The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (short books for teens .TXT) ๐
Description
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
โโโThey arenโt straight,โ answered the other.
โโโNever mind,โ said the farmer. โThey are ears just the same,โ which was true enough.
โโโNow Iโll make the eyes,โ said the farmer. So he painted my right eye, and as soon as it was finished I found myself looking at him and at everything around me with a great deal of curiosity, for this was my first glimpse of the world.
โโโThatโs a rather pretty eye,โ remarked the Munchkin who was watching the farmer. โBlue paint is just the color for eyes.โ
โโโI think Iโll make the other a little bigger,โ said the farmer. And when the second eye was done I could see much better than before. Then he made my nose and my mouth. But I did not speak, because at that time I didnโt know what a mouth was for. I had the fun of watching them make my body and my arms and legs; and when they fastened on my head, at last, I felt very proud, for I thought I was just as good a man as anyone.
โโโThis fellow will scare the crows fast enough,โ said the farmer. โHe looks just like a man.โ
โโโWhy, he is a man,โ said the other, and I quite agreed with him. The farmer carried me under his arm to the cornfield, and set me up on a tall stick, where you found me. He and his friend soon after walked away and left me alone.
โI did not like to be deserted this way. So I tried to walk after them. But my feet would not touch the ground, and I was forced to stay on that pole. It was a lonely life to lead, for I had nothing to think of, having been made such a little while before. Many crows and other birds flew into the cornfield, but as soon as they saw me they flew away again, thinking I was a Munchkin; and this pleased me and made me feel that I was quite an important person. By and by an old crow flew near me, and after looking at me carefully he perched upon my shoulder and said:
โโโI wonder if that farmer thought to fool me in this clumsy manner. Any crow of sense could see that you are only stuffed with straw.โ Then he hopped down at my feet and ate all the corn he wanted. The other birds, seeing he was not harmed by me, came to eat the corn too, so in a short time there was a great flock of them about me.
โI felt sad at this, for it showed I was not such a good Scarecrow after all; but the old crow comforted me, saying, โIf you only had brains in your head you would be as good a man as any of them, and a better man than some of them. Brains are the only things worth having in this world, no matter whether one is a crow or a man.โ
โAfter the crows had gone I thought this over, and decided I would try hard to get some brains. By good luck you came along and pulled me off the stake, and from what you say I am sure the Great Oz will give me brains as soon as we get to the Emerald City.โ
โI hope so,โ said Dorothy earnestly, โsince you seem anxious to have them.โ
โOh, yes; I am anxious,โ returned the Scarecrow. โIt is such an uncomfortable feeling to know one is a fool.โ
โWell,โ said the girl, โlet us go.โ And she handed the basket to the Scarecrow.
There were no fences at all by the roadside now, and the land was rough and untilled. Toward evening they came to a great forest, where the trees grew so big and close together that their branches met over the road of yellow brick. It was almost dark under the trees, for the branches shut out the daylight; but the travelers did not stop, and went on into the forest.
โIf this road goes in, it must come out,โ said the Scarecrow, โand as the Emerald City is at the other end of the road, we must go wherever it leads us.โ
โAnyone would know that,โ said Dorothy.
โCertainly; that is why I know it,โ returned the Scarecrow. โIf it required brains to figure it out, I never should have said it.โ
After an hour or so the light faded away, and they found themselves stumbling along in the darkness. Dorothy could not see at all, but Toto could, for some dogs see very well in the dark; and the Scarecrow declared he could see as well as by day. So she took hold of his arm and managed to get along fairly well.
โIf you see any house, or any place where we can pass the night,โ she said, โyou must tell me; for it is very uncomfortable walking in the dark.โ
Soon after the Scarecrow stopped.
โI see a little cottage at the right of us,โ he said, โbuilt of logs and branches. Shall we go there?โ
โYes, indeed,โ answered the child. โI am all tired out.โ
So the Scarecrow led her through the trees until they reached the cottage, and Dorothy entered and found a bed of dried leaves in one corner. She lay down at once, and with Toto beside her soon fell into a sound sleep. The Scarecrow, who was never tired, stood up in another corner and waited patiently until morning came.
V The Rescue of the Tin WoodmanWhen Dorothy awoke the sun was shining through the trees and Toto had long been out chasing birds around him and squirrels. She sat up and looked around her. There was the Scarecrow, still standing patiently in his corner, waiting for her.
โWe must go and search for water,โ she said
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