Oz 01: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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beautiful fairy, or abrownie, or in any_other form that pleases him . but who the real Oz is, when he_is in_his own form, no living person can tell ."

" that_is very strange," said Dorothy, " but we_must try, in some way, to_see him, or we_shall_have made our journey for nothing ."

" why do_you wish to_see the terrible Oz ? " asked the man .

" i_want him to_give_me some brains," said the Scarecrow eagerly .

"Oh, Oz could do_that easily enough," declared the man ." he has more brains than he_needs ."

" and i_want him to_give_me a heart," said the tin woodman .

" that_will_not trouble him," continued the man, " for Oz has a large collection of hearts, of all sizes and shapes ."

" and i_want him to_give_me courage," said the cowardly lion .

"Oz keeps a great pot of courage in_his throne room," said the man, " which he has covered with a golden plate, to_keep it from running over . he_will_be_glad to_give_you some ."

" and i_want him to send me back to Kansas," said Dorothy .

" where is Kansas ? " asked the man, with surprise .

"I don't know," replied Dorothy sorrowfully, " but it_is my home, and I'm sure it's somewhere ."

" very likely . well, Oz can do anything; so I suppose he_will_find Kansas for_you . but first you_must get to_see him, and that_will_be a hard task; for_the great wizard does_not like to_see anyone, and he usually has his own way . but what do_you_want ? " he continued, speaking to Toto .Toto only wagged his tail; for, strange to_say, he_could_not speak .

the woman now called to_them that supper was ready, so they gathered around the table and Dorothy ate some delicious porridge and a dish of scrambled eggs and a plate of nice white bread, and enjoyed her meal . the lion ate some_of_the porridge, but did_not care for_it, saying it was_made from oats and oats were food for horses, not for lions . the Scarecrow and_the tin woodman ate nothing at all .Toto ate a little of everything, and was glad to_get a good supper again .

the woman now gave Dorothy a bed to sleep in, and Toto lay down beside her, while the lion guarded the door of her room so she might_not_be disturbed . the Scarecrow and_the tin woodman stood up in a corner and kept quiet all night, although of_course they_could_not sleep .

the next morning, as_soon_as_the sun was up, they started on their way, and soon saw a beautiful green glow in_the sky just before them .

" that_must be the emerald city," said Dorothy .

as_they walked on, the green glow became brighter and brighter, and it seemed that at last they were nearing the end of_their travels . yet it_was afternoon before_they came to_the great wall that surrounded the city . it_was high and thick and of a bright green color .

in front of_them, and at_the end of_the road of yellow brick, was a big gate, all studded with emeralds that glittered so in_the sun that even the painted eyes of_the Scarecrow were dazzled by their brilliancy .

there_was a bell beside the gate, and Dorothy pushed the button and heard a silvery tinkle sound within . then the big gate swung slowly open, and_they all passed through and found themselves in a high arched room, the walls of_which glistened with countless emeralds .

before them stood a little man about_the same size as_the Munchkins . he_was clothed all in green, from_his head to_his feet, and even his skin was of a greenish tint . at his side was a large green box .

when he_saw Dorothy and her companions the man asked, " what do_you wish in_the emerald city ? "

" we came here to_see the great Oz," said Dorothy .

the man was so surprised at_this answer that he sat down to_think it over .

" it_has_been many years since anyone asked me to_see Oz," he_said, shaking his head in perplexity ." he_is powerful and terrible, and if_you come on an idle or foolish errand to bother the wise reflections of_the great wizard, he_might_be angry and destroy you all in an instant ."

" but it_is_not a foolish errand, nor an idle one," replied the Scarecrow; " it_is important . and we_have_been told that Oz is a good wizard ."

" so he_is," said the green man, " and he rules the emerald city wisely and well . but to_those who_are_not honest, or who approach him from curiosity, he_is most terrible, and few have ever dared ask to_see his face . I_am the guardian of_the Gates, and since you demand to_see the great Oz I_must take you to_his palace . but first you_must put on_the spectacles ."

" why ? " asked Dorothy .

" because if_you_did_not wear spectacles the brightness and glory of_the emerald city would blind you . even those who live in_the city must wear spectacles night and day . they_are all locked on, for Oz so ordered it when_the city was first built, and I_have the only key that_will unlock them ."

he opened the big box, and Dorothy saw that_it_was filled with spectacles of every size and shape . all of_them had green glasses in_them . the guardian of_the Gates found a pair that_would just fit Dorothy and put them over her eyes . there were two golden bands fastened to_them that passed around the back of her head, where they were locked together by a little key that was at_the end of a chain the guardian of_the Gates wore around his neck . when_they were on, Dorothy could_not take them off had she wished, but of_course she did_not wish to_be blinded by_the glare of_the emerald city, so she said nothing .

then the green man fitted spectacles for_the Scarecrow and_the tin woodman and_the lion, and even on little Toto; and all were locked fast with_the key .

then the guardian of_the Gates put on_his own glasses and told them he_was ready to show them to_the palace .Taking a big golden key from a Peg on_the wall, he opened another gate, and_they all followed him through_the portal into_the streets of_the emerald city .

