ty of Oz
EVEN Itected by tacles, Dorot first dazzled by ty. treets iful of green marble and studded everyoget closely, and glittering in tness of ty int, and the sun were green.
t, and t Dorotrangely as- sorted company no one spoke to tood in treet, and Dorot everyts, and green clots. At one place a man Dorot t h green pennies.
to be no tle green carts, ed and prosperous.
tes led treets un- til to a big building, exactly in ty, he door, dressed in a green uniform and wearing a long green beard.
quot;rangers,quot; said tes to ;and to see t Oz.”
quot;Step inside,quot; ans;and I o him.”
So tes and o a big room and lovely green furniture set upon a green mat before entering ted ely:
quot;Please make yourselves comfortable ell Oz you are here.”
to a long time before turned.
last, hy asked:
quot;have you seen Oz?”
quot;O; returned t;I I spoke to be you an audience, if you so de- sire; but eac enter but one eac re- main in to rooms after your journey.”
quot;t; replied t;t is very kind of Oz.”
tle, and at once a young girl, dressed in a pretty green silk goered t;Follow me and I will show you your room.”
So Doroto all toto, and taking ts of stairs until to a room at t of t est little room in t comfortable bed t s of green silk and a green velvet counterpane. tiny fountain in t s a spray of green perfume into to fall back into a beautifully carved green marble basin. Beautiful green floood in ttle green books.
ime to open tures t made hey were so funny.
In a in and velvet; and all of tted Dorotly.
quot;Make yourself perfectly at ; said t;and if you wiso- morrow morning.”
S Dorot back to to rooms, and eac part of teness ed on tood stupidly in one spot, just o till morning. It rest o lie doaring at a little spider as if it one of t in oodman lay do being able to sleep, moving s up and doo make sure t in good , and did not like being s up in a room; but oo muco let t and purred e.
t morning, after breakfast, to fetctiest goin. Dorot on a green silk apron and tied a green ribbon around totos neck, and tarted for t Oz.
First to a great lemen of t, all dressed in ricumes.
to do but talk to eac to outside tted to see Oz. As Dorotered t hem whispered:
quot;Are you really going to look upon terri- ble?”
quot;Of course,quot; ans;if he will see me.”
quot;O; said taken o t;alt like to o see first you looked like, and ed. At last I told t you to his presence.”
Just to Dorot;t is t go into throne Room alone.”
Stle door and Dorot closely to- geter of t lig as the emeralds sparkle in a wonderful manner.
But erested Dorot stood in t
a body to support it or any arms or legs wever.
t it giant.
As Doroturned slo eadily. thy heard a voice say:
quot;I am Oz, t and terrible. ho are you, and why do you seek me?”
It suced to come from took courage and answered:
quot;I am Doroto you for help.”
t fully for a full minute. the voice:
quot; the silver shoes?”
quot;I got tc, w; she replied.
quot; t; contin- ued the voice.
quot;t is o you,quot; said the girl.
Again t elling trut; do you wiso do?”
quot;Send me back to Kansas, ;I dont like your country, alt is so beautiful. And I am sure Aunt Em will be dreadfully worried over my being away so long.”
times, and turned up to to t to see every part of t last t Dorothy again.
quot;; asked Oz.
quot;Because you are strong and I am izard and I am only a little girl.”
quot;But you rong enougo kill tc,quot; said Oz.
quot;t just ; returned Dorot;I could not .”
quot;ell,quot; said t;I o expect me to send you back to Kansas unless you do someturn. In try everyone must pay for everyts. If you o send you do somet. help me and I will help you.”
quot; must I do?quot; asked the girl.
quot;Kill tc,quot; answered Oz.
quot;But I cannot!quot; exclaimed Dorotly surprised.
quot;You killed tc and you one icked itc in all tell me so Kansas?abut not before.”
ttle girl began to Oz felt t she could help him if she would.
quot;I never killed anyt; s;Even if I ed to, c and terrible, cannot kill me to do it?”
quot;I do not kno; said t;but t is my ansil tc see your uncle and aunt again. Remember t tcremendously icked -and ougo be killed. No ask to see me again until you ask.”
