Oz 04: Dorthy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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Dorothy sprang forward and caught the fluffy fowl in her arms, uttering at_the same time a glad cry .

"Oh, Billina ! " she said; " how fat and sleek you've grown ."

" why shouldn't I ? " asked the hen, in a sharp, clear voice ."I live on_the fat of_the land--don't I, Ozma ? "

" you_have everything you wish for," said the princess .

around Billina's neck was a string of beautiful pearls, and on her legs were bracelets of emeralds . she nestled herself comfortably in Dorothy's lap until the kitten gave a snarl of jealous anger and leaped up with a sharp claw fiercely bared to strike Billina a blow . but the little girl gave the angry kitten such a severe cuff that_it jumped down again without daring to scratch .

" how horrid of you, eureka ! " cried Dorothy ." is that_the way to treat my friends ? "

" you_have queer friends, seems to_me," replied the kitten, in a surly tone .

"Seems to_me the same way," said Billina, scornfully, " if_that beastly cat is one_of_them ."

" look here ! " said Dorothy, sternly ."I won't have any quarrelling in_the land of Oz, I_can tell you ! everybody lives in peace here, and loves everybody else; and unless you two, Billina and eureka, make up and be friends, I'll take my magic belt and wish you both home again, IMMEJITLY . so, there ! "

they were both much frightened at_the threat, and promised meekly to_be good . but it_was never noticed that_they became very warm friends, for all of_that .

and now the tin woodman arrived, his body most beautifully nickle- plated, so_that it shone splendidly in_the brilliant light of_the room . the tin woodman loved Dorothy most tenderly, and welcomed with joy the return of_the little old wizard .

" sir," said he to_the latter, "I never can thank_you enough for_the excellent heart you once gave_me . it has_made me many friends, I assure you, and it beats as kindly and lovingly today as it every did ."

"I'm glad_to_hear that," said the wizard ." i_was afraid it would get moldy in_that tin body of yours ."

" not at all," returned nick chopper ." it keeps finely, being preserved in my air- tight chest ."

Zeb was a little shy when first introduced to_these queer people; but they were so friendly and sincere that he soon grew to admire them very_much, even finding some good qualities in_the yellow hen . but he became nervous again when_the next visitor was announced .

" this," said princess Ozma, " is my friend Mr H .M .Woggle- bug, T .E ., who assisted me one_time when i_was in great distress, and_is now the dean of_the royal college of athletic science ."

"Ah," said the wizard; "I'm pleased to meet so distinguished a personage ."

"H .M .," said the Woggle- bug, pompously, "means highly Magnified; and T .E .means thoroughly educated . I_am, in reality, a very big bug, and doubtless the most intelligent being in all this broad domain ."

" how well you disguise it," said the wizard ." but I don't doubt your word in_the least ."

" nobody doubts it, sir," replied the Woggle- bug, and drawing a book from its pocket the strange insect turned its back on_the company and sat down in a corner to read .

nobody minded this rudeness, which might_have seemed more impolite in one less thoroughly educated; so they straightway forgot him and joined in a merry conversation that kept them well amused until bed- time arrived .

16 .Jim, the cab- horse

Jim the cab- horse found himself in possession of a large room with a green marble floor and carved marble wainscoting, which_was so stately in its appearance that_it would_have awed anyone else .Jim accepted it as amere detail, and at his command the attendants gave his coat a good rubbing, combed his mane and tail, and washed his hoofs and fetlocks . then they told him dinner would_be served directly and he replied that they_could_not serve it too quickly to suit his convenience . first they brought him asteaming bowl of soup, which the horse eyed in dismay .

" take that stuff away ! " he commanded ." do_you take me for a salamander ? "

they obeyed at once, and next served a fine large turbot on a silver platter, with drawn gravy poured over it .

" fish ! " cried Jim, with a sniff ." do_you take me for atom-cat ? away with it ! "

the servants were a little discouraged, but soon they brought in a great tray containing two dozen nicely roasted quail on toast .

" well, well ! " said the horse, now thoroughly provoked ." do_you take me for a weasel ? how stupid and ignorant you_are, in_the land of Oz, and what dreadful things you feed upon ! is_there nothing that_is decent to eat in_this palace ? "

the trembling servants sent for_the royal steward, who came in haste and said:

" what would your highness like for dinner ? "

" highness ! " repeated Jim, who was unused to such titles .

" you_are at_least six feet high, and_that is higher than any_other animal in_this country," said the steward .

" well, my highness would like some oats," declared the horse .

"Oats ? we_have no whole oats," the steward replied, with much deference ." but there_is any quantity of oatmeal, which we often cook for breakfast . oatmeal is a breakfast dish," added the steward, humbly .

"I'll make it a dinner dish," said Jim ." fetch it on, but don't cook it, as_you value your life ."

you_see, the respect shown the worn- out old cab- horse made him a little arrogant, and he forgot he_was a guest, never having been treated otherwise than as a servant since_the day he_was born, until his arrival in_the land of Oz . but the royal attendants did_not heed the animal's ill temper . they soon mixed a tub of oatmeal with a little water, and Jim ate it with much relish .

then the servants heaped alot of rugs upon_the floor and_the old horse slept on_the softest bed he had ever known in_his life .

in_the morning, as_soon_as it_was daylight, he resolved to_take a walk and try to_find some grass for breakfast; so he ambled calmly through_the handsome arch of_the doorway, turned the corner of_the palace, wherein all seemed asleep, and came face_to_face with_the sawhorse .

