Oz 18: Grandpa in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17]
head indignantly ." she'll be a splendid match for_you, my son, and peer Haps, from all reports, is one of~ the merriest monarchs in Oz . why, I dote on him already ! "

" can't all this wait till we_find the princess ? " protested Percy Vere nervously ." no use rushing matters, you_know ." all this talk of marrying rather upset him .Tatters looked gratefully at_the forgetful poet and decided to forgive him for_his rude verse .

" of_course it can wait," agreed the prince heartily ." the first thing to_do is to rescue the princess ."

" no, the first thing to_do, is to_tell us who you_are," laughed Dorothy, who_could restrain her curiosity no longer ." why, we don't even know your names or how you happened to_be in_this part of Oz ."

" we followed the directions on_the bottle," explained bill importantly ." we fell, swum, exploded, sailed and flew ! "

" you tell them," begged Tatters, looking appealingly at_the old soldier, for he could_see that bill was going to mix things dreadfully .

" yes, you tell us," commanded Fumbo . he had_not yet heard the story of_their journey from Ragbad himself, and was even more curious about_it than Dorothy . so Grampa took the center of_the circle . now, next to fighting, the old soldier loved to_talk and, next to fighting, talking was_the best thing he_did . his recital of_the experiences of_his little army during_the_past three days was so thrilling that Dorothy and Percy simply held their breath and Toto's ears waved with excitement . Dorothy was particularly interested in bill and_the strange manner in_which he had_been shocked to life . being from_the United_States herself, it seemed real homelike to meet a fellow countryman, even if he_was only a weather cock . as for Percy Vere- who had lived all his life on maybe mountain- nothing could exceed his astonishment as Grampa proceeded from one adventure to_the next .

" do_you mind if I close my eyes," Percy muttered weakly, as Grampa reached the point in_his story where they had discovered Urtha growing in_the wizard's garden ." do_you mind if I close my eyes ? I_can believe anything with my eyes shut ."

" not if_you close your mouth also," snapped Grampa and went right on with_his story, never even stopping for breath until he had reached their last tumble from_the rainbow .

" professor Wogglebug will_have to write a whole new history," breathed Dorothy, as Grampa settled back in_his place, " and Ozma will never allow the bandit to stay in_the blue forest nor Gorba to practice magic in_his hidden garden .Oh, my ! I_do believe you_can help_us find the princess after all . you_are so brave and interesting ." Dorothy smiled at Grampa and Tatters and_the forgetful poet, opening his eyes, stared dreamily at_the little flower fairy .

" if I had my arms, I'd embrace you all," exclaimed Fumbo feelingly, " and you_shall_have hugs all around as_soon_as I get back to my body . you're a credit to_the country, and bill here shall_have a perch on_the highest tower in Ragbad and little miss Posies-"

" but the princess ! " exclaimed bill anxiously, " and_the fortune ! we_can't go back without them ! "

" too late to hunt for_them to- day," chuckled Grampa and indeed, while they had_been talking, the sun had dropped down behind the daisy splashed hill, leaving the world hathed in a pleasant dusk .

" we're all tired, so we'll have supper and make camp here," decided Grampa sensibly ." then tomorrow we'll start after_that prophet with gun, musket, sword and bootleather ! "

" that's the talk ! " cried Percy Vere, jumping up_to help Tatters gather wood for a fire . with_such good company, the last of_the bear steaks from Isa Poso and_the berries gathered by little Urtha tasted better than a feast, and nothing could_have exceeded the jollity of_that evening ' round Grampa's camp fire .

between_the forgetful poet's verse and_the old soldier's jokes, they were simply convulsed and finally, when_they had talked over their adventures to heart's content, Dorothy, Tatters, the forgetful poet and Urtha settled down to a quiet game of scrum . soon the only sound to_be heard was_the click of_the checkers on Grampa's game leg and_the loud snores of Fumbo's head, which hung from a branch of_the tulip tree in_the pink knitting bag of Maribella, the little sky shepherdess .

chapter 18

the mischievous play Fellows

bright and early next morning Grampa lined up his little army and, after a short council, they determined to_continue their march to_the emerald city and learn from Ozma's magic picture just where Abrog and_the lost princess of perhaps city were to_be found . although breakfast had_been a light affair of water and berries, they were all in excellent spirits and, with Grampa's drum beating out a lively march, they stepped merrily down the shady Winkie Lane .Grampa and_the forgetful poet led off, Dorothy and_the prince of Ragbad followed, the prince carrying his father's head and_his red umbrella .Urtha danced in and out to suit her own sweet fancy, bill flew ahead and Toto trotted contentedly behind .

