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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and have it glued on again. What do you mean by coming here and frightening my cow?โ€

โ€œIโ€™m very sorry,โ€ returned Dorothy. โ€œPlease forgive us.โ€

But the pretty milkmaid was much too vexed to make any answer. She picked up the leg sulkily and led her cow away, the poor animal limping on three legs. As she left them the milkmaid cast many reproachful glances over her shoulder at the clumsy strangers, holding her nicked elbow close to her side.

Dorothy was quite grieved at this mishap.

โ€œWe must be very careful here,โ€ said the kindhearted Woodman, โ€œor we may hurt these pretty little people so they will never get over it.โ€

A little farther on Dorothy met a most beautifully dressed young Princess, who stopped short as she saw the strangers and started to run away.

Dorothy wanted to see more of the Princess, so she ran after her. But the china girl cried out:

โ€œDonโ€™t chase me! Donโ€™t chase me!โ€

She had such a frightened little voice that Dorothy stopped and said, โ€œWhy not?โ€

โ€œBecause,โ€ answered the Princess, also stopping, a safe distance away, โ€œif I run I may fall down and break myself.โ€

โ€œBut could you not be mended?โ€ asked the girl.

โ€œOh, yes; but one is never so pretty after being mended, you know,โ€ replied the Princess.

โ€œI suppose not,โ€ said Dorothy.

โ€œNow there is Mr. Joker, one of our clowns,โ€ continued the china lady, โ€œwho is always trying to stand upon his head. He has broken himself so often that he is mended in a hundred places, and doesnโ€™t look at all pretty. Here he comes now, so you can see for yourself.โ€

Indeed, a jolly little clown came walking toward them, and Dorothy could see that in spite of his pretty clothes of red and yellow and green he was completely covered with cracks, running every which way and showing plainly that he had been mended in many places.

The Clown put his hands in his pockets, and after puffing out his cheeks and nodding his head at them saucily, he said:

โ€œMy lady fair,
Why do you stare
At poor old Mr. Joker?
Youโ€™re quite as stiff
And prim as if
Youโ€™d eaten up a poker!โ€

โ€œBe quiet, sir!โ€ said the Princess. โ€œCanโ€™t you see these are strangers, and should be treated with respect?โ€

โ€œWell, thatโ€™s respect, I expect,โ€ declared the Clown, and immediately stood upon his head.

โ€œDonโ€™t mind Mr. Joker,โ€ said the Princess to Dorothy. โ€œHe is considerably cracked in his head, and that makes him foolish.โ€

โ€œOh, I donโ€™t mind him a bit,โ€ said Dorothy. โ€œBut you are so beautiful,โ€ she continued, โ€œthat I am sure I could love you dearly. Wonโ€™t you let me carry you back to Kansas, and stand you on Aunt Emโ€™s mantel? I could carry you in my basket.โ€

โ€œThat would make me very unhappy,โ€ answered the china Princess. โ€œYou see, here in our country we live contentedly, and can talk and move around as we please. But whenever any of us are taken away our joints at once stiffen, and we can only stand straight and look pretty. Of course that is all that is expected of us when we are on mantels and cabinets and drawing-room tables, but our lives are much pleasanter here in our own country.โ€

โ€œI would not make you unhappy for all the world!โ€ exclaimed Dorothy. โ€œSo Iโ€™ll just say goodbye.โ€

โ€œGoodbye,โ€ replied the Princess.

They walked carefully through the china country. The little animals and all the people scampered out of their way, fearing the strangers would break them, and after an hour or so the travelers reached the other side of the country and came to another china wall.

It was not so high as the first, however, and by standing upon the Lionโ€™s back they all managed to scramble to the top. Then the Lion gathered his legs under him and jumped on the wall; but just as he jumped, he upset a china church with his tail and smashed it all to pieces.

โ€œThat was too bad,โ€ said Dorothy, โ€œbut really I think we were lucky in not doing these little people more harm than breaking a cowโ€™s leg and a church. They are all so brittle!โ€

โ€œThey are, indeed,โ€ said the Scarecrow, โ€œand I am thankful I am made of straw and cannot be easily damaged. There are worse things in the world than being a Scarecrow.โ€

XXI The Lion Becomes the King of Beasts

After climbing down from the china wall the travelers found themselves in a disagreeable country, full of bogs and marshes and covered with tall, rank grass. It was difficult to walk without falling into muddy holes, for the grass was so thick that it hid them from sight. However, by carefully picking their way, they got safely along until they reached solid ground. But here the country seemed wilder than ever, and after a long and tiresome walk through the underbrush they entered another forest, where the trees were bigger and older than any they had ever seen.

โ€œThis forest is perfectly delightful,โ€ declared the Lion, looking around him with joy. โ€œNever have I seen a more beautiful place.โ€

โ€œIt seems gloomy,โ€ said the Scarecrow.

โ€œNot a bit of it,โ€ answered the Lion. โ€œI should like to live here all my life. See how soft the dried leaves are under your feet and how rich and green the moss is that clings to these old trees. Surely no wild beast could wish a pleasanter home.โ€

โ€œPerhaps there are wild beasts in the forest now,โ€ said Dorothy.

โ€œI suppose there are,โ€ returned the Lion, โ€œbut I do not see any of them about.โ€

They walked through the forest until it became too dark to go any farther. Dorothy and Toto and the Lion lay down to sleep, while the Woodman and the Scarecrow kept watch over them as usual.

When morning came, they started again. Before they had gone far they heard a low rumble, as of the growling of many wild animals. Toto whimpered a little, but none of the others was frightened, and they kept along the well-trodden path until they came to an opening

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