The Marvelous Land of Oz by Lyman Frank Baum (good books for 8th graders .TXT) π
So he selected a fine, big pumpkin -- one with a lustrous, orange-red color-- and began carving it. With the point of his knife he made two round eyes,a three-cornered nose, and
Line-Art Drawing
10a mouth shaped like a new moon. The face, when completed, could not havebeen considered strictly beautiful; but it wore a smile so big and broad,and was so Jolly in expression, that even Tip laughed as he lookedadmiringly at his work.
The child had no playmates, so he did not know that boys often dig out theinside of a "pumpkin-jack," and in the space thus made put a lighted candleto render t
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So Ozma ordered the Gump taken apart. The antlered head was again hung over the mantle-piece in the hall, and the sofas were untied and placed in the reception parlors. The broom tail resumed its accustomed duties in the kitchen, and finally, the Scarecrow replaced all the clotheslines and ropes on the pegs from which he had taken them on the eventful day when the Thing was constructed.
You might think that was the end of the Gump; and so it was, as a flying-machine. But the head over the mantle-piece continued to talk whenever it took a notion to do so, and it frequently startled, with its abrupt questions, the people who waited in the hall for an audience with the Queen.
The SawHorse, being Ozmaβs personal property, was tenderly cared for; and often she rode the queer creature along the streets of the Emerald City. She had its wooden legs shod with gold, to keep them
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from wearing out, and the tinkle of these golden shoes upon the pavement always filled the Queenβs subjects with awe as they thought upon this evidence of her magical powers.
βThe Wonderful Wizard was never so wonderful as Queen Ozma,β the people said to one another, in whispers; βfor he claimed to do many things he could not do; whereas our new Queen does many things no one would ever expect her to accomplish.β
Jack Pumpkinhead remained with Ozma to the end of his days; and he did not spoil as soon as he had feared, although he always remained as stupid as ever. The Woggle-Bug tried to teach him several arts and sciences; but Jack was so poor a student that any attempt to educate him was soon abandoned.
After Glindaβs army had marched back home, and peace was restored to the Emerald City, the Tin Woodman announced his intention to return to his own Kingdom of the Winkies.
βIt isnβt a very big Kingdom,β said he to Ozma, βbut for that very reason it is easier to rule; and I have called myself an Emperor because I am an Absolute Monarch, and no one interferes in any way with my conduct of public or personal affairs. When I get home I shall have a new coat of nickel plate; for I have become somewhat marred and scratched lately;
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and then I shall be glad to have you pay me a visit.β
βThank you,β replied Ozma. βSome day I may accept the invitation. But what is to become of the Scarecrow?β
βI shall return with my friend the Tin Woodman,β said the stuffed one, seriously. βWe have decided never to be parted in the future.β
βAnd I have made the Scarecrow my Royal Treasurer,β explained the Tin Woodman.β For it has occurred to me that it is a good thing to have a Royal Treasurer who is made of money. What do you think?β
βI think,β said the little Queen, smiling, βthat your friend must be the richest man in all the world.β
βI am,β returned the Scarecrow. βbut not on account of my money. For I consider brains far superior to money, in every way. You may have noticed that if one has money without brains, he cannot use it to advantage; but if one has brains without money, they will enable him to live comfortably to the end of his days.β
βAt the same time,β declared the Tin Woodman, βyou must acknowledge that a good heart is a thing that brains can not create, and that money can not buy. Perhaps, after all, it is I who am the richest man in all the world.β
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βYou are both rich, my friends,β said Ozma, gently; βand your riches are the only riches worth having β the riches of content!β
The End
End of Project Gutenberg Etext of βThe Marvelous Land of Ozβ
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