, without a fire is a very sorry affair, something like the housekeeping of children in their toy houses; of this I was the more sensible from feeling very cold and shivering, owing to my late exposure to the rain, and sleeping in the night air. Collecting, therefore, all the dry sticks and furze I could find, I placed them upon the fireplace, adding certain chips and a billet which I found in the cart, it having apparently been the habit of Slingsby to carry with him a small store of fuel. Having then struck a spark in a tinder-box and lighted a match, I set fire to the combustible heap, and was not slow in raising a cheerful blaze; I then drew my cart near the fire, and, seating myself on one of the shafts, hung over the warmth with feelings of intense pleasure and satisfaction. Having continued in this posture for a considerable time, I turned my eyes to the heaven in the direction of a particular star; I, however, could not find the star, nor indeed many of the starry train, the greater number having fled, from which circumstance, and from the appearance of the sky, I concluded that morning was nigh. About this time I again began to feel drowsy; I therefore arose, and having prepared for myself a kind of couch in the tent, I flung myself upon it and went to sleep.

I will not say that I was awakened in the morning by the carolling of birds, as I perhaps might if I were writing a novel; I awoke because, to use vulgar language, I had slept my sleep out, not because the birds were carolling around me in numbers, as they had probably been for hours without my hearing them. I got up and left my tent; the morning was yet more bright than that of the preceding day. Impelled by curiosity, I walked about endeavouring to ascertain to what place chance, or rather the pony, had brought me; following the driftway for some time, amidst bushes and stunted trees, I came to a grove of dark pines, through which it appeared to lead; I tracked it a few hundred yards, but seeing nothing but trees, and the way being wet and sloughy, owing to the recent rain, I returned on my steps, and, pursuing the path in another direction, came to a sandy road leading over a common, doubtless the one I had traversed the preceding night. My curiosity satisfied, I returned to my little encampment, and on the way beheld a small footpath on the left winding through the bushes, which had before escaped my observation. Having reached my tent and cart, I breakfasted on some of the provisions which I had procured the day before, and then proceeded to take a regular account of the stock formerly possessed by Slingsby the tinker, but now become my own by right of lawful purchase.

Besides the pony, the cart, and the tent, I found I was possessed of a mattress stuffed with straw on which to lie, and a blanket to cover me, the last quite clean and nearly new; then there was a frying-pan and a kettle, the first for cooking any food which required cooking, and the second for heating any water which I might wish to heat. I likewise found an earthen teapot and two or three cups; of the first I should rather say I found the remains, it being broken in three parts, no doubt since it came into my possession, which would have precluded the possibility of my asking anybody to tea for the present, should anybody visit me, even supposing I had tea and sugar, which was not the case. I then overhauled what might more strictly be called the stock in trade; this consisted of various tools, an iron ladle, a chafing-pan and small bellows, sundry pans and kettles, the latter being of tin, with the exception of one which was of copper, all in a state of considerable dilapidation—if I may use the term; of these first Slingsby had spoken in particular, advising me to mend them as soon as possible, and to endeavour to sell them, in order that I might have the satisfaction of receiving some return upon the outlay which I had made. There was likewise a small quantity of block tin, sheet tin, and solder. 'This Slingsby,' said I, 'is certainly a very honest man, he has sold me more than my money's worth; I believe, however, there is something more in the cart.' Thereupon I rummaged the farther end of the cart, and, amidst a quantity of straw, I found a small anvil and bellows of that kind which are used in forges, and two hammers such as smiths use, one great, and the other small.

The sight of these last articles caused me no little surprise, as no word which had escaped from the mouth of Slingsby had given me reason to suppose that he had ever followed the occupation of a smith; yet, if he had not, how did he come by them? I sat down upon the shaft, and pondered the question deliberately in my mind; at length I concluded that he had come by them by one of those numerous casualties which occur upon the roads, of which I, being a young hand upon the roads, must have a very imperfect conception; honestly, of course—for I scouted the idea that Slingsby would have stolen this blacksmith's gear—for I had the highest opinion of his honesty, which opinion I still retain at the present day, which is upwards of twenty years from the time of which I am speaking, during the whole of which period I have neither seen the poor fellow nor received any intelligence of him.

