the Munchkins

    S if Dorot been lying on t bed s . As it c oto put tle nose into  up and noticed t t moving; nor  dark, for t suns ttle room. Soto at he door.

    ttle girl gave a cry of amazement and looked about  ts she saw.

    t tly?afor a cy- clone?ain t of a country of marvelous beauty. tc, ately trees bearing rics. Banks of gorgeous flotered in trees and bustle eful to a little girl whe dry, gray prairies.

    ood looking eagerly at trange and beauti- ful sigiced coming too; but neit, t as tall as Dorothey were, so far as looks go, many years older.

    ts t rose to a small point a foot above ttle bells around t tin- kled sly as ts of ttle  s from  tle stars t glistened in ts, and  tops. t,  as old as Uncle  t- tle less muce, and siffly.

    anding in to come fart ttle old o Dorot voice:

    quot;You are  noble Sorceress, to teful to you for c, and for setting our people free from bondage.”

    Dorotened to t could ttle , tle girl, whing in all her life.

    But ttle ly expected o ansation, quot;You are very kind, but t be some mistake. I  killed anything.”

    quot;Your ; replied ttle old ;and t is t; sinued, pointing to t;t, still sticking out from under a block of wood.”

    Dorottle cry of frig under t beam ted on, t icking out, sed toes.

    quot;O; cried Doroto- get;t - ever shall we do?”

    quot;to be done,quot; said ttle woman calmly.

    quot;But hy.

    quot;Sc, as I said,quot; an- stle ;S and day. No free, and are grateful to you for the favor.”

    quot;; inquired Dorothy.

    quot;t wch ruled.”

    quot;Are you a Munc; asked Dorothy.

    quot;No, but I am tc  a s messenger to me, and I came at once.

    I am tch.”

    quot;O; cried Dorot;Are you a real ch?”

    quot;Yes, indeed,quot; anstle ;But I am a good c as poc the people free myself.”

    quot;But I t all c; said tened at facing a real c;O is a great mistake. tccrue, for I am one of t be mistaken. t in t and t c no you  one icked itc.”

    quot;But,quot; said Doroter a moments t, quot;Aunt Em old me t tches were all dead?ayears and years ago.”

    quot; Em?quot; inquired ttle old woman.

    quot;S who lives in Kansas, where I came from.”

    tco time, ;I do not knory mentioned before. But tell me, is it a civi- lized country?”

    quot;O; replied Dorothy.

    quot;t accounts for it. In tries I be- lieve tc, nor , you see, t off from all t of the world.

    till c us.”

    quot;; asked Dorothy.

    quot;Oz  izard,quot; ansco a ogety of Emeralds.”

    Doroto ask anotion, but just tanding silently by, gave a loud s and pointed to tch had been lying.

    quot; is it?quot; asked ttle old o laug of tcirely, and not but the silver shoes.

    quot;S; explained tc s is t to ; Ser s out of to Dorothy.

    quot;tc hose silver shoes,”

    said one of t;and ted   is we never knew.”

    Doroto table. t again to the Munchkins and said:

    quot;I am anxious to get back to my aunt and uncle, for I am sure t me. Can you help me find my way?”

    tc looked at one anot Dorotheir heads.

    quot;At t, not far from ; said one, quot;t desert, and none could live to cross it.”

    quot;It is t t; said anot;for I . try of the Quadlings.”

    quot;I am told,quot; said t;t it is t t. And t country, wc, who would make you her slave if you passed her way.”

    quot;t; said t;and at its edge   is t desert t surrounds to live h us.”

    Doroto sob at t lonely among all trange people. ears seemed to grieve ted Muncely took out to tle old ed quot;One, t; in a solemn voice.

    At once to a slate, on wten in big, we chalk marks:

    quot;LEt DOROtO tY OF EMERALDS”

    ttle old ook te from , asked, quot;Is your name Dorothy, my dear?”

    quot;Yes,quot; ansears.

    quot;t go to ty of Emeralds. Perhaps Oz will help you.”

    quot;y?quot; asked Dorothy.

    quot;It is exactly in ter of try, and is ruled by Oz, t izard I told you of.”

    quot;Is ; inquired the girl anxiously.

    quot; I cannot tell, for I have never seen him.”

    quot; t; asked Dorothy.

    quot;You must  is a long journey, try t is sometimes pleasant and sometimes dark and terrible. s I knoo keep you from harm.”

    quot;ont you go ; pleaded to look upon ttle old woman as her only friend.

    quot;No, I cannot do t,quot; s;but I will give you my kiss, and no one will dare injure a person wch.”

    So Dorotly on touc a round, s soon after.

    quot;to ty of Emeralds is paved ; said tc;so you cannot miss it.  to Oz do not be afraid of  tell your story and ask o help you. Good-bye, my dear.”

    to  journey, after ctle nod, raigo ttle toto, wer o growl wood by.

    But Doroto be a ced o disappear in just t  surprised in t.

    L. Frank Baum