Oz 02: The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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into_the wall . the guardian pulled a bell- cord, and presently a very tall soldier -- clothed in a green uniform -- entered from_the opposite door . this soldier carried a long green gun over his shoulder and had lovely green whiskers that fell quite to_his knees . the guardian at once addressed him, saying:

" here_is a strange gentleman who doesn't know why he has_come to_the emerald city, or what he_wants . tell me, what shall we_do with_him ? "

the soldier with_the green Whiskers looked at jack with much care and curiosity . finally he shook his head so positively that little waves rippled down his whiskers, and then he_said:

" I_must take him to_his majesty, the Scarecrow ."

but what_will his majesty, the Scarecrow, do with_him ? " asked the guardian of_the Gates .

" that_is his majesty's business," returned the soldier ." I_have troubles enough of_my own . all outside troubles must_be turned over to_his majesty . so put the spectacles on_this fellow, and I'll take him to_the royal palace ."

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so the guardian opened a big box of spectacles and tried to fit a pair to jack's great round eyes .

"I haven't a pair in stock that_will really cover those eyes up," said the little man, with a sigh; " and your head is so big that I_shall_be obliged to tie the spectacles on ."

" but why need I wear spectacles ? " asked jack .

" it's the fashion here," said the soldier, " and they_will keep you from being blinded by_the glitter and glare of_the gorgeous emerald city ."

"Oh ! " exclaimed jack ." tie them on, by all means .I don't wish to_be blinded ."

" nor I ! " broke in_the saw- horse; so a pair of green spectacles was quickly fastened over the bulging knots that served it for eyes .

then the soldier with_the green Whiskers led them through_the inner gate and_they at once found themselves in_the main street of_the magnificent emerald city .

Sparkling green gems ornamented the fronts of_the beautiful houses and_the towers and turrets were all faced with emeralds . even the green marble pavement glittered with precious stones, and it_was indeed a grand and marvelous sight to one who beheld it for_the first time .

however, the Pumpkinhead and_the saw- horse,

69 knowing nothing of wealth and beauty, paid little attention to_the wonderful sights they saw through their green spectacles . they calmly followed after_the green soldier and scarcely noticed the crowds of green people who stared at them in surprise . when a green dog ran out and barked at them the saw- horse promptly kicked at it with its wooden leg and sent the little animal howling into one_of_the houses; but nothing more serious than this happened to interrupt their progress to_the royal palace .

the Pumpkinhead wanted to ride up the green marble steps and straight into_the Scarecrow's presence; but the soldier would_not permit that . so jack dismounted, with much difficulty, and a servant led the saw- horse around to_the rear while the soldier with_the green Whiskers escorted the Pumpkinhead into_the palace, by_the front entrance .

the stranger was left in ahandsomely furnished waiting room while the soldier went to announce him . it so happened that at_this hour his majesty was at leisure and greatly bored for want of something to_do, so he ordered his visitor to_be shown at once into his throne room .

jack felt no fear or embarrassment at meeting the ruler of_this magnificent city, for he_was entirely ignorant of all worldly customs . but when he en-

70 tered the room and saw for_the first time his majesty the Scarecrow seated upon his glittering throne, he stopped short in amazement .

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71 his majesty the Scarecrow

I suppose every reader of_this book knows what ascarecrow is; but jack Pumpkinhead, never having seen such a creation, was more surprised at meeting the remarkable king of_the emerald city than by any_other one experience of_his brief life .

his majesty the Scarecrow was dressed in a suit of faded blue clothes, and_his head was merely a small sack stuffed with straw, upon_which eyes, ears, a nose and a mouth had_been rudely painted to represent a face . the clothes were also stuffed with straw, and_that so unevenly or carelessly that his majesty's legs and arms seemed more bumpy than was necessary . upon his hands were gloves with long fingers, and these were padded with cotton .Wisps of straw stuck out from_the monarch's

72 coat and also from_his neck and boot-tops . upon his head he wore a heavy golden crown set thick with sparkling jewels, and_the weight of_this crown caused his brow to sag in wrinkles, giving a thoughtful expression to_the painted face . indeed, the crown alone betokened majesty; in all else the, Scarecrow king was but a simple scarecrow -- flimsy, awkward, and unsubstantial .

