The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Lyman Frank Baum

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as she went by; for everyone knew she had been the means of destroying the Wicked Witch and setting them free from bondage. The houses of the Munchkins were odd-looking dwellings, for each was round, with a big dome for a roof. All were painted blue, for in this country of the East blue was the favorite color.

      Toward evening, when Dorothy was tired with her long walk and began to wonder where she should pass the night, she came to a house rather larger than the rest. On the green lawn before it many men and women were dancing. Five little fiddlers played as loudly as possible, and the people were laughing and singing, while a big table near by was loaded with delicious fruits and nuts, pies and cakes, and many other good things to eat.

      The people greeted Dorothy kindly, and invited her to supper and to pass the night with them; for this was the home of one of the richest Munchkins in the land, and his friends were gathered with him to celebrate their freedom from the bondage of the Wicked Witch.

      Dorothy ate a hearty supper and was waited upon by the rich Munchkin himself, whose name was Boq. Then she sat upon a settee and watched the people dance.

      When Boq saw her silver shoes he said, »You must be a great sorceress.«

      »Why?« asked the girl.

      »Because you wear silver shoes and have killed the Wicked Witch. Besides, you have white in your frock, and only witches and sorceresses wear white.«

      »My dress is blue and white checked,« said Dorothy, smoothing out the wrinkles in it.

      »It is kind of you to wear that,« said Boq. »Blue is the color of the Munchkins, and white is the witch color. So we know you are a friendly witch.«

      Dorothy did not know what to say to this, for all the people seemed to think her a witch, and she knew very well she was only an ordinary little girl who had come by the chance of a cyclone into a strange land.

      When she had tired watching the dancing, Boq led her into the house, where he gave her a room with a pretty bed in it. The sheets were made of blue cloth, and Dorothy slept soundly in them till morning, with Toto curled up on the blue rug beside her.

      She ate a hearty breakfast, and watched a wee Munchkin baby, who played with Toto and pulled his tail and crowed and laughed in a way that greatly amused Dorothy. Toto was a fine curiosity to all the people, for they had never seen a dog before.

      »How far is it to the Emerald City?« the girl asked.

      »I do not know,« answered Boq gravely, »for I have never been there. It is better for people to keep away from Oz, unless they have business with him. But it is a long way to the Emerald City, and it will take you many days. The country here is rich and pleasant, but you must pass through rough and dangerous places before you reach the end of your journey.«

      This worried Dorothy a little, but she knew that only the Great Oz could help her get to Kansas again, so she bravely resolved not to turn back.

      She bade her friends good-bye, and again started along the road of yellow brick. When she had gone several miles she thought she would stop to rest, and so climbed to the top of the fence beside the road and sat down. There was a great cornfield beyond the fence, and not far away she saw a Scarecrow, placed high on a pole to keep the birds from the ripe corn.

      Dorothy leaned her chin upon her hand and gazed thoughtfully at the Scarecrow. Its head was a small sack stuffed with straw, with eyes, nose, and mouth painted on it to represent a face. An old, pointed blue hat, that had belonged to some Munchkin, was perched on his head, and the rest of the figure was a blue suit of clothes, worn and faded, which had also been stuffed with straw. On the feet were some old boots with blue tops, such as every man wore in this country, and the figure was raised above the stalks of corn by means of the pole stuck up its back.

      While Dorothy was looking earnestly into the queer, painted face of the Scarecrow, she was surprised to see one of the eyes slowly wink at her. She thought she must have been mistaken at first, for none of the scarecrows in Kansas ever wink; but presently the figure nodded its head to her in a friendly way. Then she climbed down from the fence and walked up to it, while Toto ran around the pole and barked.

      »Good day,« said the Scarecrow, in a rather husky voice.

      »Did you speak?« asked the girl, in wonder.

      »Certainly,« answered the Scarecrow. »How do you do?«

      »I’m pretty well, thank you,« replied Dorothy politely. »How do you do?«

      »I’m not feeling well,« said the Scarecrow, with a smile, »for it is very tedious being perched up here night and day to scare away crows.«

      »Can’t you get down?« asked Dorothy.

      »No, for this pole is stuck up my back. If you will please take away the pole I shall be greatly obliged to you.«

      Dorothy reached up both arms and lifted the figure off the pole, for, being stuffed with straw, it was quite light.

      »Thank you very much,« said the Scarecrow, when he had been set down on the ground. »I feel like a new man.«

      Dorothy was puzzled at this, for it sounded queer to hear a stuffed man speak, and to see him bow and walk along beside her.

      »Who are you?« asked the Scarecrow when he had stretched himself and yawned. »And where are you going?«

      »My name is Dorothy,« said the girl, »and I am going to the Emerald City, to ask the Great Oz to send me back to Kansas.«

      »Where is the Emerald City?« he inquired. »And who is Oz?«

      »Why, don’t you know?« she returned, in surprise.

      »No, indeed. I don’t know anything. You see, I am stuffed, so I have no brains at all,« he answered sadly.

      »Oh,« said Dorothy, »I’m awfully sorry for you.«

      »Do you think,« he asked, »if I go to the Emerald City with you, that Oz would give me some brains?«

      »I cannot tell,« she returned, »but you may come with me, if you like. If Oz will not give you any brains you will be no worse off than you are now.«

      »That is true,« said the Scarecrow. »You see,« he continued confidentially, »I don’t mind my legs and arms and body being stuffed, because I cannot get hurt. If anyone treads on my toes or sticks a pin into me, it doesn’t matter, for I can’t feel it. But I do not want people to call me a fool, and if my head stays stuffed with straw instead of with brains, as yours is, how am I ever to know anything?«

      »I understand how you feel,« said the little girl, who was truly sorry for him. »If you will come with me I’ll ask Oz to do all he can for you.«

      »Thank you,« he answered gratefully.

      They walked back to the road. Dorothy helped him over the fence, and they started along the path of yellow brick for the Emerald City.

      Toto did not like this addition to the party at first. He smelled around the stuffed man as if he suspected there might be a nest of rats in the straw, and he often growled in an unfriendly way at the Scarecrow.

      »Don’t mind Toto,« said Dorothy to her new friend. »He never bites.«

      »Oh, I’m not afraid,« replied the Scarecrow. »He can’t hurt the straw. Do let me carry that basket for you. I shall not mind it, for I can’t get tired. I’ll tell you a secret,« he continued, as he walked along. »There is only one thing in the world I am afraid of.«

      »What is that?« asked Dorothy; »the Munchkin farmer who made you?«

      »No,« answered the Scarecrow; »it’s a lighted match.«

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