 

 

Chapter 70

new profession—beautiful night—jupiter—sharp and shrill—rommany chi—all alone—three-and-sixpence—what is rommany?—be civil—parraco tute—slight start—grateful—the rustling

 

I passed the greater part of the day in endeavouring to teach myself the mysteries of my new profession. I cannot say that I was very successful, but the time passed agreeably, and was therefore not ill spent. Towards evening I flung my work aside, took some refreshment, and afterwards a walk.

This time I turned up the small footpath of which I have already spoken. It led in a zigzag manner through thickets of hazel, elder, and sweet-brier; after following its windings for somewhat better than a furlong, I heard a gentle sound of water, and presently came to a small rill, which ran directly across the path. I was rejoiced at the sight, for I had already experienced the want of water, which I yet knew must be nigh at hand, as I was in a place to all appearance occasionally frequented by wandering people, who I was aware never take up their quarters in places where water is difficult to be obtained. Forthwith I stretched myself on the ground, and took a long and delicious draught of the crystal stream, and then, seating myself in a bush, I continued for some time gazing on the water as it purled tinkling away in its channel through an opening in the hazels, and should have probably continued much longer had not the thought that I had left my property unprotected compelled me to rise and return to my encampment.

Night came on, and a beautiful night it was; up rose the moon, and innumerable stars decked the firmament of heaven. I sat on the shaft, my eyes turned upwards. I had found it: there it was twinkling millions of miles above me, mightiest star of the system to which we belong: of all stars the one which has most interest for me—the star Jupiter.

Why have I always taken an interest in thee, O Jupiter? I know nothing about thee, save what every child knows, that thou art a big star, whose only light is derived from moons. And is not that knowledge enough to make me feel an interest in thee? Ay, truly; I never look at thee without wondering what is going on in thee; what is life in Jupiter? That there is life in Jupiter who can doubt? There is life in our own little star, therefore there must be life in Jupiter, which is not a little star. But how different must life be in Jupiter from what it is in our own little star! Life here is life beneath the dear sun—life in Jupiter is life beneath moons—four moons—no single moon is able to illumine that vast bulk. All know what life is in our own little star; it is anything but a routine of happiness here, where the dear sun rises to us every day: then how sad and moping must life be in mighty Jupiter, on which no sun ever shines, and which is never lighted save by pale moonbeams! The thought that there is more sadness and melancholy in Jupiter than in this world of ours, where, alas! there is but too much, has always made me take a melancholy interest in that huge distant star.

Two or three days passed by in much the same manner as the first. During the morning I worked upon my kettles, and employed the remaining part of the day as I best could. The whole of this time I only saw two individuals, rustics, who passed by my encampment without vouchsafing me a glance; they probably considered themselves my superiors, as perhaps they were.

One very brilliant morning, as I sat at work in very good spirits, for by this time I had actually mended in a very creditable way, as I imagined, two kettles and a frying-pan, I heard a voice which seemed to proceed from the path leading to the rivulet; at first it sounded from a considerable distance, but drew nearer by degrees. I soon remarked that the tones were exceedingly sharp and shrill, with yet something of childhood in them. Once or twice I distinguished certain words in the song which the voice was singing; the words were—but no, I thought again I was probably mistaken—and then the voice ceased for a time; presently I heard it again, close to the entrance of the footpath; in another moment I heard it in the lane or glade in which stood my tent, where it abruptly stopped, but not before I had heard the very words which I at first thought I had distinguished.

I turned my head; at the entrance of the footpath, which might be about thirty yards from the place where I was sitting, I perceived the figure of a young girl; her face was turned towards me, and she appeared to be scanning me and my encampment; after a little time she looked in the other direction, only for a moment, however; probably observing nothing in that quarter, she again looked towards me, and almost immediately stepped forward; and, as she advanced, sang the song which I had heard in the wood, the first words of which were those which I have already alluded to.

 

'The Rommany chi

And the Rommany chal

Shall jaw tasaulor

To drab the bawlor,

And dook the gry

Of the farming rye.'

 

A very pretty song, thought I, falling again hard to work upon my kettle; a very pretty song, which bodes the farmers much good. Let them look to their cattle.

'All alone here, brother?' said a voice close by me, in sharp but not disagreeable tones.

