LXXXV. BUCHETTINO.
Once upon a time there was a child whose name was Buchettino. One morning his mamma called him and said: "Buchettino, will you do me a favor? Go and sweep the stairs." Buchettino, who was very obedient, did not wait to be told a second time, but went at once to sweep the stairs. All at once he heard a noise, and after looking all around, he found a penny. Then he said to himself: "What shall I do with this penny? I have half a mind to buy some dates . . . but no! for I should have to throw away the stones. I will buy some apples . . . no! I will not, for I should have to throw away the core. I will buy some nuts . . . but no, for I should have to throw away the shells! What shall I buy, then? I will buy—I will buy—enough; I will buy a pennyworth of figs." No sooner said than done: he bought a pennyworth of figs, and went to eat them in a tree. While he was eating, the ogre passed by, and seeing Buchettino eating figs in the tree, said:
"Buchettino,
My dear Buchettino,
Give me a little fig
With your dear little hand,
If not I will eat you!"
Buchettino threw him one, but it fell in the dirt. Then the ogre repeated:
"Buchettino,
My dear Buchettino,
Give me a little fig
With your dear little hand,
If not I will eat you!"
Then Buchettino threw him another, which also fell in the dirt. The ogre said again:
"Buchettino,
My dear Buchettino,
Give me a little fig
With your dear little hand,
If not I will eat you!"
