Oz 02: The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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of_the ever-flowing fount of limpid knowledge before me ."

" quite poetical," commented the Scarecrow, nodding his head approvingly .

" but one, day" continued the bug, "a marvelous circumstance occurred that altered my very existence and brought me to my present pinnacle of greatness . the

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150 professor discovered me in_the act of crawling across the hearth, and before I_could escape he had caught me between his thumb and forefinger .

"' my dear children,' said he, ' I_have captured aWoggle- bug -- a very rare and interesting specimen . do any of you_know what aWoggle- bug is ? '

"' no ! ' yelled the scholars, in chorus .

"' then,' said the professor, ' i_will get out my famous magnifying- glass and throw the insect upon a screen in a highly-magnified condition, that you_may all study carefully its peculiar construction and become acquainted with its habits and manner of life .'

" he then brought from a cupboard a most curious instrument, and before I_could realize what had happened I_found myself thrown upon a screen in a highly-magnified state -- even as_you now behold me .

" the students stood up on their stools and craned their heads forward to_get a better view of me, and two little girls jumped upon_the sill of an open window where they_could see more plainly .

"' behold ! ' cried the professor, in a loud voice, ' this highly-magnified Woggle- bug; one_of_the_most curious insects in existence ! '

" being thoroughly educated, and knowing what_is required of a cultured gentleman, at_this juncture I stood upright and, placing my hand upon my

151 full page line- art drawing .

" thee STUDENTS stood up on their STOOLS ."

152 bosom, made a very polite bow . my action, being unexpected, must_have startled them, for one_of_the little girls perched upon_the window-sill gave a scream and fell backward out the window, drawing her companion with her as she disappeared .

" the professor uttered a cry of horror and rushed away through_the door to_see if_the poor children were injured by_the fall . the scholars followed after him in a wild mob, and i_was left alone in_the school- room, still in a highly-Magnified state and free to_do as I pleased .

" it immediately occurred to_me that_this was a good opportunity to escape . i_was proud of_my great size, and realized that now I_could safely travel anywhere in_the_world, while my superior culture would make me a fit associate for_the most learned person I_might chance to meet .

" so, while the professor picked the little girls -- who were more frightened than hurt -- off the ground, and_the pupils clustered around him closely grouped, I calmly walked out_of_the school- house, turned a corner, and escaped unnoticed to a grove of trees that stood near"

" wonderful ! " exclaimed the Pumpkinhead, admiringly .

" it_was, indeed," agreed the Woggle- bug ."I

153 have never ceased to congratulate myself for escaping while i_was highly Magnified; for even my excess-

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ive knowledge would_have proved of little use to_me had I remained a tiny, insignificant insect ."

"I didn't know before," said tip, looking at_the

154 Woggle- bug with a puzzled expression, " that insects wore clothes ."

" nor do they, in their natural state," returned the stranger ." but in_the course of_my wanderings I had the good fortune to save the ninth life of a tailor -- tailors having, like cats, nine lives, as_you probably know . the fellow was exceedingly grateful, for had he_lost that ninth life it would_have_been the end of him; so he begged permission to_furnish me with_the stylish costume I now wear . it fits very nicely, does it not ? " and_the Woggle- bug stood up and turned himself around slowly, that all might examine his person .

" he_must_have been a good tailor," said the Scarecrow, somewhat enviously .

" he_was a good-hearted tailor, at any rate," observed nick chopper .

" but where were you going, when_you met us ? " tip asked the Woggle- bug .

" nowhere in_particular," was_the reply, " although it_is my intention soon to visit the emerald city and arrange to_give a course of lectures to select audiences on_the 'Advantages of magnification .'"

" we_are bound for_the emerald city now," said the tin woodman; " so, if_it pleases you to_do_so, you_are welcome to travel in_our company ."

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the Woggle- bug bowed with profound grace .

" it_will give_me great pleasure," said he " to accept your kind invitation; for nowhere in_the land of Oz could I_hope to meet with so congenial a company ."

" that_is true," acknowledged the Pumpkinhead ." we_are quite as congenial as flies and honey ."