I made no answer, but continued my work, click, click, with the gravity which became one of my profession. I allowed at least half a minute to elapse before I even lifted up my eyes.

A girl of about thirteen was standing before me; her features were very pretty, but with a peculiar expression; her complexion was a clear olive, and her jet black hair hung back upon her shoulders. She was rather scantily dressed, and her arms and feet were bare; round her neck, however, was a handsome string of corals, with ornaments of gold; in her hand she held a bulrush.

'All alone here, brother?' said the girl, as I looked up; 'all alone here, in the lane; where are your wife and children?'

'Why do you call me brother?' said I; 'I am no brother of yours. Do you take me for one of your people? I am no gypsy; not I, indeed!'

'Don't be afraid, brother, you are no Roman—Roman indeed, you are not handsome enough to be a Roman; not black enough, tinker though you be. If I called you brother, it was because I didn't know what else to call you. Marry, come up, brother, I should be sorry to have you for a brother.'

'Then you don't like me?'

'Neither like you nor dislike you, brother; what will you have for that kekaubi?'

'What's the use of talking to me in that un-Christian way; what do you mean, young gentlewoman?'

'Lord, brother, what a fool you are; every tinker knows what a kekaubi is. I was asking you what you would have for that kettle.'

'Three-and-sixpence, young gentlewoman; isn't it well mended?'

'Well mended! I could have done it better myself; three-and-sixpence! it's only fit to be played at football with.'

'I will take no less for it, young gentlewoman; it has caused me a world of trouble.'

'I never saw a worse mended kettle. I say, brother, your hair is white.'

''Tis nature; your hair is black; nature, nothing but nature.'

'I am young, brother; my hair is black—that's nature: you are young, brother; your hair is white—that's not nature.'

'I can't help it if it be not, but it is nature after all; did you never see grey hair on the young?'

'Never! I have heard it is true of a grey lad, and a bad one he was. Oh, so bad.'

'Sit down on the grass, and tell me all about it, sister; do, to oblige me, pretty sister.'

'Hey, brother, you don't speak as you did—you don't speak like a gorgio, you speak like one of us, you call me sister.'

'As you call me brother; I am not an uncivil person after all, sister.'

'I say, brother, tell me one thing, and look me in the face—there—do you speak Rommany?'

'Rommany! Rommany! what is Rommany?'

'What is Rommany? our language to be sure; tell me, brother, only one thing, you don't speak Rommany?'

'You say it.'

'I don't say it, I wish to know. Do you speak Rommany?'

'Do you mean thieves' slang—cant? no, I don't speak cant, I don't like it, I only know a few words; they call a sixpence a tanner, don't they?'

'I don't know,' said the girl, sitting down on the ground, 'I was almost thinking—well, never mind, you don't know Rommany. I say, brother, I think I should like to have the kekaubi.'

'I thought you said it was badly mended?'

'Yes, yes, brother, but—'

'I thought you said it was only fit to be played at football with?'

'Yes, yes, brother, but—'

'What will you give for it?'

'Brother, I am the poor person's child, I will give you sixpence for the kekaubi.'

'Poor person's child; how came you by that necklace?'

'Be civil, brother; am I to have the kekaubi?'

'Not for sixpence; isn't the kettle nicely mended?'

'I never saw a nicer mended kettle, brother; am I to have the kekaubi, brother?'

'You like me, then?'

'I don't dislike you—I dislike no one; there's only one, and him I don't dislike, him I hate.'

'Who is he?'

'I scarcely know, I never saw him, but 'tis no affair of yours, you don't speak Rommany; you will let me have the kekaubi, pretty brother?'

'You may have it, but not for sixpence; I'll give it to you.'

'Parraco tute, that is, I thank you, brother; the rikkeni kekaubi is now mine. O, rare! I thank you kindly, brother.'

Starting up, she flung the bulrush aside which she had hitherto held in her hand, and, seizing the kettle, she looked at it for a moment, and then began a kind of dance, flourishing the kettle over her head the while, and singing—

 

'The Rommany chi

And the Rommany chal

Shall jaw tasaulor

To drab the bawlor,

And dook the gry

Of the farming rye.

 

Good-bye, brother, I must be going.'

'Good-bye, sister; why do you sing that wicked song?'

