Oz 09: The Scarecrow of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20]
enough to protect her ."

button- bright was now standing on_the top steps of_the entrance, and he suddenly exclaimed:

" why, there's the sawhorse and_the red wagon ! Hip, hooray ! " and next moment he_was rushing down to throw his arms around the neck of_the wooden horse, which good- naturedly permitted this familiarity when it recognized in_the boy an old friend .

button- bright's shout had_been heard inside the palace, so now Dorothy and Betsy came running out to embrace their beloved friend, the Scarecrow, and to welcome trot and Cap'n bill to_the land of Oz .

" we've been watching you for_a_long_time, in Ozma's magic picture," said Dorothy, " and Ozma has sent us to invite you to her own palace in_the Em'rald city .I don't know if_you realize how lucky you_are to_get that invitation, but you'll understand it better after you've seen the royal palace and_the Em'rald city ."

Glinda now appeared in person to lead all the party into her azure reception room . trot was a little afraid of_the stately sorceress, but gained courage by holding fast to_the hands of Betsy and Dorothy .Cap'n bill had no one to help him feel at ease, so the old sailor sat stiffly on_the edge of_his chair and said:

" yes, MA'am," or " no, MA'am," when he_was spoken to, and was greatly embarrassed by so_much splendor .

the Scarecrow had lived so_much in palaces that he_felt quite at home, and he chatted to Glinda and_the Oz girls in a merry, light-hearted way . he_told all about his adventures in Jinxland, and at_the great waterfall, and on_the journey hither -- most of_which his hearers knew already -- and then he asked Dorothy and Betsy what had happened in_the emerald city since he had left there .

they all passed the evening and_the night at Glinda's palace, and_the sorceress was so gracious to Cap'n bill that_the old man by degrees regained his self- possession and began to enjoy himself . trot had already come to_the conclusion that in Dorothy and Betsy she had found two delightful comrades, and button- bright was just as_much at home here as he had_been in_the fields of Jinxland or when he_was buried in_the popcorn snow of_the land of Mo .

the next morning they arose bright and early and after breakfast bade good-bye to_the kind sorceress, whom trot and Cap'n bill thanked earnestly for sending the Scarecrow to Jinxland to rescue them . then they all climbed into_the red wagon .

there_was room for all on_the broad seats, and when all had taken their places -- Dorothy, trot and Betsy on_the rear seat and Cap'n bill, button- bright and_the Scarecrow in front -- they called "Gid-dap ! " to_the sawhorse and_the wooden steed moved briskly away, pulling the red wagon with ease .

it_was now that_the strangers began to perceive the real beauties of_the land of Oz, for they were passing through a more thickly settled part of_the country and_the population grew more dense as_they drew nearer to_the emerald city . everyone they met had a cheery word or a smile for_the Scarecrow, Dorothy and Betsy bobbin, and some_of_them remembered button- bright and welcomed him back to_their country .

it_was a happy party, indeed, that journeyed in_the red wagon to_the emerald city, and trot already began to hope_that Ozma would permit her and Cap'n bill to live always in_the land of Oz .

when_they reached the great city they were more amazed than ever, both by_the concourse of people in their quaint and picturesque costumes, and by_the splendor of_the city itself . but the magnificence of_the royal palace quite took their breath away, until Ozma received them in her own pretty apartment and by her charming manners and assuring smiles made them feel they were no longer strangers .

trot was given a lovely little room next to_that of Dorothy, while Cap'n bill had the cosiest sort of a room next to trot's and overlooking the gardens . and_that evening Ozma gave a grand banquet and reception in honor of_the new arrivals . while trot had read of many_of_the people she then met, Cap'n bill was less familiar with_them and many_of_the unusual characters introduced to him that evening caused the old sailor to open his eyes wide in astonishment .

he had thought the live Scarecrow about as curious as anyone could_be, but now he met the tin woodman, who was all made of tin, even to_his heart, and carried agleaming axe over his shoulder wherever he went . then there_was jack Pumpkinhead, whose head was a real pumpkin with_the face carved upon it; and professor Wogglebug, who had the shape of an enormous bug but was dressed in neat fitting garments . the professor was an interesting talker and had very polite manners, but his face was so comical that_it made Cap'n bill smile to look at it .a great friend of Dorothy and Ozma seemed to_be a machine man called Tik-Tok, who ran down several_times during the evening and had to_be wound up again by someone before he_could move or speak .

at_the reception appeared the shaggy man and_his brother, both very popular in Oz, as_well as Dorothy's uncle Henry and aunt Em, two happy old people who lived in a pretty cottage near the palace .

but what perhaps seemed most surprising to both trot and Cap'n bill was_the number of peculiar animals admitted into Ozma's parlors, where they not_only conducted themselves quite properly but were able to_talk as_well as anyone .

there_was the cowardly lion, an immense beast with a beautiful mane; and_the hungry tiger, who smiled continually; and eureka the pink kitten, who lay curled upon a cushion and had rather supercilious manners; and_the wooden sawhorse; and nine tiny piglets that belonged to_the wizard; and a mule named Hank, who belonged to Betsy bobbin .afuzzy little terrier dog, named Toto, lay at Dorothy's feet but seldom took part in_the conversation, although he listened to every word that was said . but the most wonderful of all to trot was a square beast with awinning smile, that squatted in a corner of_the room and wagged his square head at everyone in quite a jolly way .Betsy told trot that_this unique beast was called the woozy, and there_was no other like him in all the world .

Cap'n bill and trot had both looked around expectantly for_the wizard of Oz, but the evening was far advanced before_the famous little man entered the room . but he went up_to_the strangers at once and said:

" I_know you, but you don't know me; so let's get acquainted ."

and_they did get acquainted, in a very short time, and before_the evening was over trot felt that she knew every person and animal present at_the reception, and that_they were all her good friends .

suddenly they looked around for button- bright, but he_was nowhere to_be found .

" dear me ! " cried trot ." he's lost again ."

" never mind, my dear," said Ozma, with her charming smile, " no one can go far astray in_the land of Oz, and if button- bright isn't lost occasionally, he isn't happy ."

the wonderful Oz Books by L . frank Baum

the wizard of OZ
the land of OZ
OZMA of OZ
Dorothy and_the wizard in OZ
the road to OZ
the emerald city of OZ
the patchwork girl of OZ
TIK-TOK of OZ
the SCARECROW of OZ
RINKITINK in OZ
the lost princess of OZ
the tin woodman of OZ
the magic of OZ
GLINDA of OZ

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20]