11 . the wonderful city of Oz

even with eyes protected by_the green spectacles, Dorothy and her friends were at first dazzled by_the brilliancy of_the wonderful city . the streets were lined with beautiful houses all built of green marble and studded everywhere with sparkling emeralds . they walked over a pavement of_the same green marble, and where the blocks were joined together were rows of emeralds, set closely, and glittering in_the brightness of_the sun . the window panes were of green glass; even the sky above the city had a green tint, and_the rays of_the sun were green .

there were many people-- men, women, and children--walking about, and these were all dressed in green clothes and had greenish skins . they looked at Dorothy and her strangely assorted company with wondering eyes, and_the children all ran away and hid behind their mothers when_they saw the lion; but no one spoke to_them . many shops stood in_the street, and Dorothy saw that everything in_them was green . green candy and green pop corn were offered for sale, as_well as green shoes, green hats, and green clothes of all sorts . at one place a man was selling green lemonade, and when_the children bought it Dorothy could_see that_they paid for_it with green pennies .

there seemed to_be no horses nor animals of any kind; the men carried things around in little green carts, which they pushed before them . everyone seemed happy and contented and prosperous .

the guardian of_the Gates led them through_the streets until they came to a big building, exactly in_the middle of_the city, which_was the palace of Oz, the great wizard . there_was a soldier before_the door, dressed in a green uniform and wearing a long green beard .

" here are strangers," said the guardian of_the Gates to him, " and_they demand to_see the great Oz ."

" step inside," answered the soldier, " and_I_will carry your message to him ."

so they passed through_the palace Gates and were led into a big room with a green carpet and lovely green furniture set with emeralds . the soldier made them all wipe their feet upon a green mat before entering this room, and when_they were seated he_said politely:

" please make yourselves comfortable while I go to_the door of_the throne room and tell Oz you_are here ."

they had to wait a long_time before_the soldier returned . when, at last, he_came back, Dorothy asked:

" have_you seen Oz ? "

"Oh, no," returned the soldier; " I_have never seen him . but I spoke to him as he sat behind his screen and gave him your message . he_said he_will grant you an audience, if_you so desire; but each_one of you_must enter his presence alone, and he_will admit but one each_day . therefore, as_you_must remain in_the palace for several_days, i_will_have you shown to rooms where you_may rest in comfort after your journey ."

" thank_you," replied the girl; " that_is very kind of Oz ."

the soldier now blew upon a green whistle, and at once a young girl, dressed in a pretty green silk gown, entered the room . she had lovely green hair and green eyes, and she bowed low before Dorothy as she said, " follow me and_I_will show you your room ."

so Dorothy said good-bye to all her friends except Toto, and taking the dog in her arms followed the green girl through seven passages and up three flights of stairs until they came to a room at_the front of_the palace . it was_the sweetest little room in_the_world, with a soft comfortable bed that had sheets of green silk and a green velvet counterpane . there_was a tiny fountain in_the middle of_the room, that shot a spray of green perfume into_the air, to_fall back into a beautifully carved green marble basin . beautiful green flowers stood in_the windows, and there_was a shelf with a row of little green books . when Dorothy had time to open these books she found them full of queer green pictures that made her laugh, they were so funny .

in a wardrobe were many green dresses, made of silk and satin and velvet; and all of_them fitted Dorothy exactly .

" make yourself perfectly at home," said the green girl, " and if_you_wish for anything ring the bell .Oz will send for_you tomorrow morning ."

she left Dorothy alone and went back to_the others . these she also led to rooms, and each one_of_them found himself lodged in a very pleasant part of_the palace . of_course this politeness was wasted on_the Scarecrow; for when he_found himself alone in_his room he stood stupidly in one spot, just within_the doorway, to wait till morning . it would_not rest him to lie down, and he_could_not close his eyes; so he remained all night staring at a little spider which_was weaving its web in a corner of_the room, just as_if it were_not one_of_the_most wonderful rooms in_the_world . the tin woodman lay down on_his bed from force of habit, for he remembered when he was_made of flesh; but not being able to sleep, he passed the night moving his joints up and down to_make sure they kept in good working order . the lion would_have preferred a bed of dried leaves in_the forest, and did_not like being shut up in a room; but he had too_much sense to let this worry him, so he sprang upon_the bed and rolled himself up like acat and purred himself asleep in a minute .

the next morning, after breakfast, the green maiden came to fetch Dorothy, and she dressed her in one_of_the prettiest gowns, made of green brocaded satin . Dorothy put on a green silk apron and tied a green ribbon around Toto's neck, and_they started for_the throne room of_the great Oz .

first they came to a great hall in_which were many ladies and gentlemen of_the court, all dressed in rich costumes . these people had nothing to_do but talk to each_other, but they always came to wait outside the throne room every morning, although they were never permitted to_see Oz . as Dorothy entered they looked at her curiously, and one_of_them whispered:

" are_you really going to look upon_the face of Oz the terrible ? "

" of_course," answered the girl, " if he_will_see me ."

"Oh, he_will_see you," said the soldier who had taken her message to_the wizard, " although he_does_not like to_have people ask to_see him . indeed, at first he_was angry and said i_should send_you back where you came from . then he asked me what you looked like, and when I mentioned your silver shoes he_was very_much interested . at last i_told him about_the mark upon your forehead, and he decided he_would admit you to_his presence ."

just then a bell rang, and_the green girl said to Dorothy, " that_is_the signal . you_must go into_the throne room alone ."

she opened a little door and Dorothy

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