but if_the strange appearance of_his majesty the Scarecrow seemed startling to jack, no less wonderful was_the form of_the Pumpkinhead to_the Scarecrow . the purple trousers and pink waistcoat and red shirt hung loosely over the wooden joints tip had manufactured, and_the carved face on_the pumpkin grinned perpetually, as_if its wearer considered life the jolliest thing imaginable .

at first, indeed, his majesty thought his queer visitor was laughing at him, and was inclined to resent such a liberty; but it_was not without reason that_the Scarecrow had attained the reputation of being the wisest personage in_the land of Oz . he_made a more careful examination of_his visitor, and soon discovered that jack's features were carved into a smile and_that he_could_not look grave if he_wished to .

the king was_the first to_speak . after regarding

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jack for some minutes he_said, in a tone of wonder:

" where on earth did you come from, and how do_you happen to_be alive ? "

"I beg your majesty's pardon," returned the Pumpkinhead; " but I_do_not understand you ."

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" what don't you understand ? " asked the Scarecrow .

" why, I don't understand your language . you_see, I_came from_the country of_the Gillikins, so_that I_am a foreigner ."

"Ah, to_be_sure ! " exclaimed the Scarecrow ."I myself speak the language of_the Munchkins, which_is also the language of_the emerald city . but you, I suppose, speak the language of_the Pumpkinheads ? "

" exactly so, your majesty" replied the other, bowing; " so it_will_be impossible for_us to understand one another ."

" that_is unfortunate, certainly," said the Scarecrow, thoughtfully ." we_must_have an interpreter ."

" what_is an interpreter ? " asked jack .

"A person who understands both my language and your own . when I_say anything, the interpreter can tell you what I mean; and when_you say anything the interpreter can tell me what you mean . for_the interpreter can speak both languages as_well as understand them ."

" that_is certainly clever," said jack, greatly pleased at finding so simple a way out_of_the difficulty .

so the Scarecrow commanded the soldier with_the green Whiskers to search among his people

75 until he_found one who understood the language of_the Gillikins as_well as_the language of_the emerald city, and to bring that person to him at once .

when_the soldier had departed the Scarecrow said:

" won't you take a chair while we_are waiting ? "

" your majesty forgets that I_cannot understand you," replied the Pumpkinhead ." if_you_wish me to sit down you_must make a sign for_me to_do_so ." the Scarecrow came down from_his throne and rolled an armchair to a position behind the Pumpkinhead . then he_gave jack a sudden push that sent him sprawling upon_the cushions in so awkward a fashion that he doubled up like a jackknife, and had hard work to untangle himself .

" did you understand that sign ? " asked his majesty, politely .

" perfectly," declared jack, reaching up his arms to_turn his head to_the front, the pumpkin having twisted around upon_the stick that supported it .

" you seem hastily made," remarked the Scarecrow, watching jack's efforts to straighten himself .

" not more so than your majesty," was_the frank reply .

" there_is this difference between_us," said the Scarecrow, " that whereas i_will bend, but not break, you_will break, but not bend ."

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" he_gave jack a sudden push"

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at_this moment the soldier returned leading a young girl by_the hand . she seemed very sweet and modest, having a pretty face and beautiful green eyes and hair .a dainty green silk skirt reached to her knees, showing silk stockings embroidered with pea-pods, and green satin slippers with bunches of lettuce for decorations instead of bows or buckles . upon her silken waist clover leaves were embroidered, and she wore a jaunty little jacket trimmed with sparkling emeralds of a uniform size .

" why, it's little Jellia Jamb ! " exclaimed the Scarecrow, as_the green maiden bowed her pretty head before him ." do_you understand the language of_the Gillikins, my dear ? "

" yes, your majesty, she answered, " for i_was born in_the north country ."

" then you shall be our interpreter," said the Scarecrow, " and explain to_this Pumpkinhead all that I_say, and also explain to_me all that he_says . is_this arrangement satisfactory ? " he asked, turning toward his guest .

" very satisfactory indeed," was_the reply .