" here I go by_the name of bill ! " crowed the weather cock exultantly ." by_the name of B- hill ! "

Grampa winked at Percy Vere and Percy Vere winked back ."Isn't he ridiculish ? " whis-pered the forgetful poet merrily ." but then, we're all ridiculish in spots ." his eyes rested a moment on Grampa's game leg ." yes," continued Percy Vere, with a droll nod, " everything, when_you come to_think of it, is simply sinoobious . why do we call ourselves an army, pray, when we_might just as_well call ourselves afooty ? have we not as_many feet as arms ? why do we say good- day' on a rainy morning and-"

" one_thing at_a_time, one_thing at_a_time ! " objected the old soldier testily ."Aren't you afraid you'll strain your brain, young man ? "

" i_think and think both late and early, for thinking makes the brain grow curly ! "

chuckled the irrepressible poet, at which Grampa beat such a tattoo upon his drum that_the next verses were quite drowned out . but as_soon_as Grampa stopped drumming, Percy burst out again:

"I met aspick and Spaniard once, he_was so spick and span, he even had his toes curled up believe me, if_you, if_you- ? "

" I_can believe anything Mr Vere," said Grampa grimly .

" then try this ! " roared the forgetful poet, waving his arms .

" if fifty boats and fifty crews were gathered in a group, why wouldn't it be proper, sir, to_call the crews a croup ? admit, old dear, that_this_is clear- as clear, as clear as-

" soup ! " groaned Grampa in_spite of himself ." vegetable soup," he added bitterly and, reaching in_his pocket, jerked out the wizard's medicine .

" what_are you doing ? " asked Percy curiously, as he ran his finger hurriedly down the green label .

" looking for a cure," said the old sailor, raising his eyebrows significantly . but there_was no cure for forgetful poetry on_the green label, so with a sigh Grampa returned the bottle to_his pocket ." what can't be cured must_be endured," said the old soldier glumly and, pursing up his lips, he began to whistle a sad tune . Dorothy and Tatters exchanged amused glances and Urtha, who had_been skipping beside Percy Vere, touched him on_the arm .

" is_the princess of perhaps city pretty ? " asked the little flower fairy timidly . she_could_not bear to_think of Tatters marrying an ugly princess .

" i_should guess, mercy yes ! i_should say, April, April- ? "

" trouble ahead ! trouble ahead ! " crowed bill, before anyone could finish the verse . just then a turn in_the lane brought them plump into a huge fenced- in park . the fence was much too high to climb and stretched as far on either side as they_could see .

"I never saw this place before," said Dorothy, peering curiously between_the bars, " but maybe if_we knock on_the gate someone will let_us in . then we_can march through and out the other side ."

" here's the gate," called Percy Vere, who had run a little ways to_the right, " and here's a sign ."

" play ! " announced the sign over the gate ." all work on_these grounds forbidden ." just below was a smaller sign-" no trespassing ! "

" well, we don't want to trespass, we_want to jes' pass through," chortled the forgetful poet and, before anyone could stop him, he had hammered hard upon_the gates . immediately loud roars of laughter sounded all through_the park, footsteps scurried over the lawns and_the next instant the gayest company that Dorothy ever had seen came crowding forward-Pierretttes and Pierrots, hundreds of_them, the girls in full skirted frocks with tall saucy caps, the men in pantaloon suits and frills . while they smiled and waved through_the bars, the king of play, who looked, as Dorothy told Ozma afterwards, exactly like a court jester- the king himself swung open the gates and, with a low bow, invited them to enter . so, of_course they_did, and before Grampa could give the order to break ranks or fall out, or even say Hello, the play Fellows had fallen upon his army and simply borne them away . only bill escaped and nervously he hovered over his friends, determining, if necessary, to drop on_the heads of_this exuberant company .

