The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (short books for teens .TXT) π
Description
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is the classic American childrenβs 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 βAmericaβs greatest and best-loved homegrown fairy-tale.β 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 Β«The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (short books for teens .TXT) πΒ». Author - L. Frank Baum
βI am anxious to get back to my aunt and uncle, for I am sure they will worry about me. Can you help me find my way?β
The Munchkins and the Witch first looked at one another, and then at Dorothy, and then shook their heads.
βAt the East, not far from here,β said one, βthere is a great desert, and none could live to cross it.β
βIt is the same at the South,β said another, βfor I have been there and seen it. The South is the country of the Quadlings.β
βI am told,β said the third man, βthat it is the same at the West. And that country, where the Winkies live, is ruled by the Wicked Witch of the West, who would make you her slave if you passed her way.β
βThe North is my home,β said the old lady, βand at its edge is the same great desert that surrounds this Land of Oz. Iβm afraid, my dear, you will have to live with us.β
Dorothy began to sob at this, for she felt lonely among all these strange people. Her tears seemed to grieve the kindhearted Munchkins, for they immediately took out their handkerchiefs and began to weep also. As for the little old woman, she took off her cap and balanced the point on the end of her nose, while she counted βone, two, threeβ in a solemn voice. At once the cap changed to a slate, on which was written in big, white chalk marks:
βLet Dorothy go to the City of Emeraldsβ
The little old woman took the slate from her nose, and having read the words on it, asked, βIs your name Dorothy, my dear?β
βYes,β answered the child, looking up and drying her tears.
βThen you must go to the City of Emeralds. Perhaps Oz will help you.β
βWhere is this city?β asked Dorothy.
βIt is exactly in the center of the country, and is ruled by Oz, the Great Wizard I told you of.β
βIs he a good man?β inquired the girl anxiously.
βHe is a good wizard. Whether he is a man or not I cannot tell, for I have never seen him.β
βHow can I get there?β asked Dorothy.
βYou must walk. It is a long journey, through a country that is sometimes pleasant and sometimes dark and terrible. However, I will use all the magic arts I know of to keep you from harm.β
βWonβt you go with me?β pleaded the girl, who had begun to look upon the little old woman as her only friend.
βNo, I cannot do that,β she replied, βbut I will give you my kiss, and no one will dare injure a person who has been kissed by the Witch of the North.β
She came close to Dorothy and kissed her gently on the forehead. Where her lips touched the girl they left a round, shining mark, as Dorothy found out soon after.
βThe road to the City of Emeralds is paved with yellow brick,β said the Witch, βso you cannot miss it. When you get to Oz do not be afraid of him, but tell your story and ask him to help you. Goodbye, my dear.β
The three Munchkins bowed low to her and wished her a pleasant journey, after which they walked away through the trees. The Witch gave Dorothy a friendly little nod, whirled around on her left heel three times, and straightway disappeared, much to the surprise of little Toto, who barked after her loudly enough when she had gone, because he had been afraid even to growl while she stood by.
But Dorothy, knowing her to be a witch, had expected her to disappear in just that way, and was not surprised in the least.
III How Dorothy Saved the ScarecrowWhen Dorothy was left alone she began to feel hungry. So she went to the cupboard and cut herself some bread, which she spread with butter. She gave some to Toto, and taking a pail from the shelf she carried it down to the little brook and filled it with clear, sparkling water. Toto ran over to the trees and began to bark at the birds sitting there. Dorothy went to get him, and saw such delicious fruit hanging from the branches that she gathered some of it, finding it just what she wanted to help out her breakfast.
Then she went back to the house, and having helped herself and Toto to a good drink of the cool, clear water, she set about making ready for the journey to the City of Emeralds.
Dorothy had only one other dress, but that happened to be clean and was hanging on a peg beside her bed. It was gingham, with checks of white and blue; and although the blue was somewhat faded with many washings, it was still a pretty frock. The girl washed herself carefully, dressed herself in the clean gingham, and tied her pink sunbonnet on her head. She took a little basket and filled it with bread from the cupboard, laying a white cloth over the top. Then she looked down at her feet and noticed how old and worn her shoes were.
βThey surely will never do for a long journey, Toto,β she said. And Toto looked up into her face with his little black eyes and wagged his tail to show he knew what she meant.
At that moment Dorothy saw lying on the table the silver shoes that had belonged to the Witch of the East.
βI wonder if they will fit me,β she said to Toto. βThey would be just the thing to take a long walk in, for they could not wear out.β
She took off her old leather shoes and tried on the silver ones, which fitted her as well as if they had been made for her.
Finally she picked up her basket.
βCome along, Toto,β she said. βWe will go to the Emerald City and ask the Great Oz how to get back to Kansas again.β
She closed
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