The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (short books for teens .TXT) ๐
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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is the classic American childrenโs novel about the adventures of Dorothy, a young girl who along with her dog Toto is swept away by a cyclone to the magical Land of Oz. It was written by L. Frank Baum and published in May 1900.
Dorothy lives with her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and Toto on a farm in the Kansas prairie. One day, Dorothy and Toto are caught up in a cyclone that deposits her farmhouse into Munchkin Country in the magical Land of Oz. The falling house has killed the Wicked Witch of the East, the evil ruler of the Munchkins. The Good Witch of the North arrives with three grateful Munchkins and gives Dorothy the magical Silver Shoes that once belonged to the Wicked Witch. The Good Witch tells Dorothy that the only way she can return home is to go to the Emerald City and ask the great and powerful Wizard of Oz to help her.
The Library of Congress has declared it โAmericaโs greatest and best-loved homegrown fairy-tale.โ Its groundbreaking success and the success of the Broadway musical adaptation led Baum to write thirteen additional Oz books which serve as sequels to the first story. The 1939 film musical adaptation starring Judy Garland is considered by many to be one of the greatest films in cinema history.
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- Author: L. Frank Baum
Read book online ยซThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (short books for teens .TXT) ๐ยป. Author - L. Frank Baum
โI canโt come back, my dear,โ called Oz from the basket. โGoodbye!โ
โGoodbye!โ shouted everyone, and all eyes were turned upward to where the Wizard was riding in the basket, rising every moment farther and farther into the sky.
And that was the last any of them ever saw of Oz, the Wonderful Wizard, though he may have reached Omaha safely, and be there now, for all we know. But the people remembered him lovingly, and said to one another:
โOz was always our friend. When he was here he built for us this beautiful Emerald City, and now he is gone he has left the Wise Scarecrow to rule over us.โ
Still, for many days they grieved over the loss of the Wonderful Wizard, and would not be comforted.
XVIII Away to the SouthDorothy wept bitterly at the passing of her hope to get home to Kansas again; but when she thought it all over she was glad she had not gone up in a balloon. And she also felt sorry at losing Oz, and so did her companions.
The Tin Woodman came to her and said:
โTruly I should be ungrateful if I failed to mourn for the man who gave me my lovely heart. I should like to cry a little because Oz is gone, if you will kindly wipe away my tears, so that I shall not rust.โ
โWith pleasure,โ she answered, and brought a towel at once. Then the Tin Woodman wept for several minutes, and she watched the tears carefully and wiped them away with the towel. When he had finished, he thanked her kindly and oiled himself thoroughly with his jeweled oilcan, to guard against mishap.
The Scarecrow was now the ruler of the Emerald City, and although he was not a Wizard the people were proud of him. โFor,โ they said, โthere is not another city in all the world that is ruled by a stuffed man.โ And, so far as they knew, they were quite right.
The morning after the balloon had gone up with Oz, the four travelers met in the Throne Room and talked matters over. The Scarecrow sat in the big throne and the others stood respectfully before him.
โWe are not so unlucky,โ said the new ruler, โfor this Palace and the Emerald City belong to us, and we can do just as we please. When I remember that a short time ago I was up on a pole in a farmerโs cornfield, and that now I am the ruler of this beautiful City, I am quite satisfied with my lot.โ
โI also,โ said the Tin Woodman, โam well-pleased with my new heart; and, really, that was the only thing I wished in all the world.โ
โFor my part, I am content in knowing I am as brave as any beast that ever lived, if not braver,โ said the Lion modestly.
โIf Dorothy would only be contented to live in the Emerald City,โ continued the Scarecrow, โwe might all be happy together.โ
โBut I donโt want to live here,โ cried Dorothy. โI want to go to Kansas, and live with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry.โ
โWell, then, what can be done?โ inquired the Woodman.
The Scarecrow decided to think, and he thought so hard that the pins and needles began to stick out of his brains. Finally he said:
โWhy not call the Winged Monkeys, and ask them to carry you over the desert?โ
โI never thought of that!โ said Dorothy joyfully. โItโs just the thing. Iโll go at once for the Golden Cap.โ
When she brought it into the Throne Room she spoke the magic words, and soon the band of Winged Monkeys flew in through the open window and stood beside her.
โThis is the second time you have called us,โ said the Monkey King, bowing before the little girl. โWhat do you wish?โ
โI want you to fly with me to Kansas,โ said Dorothy.
But the Monkey King shook his head.
โThat cannot be done,โ he said. โWe belong to this country alone, and cannot leave it. There has never been a Winged Monkey in Kansas yet, and I suppose there never will be, for they donโt belong there. We shall be glad to serve you in any way in our power, but we cannot cross the desert. Goodbye.โ
And with another bow, the Monkey King spread his wings and flew away through the window, followed by all his band.
Dorothy was ready to cry with disappointment. โI have wasted the charm of the Golden Cap to no purpose,โ she said, โfor the Winged Monkeys cannot help me.โ
โIt is certainly too bad!โ said the tenderhearted Woodman.
The Scarecrow was thinking again, and his head bulged out so horribly that Dorothy feared it would burst.
โLet us call in the soldier with the green whiskers,โ he said, โand ask his advice.โ
So the soldier was summoned and entered the Throne Room timidly, for while Oz was alive he never was allowed to come farther than the door.
โThis little girl,โ said the Scarecrow to the soldier, โwishes to cross the desert. How can she do so?โ
โI cannot tell,โ answered the soldier, โfor nobody has ever crossed the desert, unless it is Oz himself.โ
โIs there no one who can help me?โ asked Dorothy earnestly.
โGlinda might,โ he suggested.
โWho is Glinda?โ inquired the Scarecrow.
โThe Witch of the South. She is the most powerful of all the Witches, and rules over the Quadlings. Besides, her castle stands on the edge of the desert, so she may know a way to cross it.โ
โGlinda is a Good Witch, isnโt she?โ asked the child.
โThe Quadlings think she is good,โ said the soldier, โand she is kind to everyone. I have heard that Glinda is a beautiful woman, who knows how to keep young in spite of the many years she has lived.โ
โHow can I get to her castle?โ asked Dorothy.
โThe road is straight to the South,โ he answered, โbut it is said to be full of dangers to travelers. There are wild beasts in the woods, and a race of queer
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