American library books ยป Other ยป The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (short books for teens .TXT) ๐Ÿ“•

Read book online ยซThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (short books for teens .TXT) ๐Ÿ“•ยป.   Author   -   L. Frank Baum



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screamed. โ€œI want to go, too!โ€

โ€œI canโ€™t come back, my dear,โ€ called Oz from the basket. โ€œGoodbye!โ€

โ€œGoodbye!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:

โ€œOz 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 South

Dorothy 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:

โ€œTruly 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€

โ€œWith 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. โ€œFor,โ€ they said, โ€œthere 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.

โ€œWe are not so unlucky,โ€ said the new ruler, โ€œfor 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 farmerโ€™s cornfield, and that now I am the ruler of this beautiful City, I am quite satisfied with my lot.โ€

โ€œI also,โ€ said the Tin Woodman, โ€œam well-pleased with my new heart; and, really, that was the only thing I wished in all the world.โ€

โ€œFor 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.

โ€œIf Dorothy would only be contented to live in the Emerald City,โ€ continued the Scarecrow, โ€œwe might all be happy together.โ€

โ€œBut I donโ€™t want to live here,โ€ cried Dorothy. โ€œI want to go to Kansas, and live with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry.โ€

โ€œWell, 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:

โ€œWhy not call the Winged Monkeys, and ask them to carry you over the desert?โ€

โ€œI never thought of that!โ€ said Dorothy joyfully. โ€œItโ€™s just the thing. Iโ€™ll 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.

โ€œThis is the second time you have called us,โ€ said the Monkey King, bowing before the little girl. โ€œWhat do you wish?โ€

โ€œI want you to fly with me to Kansas,โ€ said Dorothy.

But the Monkey King shook his head.

โ€œThat cannot be done,โ€ he said. โ€œWe 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 donโ€™t 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. โ€œI have wasted the charm of the Golden Cap to no purpose,โ€ she said, โ€œfor the Winged Monkeys cannot help me.โ€

โ€œIt 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.

โ€œLet us call in the soldier with the green whiskers,โ€ he said, โ€œand 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.

โ€œThis little girl,โ€ said the Scarecrow to the soldier, โ€œwishes to cross the desert. How can she do so?โ€

โ€œI cannot tell,โ€ answered the soldier, โ€œfor nobody has ever crossed the desert, unless it is Oz himself.โ€

โ€œIs there no one who can help me?โ€ asked Dorothy earnestly.

โ€œGlinda might,โ€ he suggested.

โ€œWho is Glinda?โ€ inquired the Scarecrow.

โ€œThe 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€

โ€œGlinda is a Good Witch, isnโ€™t she?โ€ asked the child.

โ€œThe Quadlings think she is good,โ€ said the soldier, โ€œand 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€

โ€œHow can I get to her castle?โ€ asked Dorothy.

โ€œThe road is straight to the South,โ€ he answered, โ€œbut 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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