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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can we do, then?โ€ she asked.

โ€œCall the Winged Monkeys,โ€ suggested the Tin Woodman. โ€œYou have still the right to command them once more.โ€

โ€œVery well,โ€ she answered, and putting on the Golden Cap she uttered the magic words. The Monkeys were as prompt as ever, and in a few moments the entire band stood before her.

โ€œWhat are your commands?โ€ inquired the King of the Monkeys, bowing low.

โ€œCarry us over the hill to the country of the Quadlings,โ€ answered the girl.

โ€œIt shall be done,โ€ said the King, and at once the Winged Monkeys caught the four travelers and Toto up in their arms and flew away with them. As they passed over the hill the Hammer-Heads yelled with vexation, and shot their heads high in the air, but they could not reach the Winged Monkeys, which carried Dorothy and her comrades safely over the hill and set them down in the beautiful country of the Quadlings.

โ€œThis is the last time you can summon us,โ€ said the leader to Dorothy; โ€œso goodbye and good luck to you.โ€

โ€œGoodbye, and thank you very much,โ€ returned the girl; and the Monkeys rose into the air and were out of sight in a twinkling.

The country of the Quadlings seemed rich and happy. There was field upon field of ripening grain, with well-paved roads running between, and pretty rippling brooks with strong bridges across them. The fences and houses and bridges were all painted bright red, just as they had been painted yellow in the country of the Winkies and blue in the country of the Munchkins. The Quadlings themselves, who were short and fat and looked chubby and good-natured, were dressed all in red, which showed bright against the green grass and the yellowing grain.

The Monkeys had set them down near a farmhouse, and the four travelers walked up to it and knocked at the door. It was opened by the farmerโ€™s wife, and when Dorothy asked for something to eat the woman gave them all a good dinner, with three kinds of cake and four kinds of cookies, and a bowl of milk for Toto.

โ€œHow far is it to the Castle of Glinda?โ€ asked the child.

โ€œIt is not a great way,โ€ answered the farmerโ€™s wife. โ€œTake the road to the South and you will soon reach it.โ€

Thanking the good woman, they started afresh and walked by the fields and across the pretty bridges until they saw before them a very beautiful Castle. Before the gates were three young girls, dressed in handsome red uniforms trimmed with gold braid; and as Dorothy approached, one of them said to her:

โ€œWhy have you come to the South Country?โ€

โ€œTo see the Good Witch who rules here,โ€ she answered. โ€œWill you take me to her?โ€

โ€œLet me have your name, and I will ask Glinda if she will receive you.โ€ They told who they were, and the girl soldier went into the Castle. After a few moments she came back to say that Dorothy and the others were to be admitted at once.

XXIII Glinda the Good Witch Grants Dorothyโ€™s Wish

Before they went to see Glinda, however, they were taken to a room of the Castle, where Dorothy washed her face and combed her hair, and the Lion shook the dust out of his mane, and the Scarecrow patted himself into his best shape, and the Woodman polished his tin and oiled his joints.

When they were all quite presentable they followed the soldier girl into a big room where the Witch Glinda sat upon a throne of rubies.

She was both beautiful and young to their eyes. Her hair was a rich red in color and fell in flowing ringlets over her shoulders. Her dress was pure white but her eyes were blue, and they looked kindly upon the little girl.

โ€œWhat can I do for you, my child?โ€ she asked.

Dorothy told the Witch all her story: how the cyclone had brought her to the Land of Oz, how she had found her companions, and of the wonderful adventures they had met with.

โ€œMy greatest wish now,โ€ she added, โ€œis to get back to Kansas, for Aunt Em will surely think something dreadful has happened to me, and that will make her put on mourning; and unless the crops are better this year than they were last, I am sure Uncle Henry cannot afford it.โ€

Glinda leaned forward and kissed the sweet, upturned face of the loving little girl.

โ€œBless your dear heart,โ€ she said, โ€œI am sure I can tell you of a way to get back to Kansas.โ€ Then she added, โ€œBut, if I do, you must give me the Golden Cap.โ€

โ€œWillingly!โ€ exclaimed Dorothy; โ€œindeed, it is of no use to me now, and when you have it you can command the Winged Monkeys three times.โ€

โ€œAnd I think I shall need their service just those three times,โ€ answered Glinda, smiling.

Dorothy then gave her the Golden Cap, and the Witch said to the Scarecrow, โ€œWhat will you do when Dorothy has left us?โ€

โ€œI will return to the Emerald City,โ€ he replied, โ€œfor Oz has made me its ruler and the people like me. The only thing that worries me is how to cross the hill of the Hammer-Heads.โ€

โ€œBy means of the Golden Cap I shall command the Winged Monkeys to carry you to the gates of the Emerald City,โ€ said Glinda, โ€œfor it would be a shame to deprive the people of so wonderful a ruler.โ€

โ€œAm I really wonderful?โ€ asked the Scarecrow.

โ€œYou are unusual,โ€ replied Glinda.

Turning to the Tin Woodman, she asked, โ€œWhat will become of you when Dorothy leaves this country?โ€

He leaned on his axe and thought a moment. Then he said, โ€œThe Winkies were very kind to me, and wanted me to rule over them after the Wicked Witch died. I am fond of the Winkies, and if I could get back again to the Country of the West, I should like nothing better than to rule over them forever.โ€

โ€œMy second command to the Winged Monkeys,โ€ said Glinda, โ€œwill

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