" but -- pardon me if I seem inquisitive -- are_you not all rather -- ahem ! rather unusual ? " asked the Woggle- bug, looking from one to another with unconcealed interest .

" not more so than yourself," answered the Scarecrow ." everything in life is unusual until you get accustomed to_it ."

" what rare philosophy ! " exclaimed the Woggle- bug, admiringly .

" yes; my brains are working well today," admitted the Scarecrow, an accent of pride in_his voice .

" then, if_you_are sufficiently rested and refreshed, let_us bend our steps toward the emerald city," suggested the magnified one .

" we_can't," said tip ." the saw- horse has broken a leg, so he_can't bend his steps . and there_is no wood around to_make him a new limb from . and we_can't leave the horse behind because the Pumpkinhead is so stiff in_his Joints that he has_to ride ."

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" how very unfortunate ! " cried the Woggle- bug . then he looked the party over carefully and said:

" if_the Pumpkinhead is to ride, why_not use one of_his legs to_make a leg for_the horse that carries him ? I judge that both are made of wood ."

" now, that_is what I call real cleverness," said the Scarecrow, approvingly ."I wonder my brains did_not think of_that long_ago ! get to work, my dear nick, and fit the Pumpkinhead's leg to_the saw- horse ."

jack was not especially pleased with_this idea; but he submitted to having his left leg amputated by_the tin woodman and whittled down to fit the left leg of_the saw- horse . nor was_the saw- horse especially pleased with_the operation, either; for he growled a good_deal about being " butchered," as he_called it, and afterward declared that_the new leg was a disgrace to a respectable saw- horse .

"I beg you to_be more careful in your speech," said the Pumpkinhead, sharply ." remember, if_you please, that_it_is my leg you_are abusing ."

" I_cannot forget it," retorted the saw- horse, " for_it is quite as flimsy as_the rest of your person ."

" flimsy ! me flimsy ! " cried jack, in a rage ." how dare you call me flimsy ? "

" because you_are built as absurdly as ajumping-

157 jack," sneered the horse, rolling his knotty eyes in a vicious manner ." even your head won't stay straight, and you never can tell whether you_are looking backwards or forwards ! "

" friends, I entreat you not to quarrel ! " pleaded the tin woodman, anxiously ." as a matter of fact, we_are none of us above criticism; so let_us bear with each others' faults ."

" an excellent suggestion," said the Woggle- bug, approvingly ." you_must_have an excellent heart, my metallic friend ."

" I_have," returned nick, well pleased ." my heart is quite the best part of me . but now let_us start upon our journey .

they perched the one-legged Pumpkinhead upon_the saw- horse, and tied him to_his seat with cords, so_that he_could_not possibly fall off .

and then, following the lead of_the Scarecrow, they all advanced in_the direction of_the emerald city .

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158 full page line- art drawing .

159 old Mombi indulges in witchcraft

they soon discovered that_the saw- horse limped, for_his new leg was a trifle too long . so they were obliged to halt while the tin woodman chopped it down with_his axe, after which the wooden steed paced along more comfortably . but the saw- horse was not entirely satisfied, even yet .

" it_was a shame that I broke my other leg ! " it growled .

" on_the contrary," airily remarked the Woggle- bug, who was walking alongside, " you_should consider the accident most fortunate . for a horse is never of much use until he has_been broken ."

"I beg your pardon," said tip, rather provoked, for he_felt a warm interest in both the saw- horse and_his man jack; " but permit me to_say that your joke is a poor one, and as old as_it_is poor ."

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" still, it_is a joke," declared the Woggle- bug; firmly, " and a joke derived from a play upon words is considered among educated people to_be eminently proper ."

" what does that mean ? " enquired the Pumpkinhead, stupidly .

" it means, my dear friend," explained the Woggle- bug, " that_our language contains many words having a double meaning; and_that to pronounce a joke that allows both meanings of a certain word, proves the joker a person of culture and refinement, who has, moreover, a thorough command of_the language ."

"I don't believe that," said tip, plainly; " anybody can make a pun ."