Sorro t back ing to Oz o ;t; s;for Oz send me il I c; and t I can never do.”
could do noto to o sleep.
t morning to the Scarecrow and said:
quot;Come for you.”
So tted into t tting in t lovely Lady. S t ttered if test breathem.
tily as rauffing iful creature, sly, and said:
quot;I am Oz, t and terrible. ho are you, and why do you seek me?”
Noed to see t old onis he answered her bravely.
quot;I am only a Scarecrouffed rao you praying t you brains in my ead of stra I may become as mucher in your dominions.”
quot;; asked the Lady.
quot;Because you are he Scarecrow.
quot;I never grant favors some return,quot; said Oz; quot;but tc, I o many brains, and suc you man in all the Land of Oz.”
quot;I t you asked Doroto kill tc; said the Scarecrow, in surprise.
quot;So I did. I dont care il s grant your il you ly desire.”
t sorroo old t Oz o find t t izard a a lovely Lady.
quot;All t; said t;s as mucin oodman.”
On t morning to tin oodman and said, quot;Oz for you. Follow me.”
So tin oodman follo t kno;For,quot; o ;if it is t be given a , since a of its o feel for me. But if it is t, for all ladies are to be kindly ed.
But taken t terrible Beast. It rong enougo s of its body, and it also had five long, slim legs.
t of it, and a more dread- ful-looking monster could not be imagined. It unate tin oodman at t moment, for it from terror. But being only tin, t at all afraid, alted.
quot;I am Oz, t and terrible,quot; spoke t, in a voice t roar. quot;ho are you, and why do you seek me?”
quot;I am a oodman, and made of tin. t, and cannot love. I pray you to give me a t I may be as other men are.”
quot;; demanded t.
quot;Because I ask it, and you alone can grant my request,quot; an- she oodman.
Oz gave a lo t said, gruffly: quot;If you in- deed desire a , you must earn it.”
quot;; asked the oodman.
quot;o kill tc,”
replied t. quot;co me, and I and kindest and most loving in all the Land of Oz.”
So tin oodman o return sorroo ell terrible Beast he had seen.
tly at t iz- ard could take upon he Lion said:
quot;If o spring upon o do my bidding. And if my mercy; for I til o give us w we desire. So be of good c be well.”
t morning to t ter the presence of Oz.
t once passed to before to gaze upon it. t Oz caug o go nearer, t ense t it singed back tremblingly to a spot nearer the door.
t voice came from t spoke:
quot;I am Oz, t and terrible. ho are you, and why do you seek me?”
And t;I am a Coo you to beg t you give me courage, so t in reality I may become ts, as men call me.”
quot;; demanded Oz.
quot;Because of all izards you are test, and alone o grant my request,quot; anshe Lion.
time, and t;Bring me proof t tc moment I as long as tc remain a coward.”
t t could say notood silently gazing at t became so furiously t urned tail and ruso find ing for old terrible interviehe izard.
quot; s; asked Dorothy sadly.
quot;t; returned t;and t is to go to t tcroy her.”
quot;But suppose ?quot; said the girl.
quot;t; declared the Lion.
quot;And I s; added the Scarecrow.
quot;And I s,quot; spoke tin of ood- man.
quot;And I s Em and Uncle ; said Doroto cry.
quot;Be careful!quot; cried t;tears it.”
So Dorot;I suppose try it; but I am sure I do not to kill anybody, even to see Aunt Em again.”
quot;I Im too muco kill tc; said the Lion.
quot;I oo,quot; declared t;but I s be of muco you, I am such a fool.”
quot;I t to c; remarked tin oodman; quot;but if you go I certainly sh you.”
t o start upon t morning, and tone and s properly oiled. tuffed ra ne on see better. to t o eat, and fastened a little bell around totos neck h a green ribbon.
t to bed quite early and slept soundly until day- lig lived in t had laid a green egg.
L. Frank Baum