" then ask him, to_begin with," resumed the Scarecrow, turning to Jellia, " what brought him to_the emerald city"

but instead of_this the girl, who had_been staring at jack, said to him:

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" you_are certainly a wonderful creature . who_made you ? "

"A boy named tip," answered jack .

" what does he say ? " inquired the Scarecrow ." my ears must_have deceived me . what did he say ? "

" he_says that your majesty's brains seem to_have come loose," replied the girl, demurely .

the Scarecrow moved uneasily upon his throne, and felt of_his head with_his left_hand .

" what a fine thing it_is to understand two different languages," he_said, with a perplexed sigh ." ask him, my dear, if he has any objection to being put in jail for insulting the ruler of_the emerald city ."

"I didn't insult you ! " protested jack, indignantly .

"Tut -- tut ! " cautioned the Scarecrow " wait, until Jellia translates my speech . what have we got an interpreter for, if_you break out in_this rash way ? "

" all right, I'll wait," replied the Pumpkinhead, in a surly tone -- although his face smiled as genially as ever ." translate the speech, young woman ."

" his majesty inquires if_you_are hungry, said Jellia .

"Oh, not at all ! " answered jack, more pleasantly, " for_it is impossible for_me to eat ."

" it's the same way with me," remarked the Scarecrow ." what did he say, Jellia, my dear ? "

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" he asked if_you were aware that one of your eyes is painted larger than_the other," said the girl, mischievously .

"Don't you believe her, your majesty, cried jack .

"Oh, I don't," answered the Scarecrow, calmly . then, casting a sharp look at_the girl, he asked:

" are_you quite certain you understand the languages of both the Gillikins and_the Munchkins ? "

" quite certain, your majesty," said Jellia Jamb, trying hard not to laugh in_the face of royalty .

" then how is_it that I seem to understand them myself ? " inquired the Scarecrow .

" because they_are one and_the same ! " declared the girl, now laughing merrily ." does_not your majesty know that in all the land of Oz but one language is spoken ? "

" is_it indeed so ? " cried the Scarecrow, much relieved to hear this; " then I_might easily have_been my own interpreter ! "

" it_was all my fault, your majesty," said jack, looking rather foolish," i_thought we_must surely speak different languages, since we came from different countries ."

" this should_be awarning to_you never to_think," returned the Scarecrow, severely ." for

80 unless one can think wisely it_is better to remain a dummy -- which you most certainly are ."

" I_am ! -- I surely am ! " agreed the Pumpkinhead .

" it seems to_me," continued the Scarecrow, more mildly, " that your manufacturer spoiled some good pies to create an indifferent man ."

"I assure your majesty that I_did_not ask to_be created," answered jack .

"Ah ! it was_the same in my case," said the king, pleasantly . and so, as_we differ from all ordinary people, let_us become friends ."

" with all my heart ! " exclaimed jack .

" what ! have_you a heart ? " asked the Scarecrow, surprised .

" no; that was only imaginative -- I_might say, a figure of speech," said the other .

" well, your most prominent figure seems_to_be a figure of wood; so I_must beg you to restrain an imagination which, having no brains, you_have no right to exercise," suggested the Scarecrow, warningly .

" to_be_sure ! " said jack, without in_the least comprehending .

his majesty then dismissed Jellia Jamb and_the soldier with_the green Whiskers, and when_they were gone he_took his new friend by_the arm and led him into_the courtyard to play a game of quoits .

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83 Gen .Jinjur's army of revolt

tip was so anxious to rejoin his man jack and_the saw- horse that he walked a full half the distance to_the emerald city without stopping to rest . then he discovered that he_was hungry and_the crackers and cheese he had provided for_the journey had all been eaten .

while wondering what he_should do in_this emergency he_came upon a girl sitting by_the roadside . she wore a costume that struck the boy as being remarkably brilliant: her silken waist being of emerald green and her skirt of four distinct colors -- blue in front, yellow at_the left side, red at_the back and purple at_the right side .Fastening

84 the waist in front were four buttons -- the top one blue, the next yellow, a third red and_the last purple .

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the splendor of_this

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