" not so," rejoined the Woggle- bug, stiffly ." it requires education of a high order . are_you educated, young sir ? "

" not especially," admitted tip .

" then you_cannot judge the matter .I myself am thoroughly educated, and I_say that puns display genius . for instance, were I to ride upon_this saw- horse, he_would_not only be an animal he_would become an equipage . for he_would then be a horse- and- buggy ."

at_this the Scarecrow gave a gasp and_the tin

161 woodman stopped short and looked reproachfully at_the Woggle- bug . at_the same time the saw- horse loudly snorted his derision; and even the Pumpkinhead put up his hand to hide the smile which, because it_was carved upon his face, he_could_not change to a frown .

but the Woggle- bug strutted along as_if he had made some brilliant remark, and_the Scarecrow was obliged to_say:

" I_have heard, my dear friend, that a person can become over- educated; and although I_have a high respect for brains, no matter how they_may_be arranged or classified, I begin to suspect that yours are slightly tangled . in any event, I_must beg you to restrain your superior education while in_our society ."

" we_are_not very particular," added the tin woodman; " and we_are exceedingly kind hearted . but if your superior culture gets leaky again -- " he_did_not complete the sentence, but he twirled his gleaming axe so carelessly that_the Woggle- bug looked frightened, and shrank away to a safe distance .

the others marched on in silence, and_the highly Magnified one, after a period of deep thought, said in an humble voice:

" i_will endeavor to restrain myself ."

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" that_is all we_can expect," returned the Scarecrow pleasantly; and good nature being thus happily restored to_the party, they proceeded upon their way .

when_they again stopped to allow tip to rest -- the boy being the only_one that seemed to tire -- the tin woodman noticed many small, round holes in_the grassy meadow .

" this must_be a village of_the field Mice," he_said to_the Scarecrow ." I wonder if_my old friend, the queen of_the Mice, is in_this neighborhood ."

" if she_is, she_may_be of great service to_us," answered the Scarecrow, who was impressed by a sudden thought ." see if_you_can call her, my dear nick ."

so the tin woodman blew a shrill note upon a silver whistle that hung around his neck, and presently a tiny grey mouse popped from a near- by hole and advanced fearlessly toward them . for_the tin woodman had once saved her life, and_the queen of_the field Mice knew he_was to_be trusted ."

" good day, your majesty, said nick, politely addressing the mouse; "I trust you_are enjoying good health ? "

" thank_you, I_am quite well," answered the queen, demurely, as she sat up and displayed the tiny golden crown upon her head ." can I_do anything to assist my old friends ? "

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" you_can, indeed," replied the Scarecrow, eagerly ." let me, I intreat you, take a dozen of your subjects with me to_the emerald city ."

" will they be injured in any_way ? " asked the queen, doubtfully .

" i_think not," replied the Scarecrow ." i_will carry them hidden in_the straw which stuffs my body, and when I_give them the signal by unbuttoning my jacket, they_have only to rush out and scamper home again as fast as_they_can . by doing this they_will assist me to regain my throne, which the army of revolt has taken from me ."

" in_that case," said the queen, " i_will_not refuse your request . whenever you_are ready, i_will call twelve of_my most intelligent subjects ."

" I_am ready now" returned the Scarecrow . then he lay flat upon_the ground and unbuttoned his jacket, displaying the mass of straw with_which he_was stuffed .

the queen uttered a little piping call, and in an instant a dozen pretty field mice had emerged from their holes and stood before their ruler, awaiting her orders .

what the queen said to_them none of_our travelers could understand, for it_was in_the mouse language; but the field mice obeyed without hesitation,

164 running one after_the other to_the Scarecrow and hiding themselves in_the straw of_his breast .

when all of_the twelve mice had thus concealed themselves, the Scarecrow buttoned his jacket securely and then arose and thanked the queen for her kindness .

" one_thing more you_might do to_serve us," suggested the tin woodman; " and_that is to run ahead and show us the way to_the emerald city . for some enemy is evidently trying to_prevent us from reaching it ."

" i_will do_that gladly," returned the queen ." are_you

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