MR. CHERRY

ONCE there was a piece of wood.

When Mr. Cherry the carpenter saw it, he said, "This will make a fine table leg."

As he raised his hatchet to chop the bark off, a little voice said,

"Who said that?" cried Mr. Cherry.

He looked around. No one was there.

Again he raised his hatchet — WHACK!

"Ouch!" cried the little voice.

"Stop that!" shouted Mr. Cherry, and he threw the wood against the wall.

BAM!

Mr. Cherry listened. He didn't hear the voice, so he picked up the wood and began scraping off the rough spots.

"That tickles!" laughed the little voice, and Mr. Cherry fainted — THUD!

GEPPETTO

KNOCK-KNOCK!

"Who's there?" called Mr. Cherry.

"Geppetto!" cried a poor wood carver, and in he came. "I want to make a puppet," he said. "A singing, dancing puppet to help me earn my bread. Will you give me wood for my puppet?"

"Gladly!" Mr. Cherry held out the talking piece of wood. All at once, the wood began to shake. It flew out of Mr. Cherry's hand and struck Geppetto's leg.

"Ow!" yelled Geppetto. "Why did you throw that wood at me?"

"I didn't," cried Mr. Cherry.

"You did!" cried Geppetto.

The two had a terrible fight, but it ended with a handshake.

Geppetto took the piece of wood and limped home to his cottage.

PINOCCHIO

"I AM your daddy," Geppetto said as he carved a head and eyes onto the piece of wood.

"And you are my Pinocchio."

Geppetto carved a nose. It began to grow!

He carved a mouth. The puppet stuck out his tongue.