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 dainty was so great that Pinocchio could resist no longer and with an air of decision he said: 

“I must have patience!  I will carry the can to your house.”

The can was heavy and the puppet, not being strong enough to carry it in his hand, had to resign himself to carry it on his head.

When they reached the house the good little woman made Pinocchio sit down at a small table already laid and she placed before him the bread, the cauliflower and the bonbon.