Jim stopped abruptly, being startled and amazed . the sawhorse stopped at_the same time and stared at_the other with its queer protruding eyes, which were mere knots in_the log that formed its body . the legs of_the sawhorse were four sticks driving into holes bored in_the log; its tail was a small branch that had_been left by accident and its mouth a place chopped in one end of_the body which projected a little and served as a head . the ends of_the wooden legs were shod with plates of solid gold, and_the saddle of_the princess Ozma, which_was of red leather set with sparkling diamonds, was strapped to_the clumsy body .

Jim's eyes stuck out as_much as_those of_the sawhorse, and he stared at_the creature with_his ears erect and_his long head drawn back until it rested against his arched neck .

in_this comical position the two horses circled slowly around each_other for a while, each being unable to realize what the singular thing might_be which it now beheld for_the first time . then Jim exclaimed:

" for goodness sake, what sort of a being are_you ? "

"I'm a sawhorse," replied the other .

"Oh; I believe I've heard of you," said the cab- horse; " but you_are unlike anything that I expected to_see ."

" I_do_not doubt it," the sawhorse observed, with a tone of pride ." I_am considered quite unusual ."

" you_are, indeed . but arickety wooden thing like you has no right to_be alive ."

"I couldn't help it," returned the other, rather crestfallen ."Ozma sprinkled me with a magic powder, and I just had to live . I_know I'm not much account; but I'm the only horse in all the land of Oz, so they treat me with great respect ."

" you, a horse ! "

"Oh, not a real one, of_course . there_are no real horses here at all . but I'm a splendid imitation of one ."

Jim gave an indignant neigh .

" look at me ! " he cried ." behold a real horse ! "

the wooden animal gave a start, and then examined the other intently .

" is_it possible that you_are a real horse ? " he murmured .

" not_only possible, but true," replied Jim, who was gratified by_the impression he had created ." it_is proved by my fine points . for example, look at_the long hairs on my tail, with_which I_can whisk away the flies ."

" the flies never trouble me," said the saw- horse .

" and notice my great strong teeth, with_which I nibble the grass ."

" it_is_not necessary for_me to eat," observed the sawhorse .

" also examine my broad chest, which enables me to draw deep, full breaths," said Jim, proudly .

" I_have no need to breathe," returned the other .

" no; you miss many pleasures," remarked the cab- horse, pityingly ." you_do_not know the relief of brushing away a fly that has bitten you, nor the delight of eating delicious food, nor the satisfaction of drawing a long breath of fresh, pure air . you_may_be an imitation of a horse, but you're a mighty poor one ."

"Oh, I_cannot hope ever to_be like you," sighed the sawhorse ." but I_am_glad to meet a last a real horse . you_are certainly the most beautiful creature I ever beheld ."

this praise won Jim completely . to_be called beautiful was a novelty in_his experience . said he:

" your chief fault, my friend, is in being made of wood, and_that I suppose you_cannot help . real horses, like myself, are made of flesh and blood and bones ."

" I_can_see the bones all right," replied the sawhorse, " and_they are admirable and distinct . also I_can_see the flesh . but the blood, I suppose is tucked away inside ."

" exactly," said Jim .

" what good is_it ? " asked the sawhorse .

Jim did_not know, but he_would_not tell the sawhorse that .

" if anything cuts me," he replied, " the blood runs out to show where I_am cut . you, poor thing ! cannot even bleed when_you_are hurt ."

" but I_am never hurt," said the sawhorse ." once in a while I get broken up some, but I_am easily repaired and put in good order again . and I never feel a break or a splinter in_the least ."

Jim was almost tempted to envy the wooden horse for being unable to_feel pain; but the creature was so absurdly unnatural that he decided he_would_not change places with it under any circumstances .

" how did you happen to_be shod with gold ? " he asked .

" princess Ozma did that," was_the reply; " and it saves my legs from wearing out . we've had a good_many adventures together, Ozma and I, and she likes me ."

the cab- horse was about to reply when suddenly he_gave a start and aneigh of terror and stood trembling like a leaf . for around the corner had come two enormous savage beasts, treading so lightly that_they were upon him before he_was aware of_their presence .Jim was in_the act of plunging down the path to escape when_the sawhorse cried out:

" stop, my brother ! stop, real horse ! these are friends, and will do_you no harm ."

Jim hesitated, eyeing the beasts fearfully . one was an enormous lion with clear, intelligent eyes, atawney mane bushy and well kept, and a body like yellow plush . the other was a great tiger with purple stripes around his lithe body, powerful limbs, and eyes that showed through_the half closed lids like coals of fire . the huge forms of_these monarchs of_the forest and jungle were enough to strike terror to_the stoutest heart, and it_is no wonder Jim was afraid to_face them .

but the sawhorse introduced the stranger in a calm tone, saying:

" this, noble horse, is my friend the cowardly lion, who is_the valiant king of_the forest, but at_the same time a faithful vassal of princess Ozma . and this_is_the hungry tiger, the terror of_the jungle, who longs to devour fat babies but is prevented by his conscience from doing_so . these royal beasts are both warm friends of little Dorothy and_have come to_the emerald city this_morning to welcome her to our fairyland ."

Hearing these words Jim resolved to conquer his alarm . he bowed his head with as_much dignity as he_could muster toward the savage looking beasts, who in return nodded in a friendly way .

" is_not the real horse a beautiful animal ? " asked the sawhorse admiringly .

" that_is doubtless a matter of taste," returned the lion ." in_the forest he_would_be thought ungainly, because his face is stretched out and_his neck is uselessly long . his joints, I_notice, are swollen and overgrown, and he lacks flesh and_is old in years ."

" and dreadfully tough," added the hungry tiger, in a sad voice ." my conscience would never permit me to eat so tough a morsel as_the real horse ."

"I'm glad of_that," said Jim; " for I, also, have a conscience, and it tells me not to crush in your skull with a blow of_my powerful hoof ."

if he thought to

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