" wait ! stop ! halt ! " puffed the old soldier, who was being dragged toward a merry- go- round by five of_the mischievous Pierrettes . Dorothy and Percy Vere were being rushed as unceremoniously to_the swings, while a dozen of_the Pierrots were begging Urtha for a dance .Tatters, holding his father's head high above his own, was hustled off to a high wooden slide and to nothing that any of_them said would the play Fellows pay the slightest attention . indeed, there_was so_much noise and confusion, they_could_not have heard if_they had tried .Bands played and fountains played and_the play Fellows played, and_the creak of_the swings and_the squeak of_the merry- go-rounds and_the roars of_the delighted Pierrettes and Pierrots, as_they hustled their visitors from one amusement to another, were enough to deafen a gate post .Toto, after one shocked glance at_the boisterous company, scampered off and hid himself in a button bush, where he watched anxiously for a chance to escape . poor bill, trying to_keep all of_the company in view at once, flew in dizzying circles over the park, almost cross- eyed from_the strain .

after his sixteenth merry- go- round, Grampa gave up trying to explain and, staggering over to a soap bubble fountain, fell in . but the play Fellows quickly pulled him out and insisted upon his joining in a game of tag . the only bright spot in_the whole dreadful experience was_the finding of a bubble pipe, which Grampa hastily picked from its bush and thrust into his pocket .

Percy and Dorothy fared no better ." this_is worse than washing ! " groaned the forgetful poet, as a wild company of Pierrettes dragged them ' round and ' round the mulberry bush .

" play ! play ! play ! " shouted king Capers, dashing from group to group and banging the company right and left with_his belled and beribboned scepter ." play ! play ! play ! "

"I never knew fun was such hard work," panted Tatters to bill, who was circling immediately above his head . the poor prince was black and blue all over from sliding down the slides, but every time he objected the play Fellows would pull him to_the top and scream with merriment as he_came sliding down again . there were too many heads to_fall on, and bill- powerless to help screamed his rage and indignation at_the mannerless crowd . there_was much to_be seen and marvelled at in_the play grounds, but as_the company agreed later, playing when_you want to play and being forced to play are two quite different things, so that_the balloon vines, top trees and checker bushes went almost unnoticed . indeed all that any of_them could think of was getting away .

Urtha was_the first to_make her escape . the little flower fairy had_been treated . so gently and considerately by Grampa and Tatters, since her coming to life in_the enchanted garden, that she did_not know what to_make of_the rude manners of_the play Fellows . when_they began snatching flowers from her hair and pulling her roughly from place to_place, her violet eyes widened with terror and dismay .Watching her opportunity, she sprang away from_them and sped like the wind itself across the gardens . now the runner does_not exist who_can outdistance a fairy, so it_was not long before Urtha left her tormentors behind . and better still, the little flower fairy had run directly into a wicket gate leading out_of_the play grounds .Opening the gate she slipped through and then, because she was still frightened, she kept running and running till she was as lost as one raindrop in a thunder shower .

there_is no telling how long the others would_have_been forced to endure the teasing of_the play Fellows, if a gong had_not sounded from a distant part of_the grounds . immediately the whole company trooped off and, without waiting to_find out the meaning of_the bell, Grampa's army rushed to_the nearest exits .

"I'm done for ! " gasped Percy Vere, rolling under a tree ." let me curl up like a pretzel and bake-I mean die ! " Toto, who had followed close upon_the heels of_the harassed company, curled up beside him .

" but where's Urtha ? " cried Tatters, staring around wildly ." where's Grampa ? "

" she ran away long_ago," crowed bill, flying over the fence ." that way ! " he pointed his claw toward the east .

"Oh, dear ! Oh, dear, where is_the old soldier ? " wailed Dorothy, jumping up and down with impatience ." we ought to_get away from here quick ."

"I'll find him," volunteered bill ." wait here ." back went the devoted weather cock and, after flying over the entire play grounds, he_found Grampa asleep under a checker bush .

" wake up ! " cried bill, jumping up and down on_his chest ." the coast is clear . forward march, by_the name of Grampa ! "

the old soldier stirred uneasily, rubbed his eyes and then sprang up but immediately tumbled down again, for while he slept, the wretched play Fellows had run off with_his game leg .

" what in_time ? " blustered the

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17]