'Wicked song, hey, brother! you don't understand the song!'

'Ha, ha! gypsy daughter,' said I, starting up and clapping my hands, 'I don't understand Rommany, don't I? You shall see; here's the answer to your gillie—

 

'The Rommany chi

And the Rommany chal,

Love Luripen

And dukkeripen,

And hokkeripen,

And every pen

But Lachipen

And tatchipen.'

 

The girl, who had given a slight start when I began, remained for some time after I had concluded the song standing motionless as a statue, with the kettle in her hand. At length she came towards me, and stared me full in the face. 'Grey, tall, and talks Rommany,' said she to herself. In her countenance there was an expression which I had not seen before—an expression which struck me as being composed of fear, curiosity, and the deepest hate. It was momentary, however, and was succeeded by one smiling, frank, and open. 'Ha, ha, brother,' said she, 'well, I like you all the better for talking Rommany; it is a sweet language, isn't it? especially as you sing it. How did you pick it up? But you picked it up upon the roads, no doubt? Ha, it was funny in you to pretend not to know it, and you so flush with it all the time; it was not kind in you, however, to frighten the poor person's child so by screaming out, but it was kind in you to give the rikkeni kekaubi to the child of the poor person. She will be grateful to you; she will bring you her little dog to show you, her pretty juggal; the poor person's child will come and see you again; you are not going away to-day, I hope, or to-morrow, pretty brother, grey-haired brother—you are not going away to-morrow, I hope?'

'Nor the next day,' said I, 'only to take a stroll to see if I can sell a kettle; good-bye, little sister, Rommany sister, dingy sister.'

'Good-bye, tall brother,' said the girl, as she departed, singing

 

'The Rommany chi,' etc.

 

'There's something about that girl that I don't understand,' said I to myself; 'something mysterious. However, it is nothing to me, she knows not who I am, and if she did, what then?'

Late that evening as I sat on the shaft of my cart in deep meditation, with my arms folded, I thought I heard a rustling in the bushes over against me. I turned my eyes in that direction, but saw nothing. 'Some bird,' said I; 'an owl, perhaps'; and once more I fell into meditation; my mind wandered from one thing to another—musing now on the structure of the Roman tongue—now on the rise and fall of the Persian power—and now on the powers vested in recorders at quarter-sessions. I was thinking what a fine thing it must be to be a recorder of the peace, when, lifting up my eyes, I saw right opposite, not a culprit at the bar, but, staring at me through a gap in the bush, a face wild and strange, half covered with grey hair; I only saw it a moment, the next it had disappeared.

Monday's Illustrated Word: " Exhibit Six" by unknown writer (in English)

 art by Bill DuBay - For Monsters Only #9 - Major Publications, September 1971.

 

 

Saturday's Good Reading: “The Fir-Tree and the Bramble” by Aesop (translated into English).

         A Fir-Tree said boastingly to the Bramble, "You are useful for nothing at all; while I am everywhere used for roofs and houses." The Bramble answered: 'You poor creature, if you would only call to mind the axes and saws which are about to hew you down, you would have reason to wish that you had grown up a Bramble, not a Fir-Tree."  

Better poverty without care, than riches with.

Friday's Sung Word: "Ciranda Cirandinha" (in Portuguese)

CIRANDA - a round dance of Portuguese origin found throughout Brazil in both children's and adult versions. The children's ciranda is a round game with sung verses. The adult version is a group dance performed in a circle around a small ensemble of musicians and a singer.  
CIRANDA, CIRANDINHA - is a children ciranda game where the children, hand in hand, walk clockwise while singing the song. Once finished, someone is invited to go to the center and recite a poem, usually a "quadra", traditional poem form of four verses of seven sylabs.

 

SONG:
Ciranda, cirandinha
Vamos todos cirandar
Vamos dar a meia volta
Volta e meia vamos dar"

O anel que tu me deste
Era vidro e se quebrou.
O amor que tu me tinhas
Era pouco e se acabou.

INVITATION:
Senhor(a) N.N.,
Entre dentro desta roda,
diga um verso bem bonito,
diga "adeus" e vá-se embora.

You can listen "Ciranda,Cirandinha" sung by the Orquestra e Coro Carroussell here.