In Il Volgo di Roma (1890), a collection of anecdotes of folk life in Rome, Francesco Sabatini (1852-1928) dedicated a chapter to Ghetanaccio, written by Filippo Chiappini (1836-1905), a poet who composed in the local dialect. Based on oral testimonies he collected, Chiappini relates short comic dialogues improvised by the glove-puppeteer, who was a famous performer in the streets and squares of the city.

Rugantino comes back from a long journey and finds his home filled with Pulcinelletti (small Pulcinellas). He asks his wife where these come from, but she replies that they are their own children. Rugantino goes and sees a judge, who asks him to imagine that he owns a field and that a neighbour, crossing this field, lets wheat seeds fall on it: to whom does the wheat belong, he asks Rugantino? To me, since the field belongs to me, Rugantino answers. The judge then makes him observe that this also stands for his wife’s children. Rugantino goes back home, accepts to recognise the children, and the curtain falls as the Pulcinelletti all shout and call him “Daddy”.