" welcome "

All the party seemed relieved that here was real girl, of flesh and blood She was very dainty and pretty as she stood there welcoming them Her hair was golden blonde and her eyes turquoise blue She had rosy cheeks and lovely white teeth Over her simple white lawn dress she wore an apron with pink and white checks, and in one hand she held pair of scissors

"May we see Miss Cuttenclip, please ? " asked Dorothy

" Miss Cuttenclip," reply "Won't you come in ? "

She held the door open while they all entered pretty sitting-room that was littered with all sorts of paper--some stiff, some thin, and some tissue The sheets and scraps were of all colors Upon table were paints and brushes, while several pair of scissors, of different sizes, were lying about

"Sit down, please," said Miss Cuttenclip, clearing the paper scraps off chairs " since any visitors that not properly prepared to receive them But I'm sure pardon my untidy room, is my workshop "

" make all the paper dolls ? " inquired Dorothy

"Yes; I cut them out with my scissors, and paint the faces and costumes very pleasant work, and happy making my paper village grow "

"But how paper dolls happen alive ? " asked Aunt Em

"The first dolls alive," said Miss Cuttenclip "I used to live near the castle of great Sorceress named Glinda the Good, and she saw my dolls and said they were very pretty her like them better were alive, the Sorceress brought me lot of magic paper ' live paper,' she said, 'and all the dolls you cut out of alive, and able and have used it all up, come more '

" delighted present," continued Miss Cuttenclip, "and at once set to work and made several paper dolls, which, they were cut out, began to walk around and talk But they were so thin that that any breeze would blow them over and scatter them dreadfully; so Glinda found this lonely place , where few people ever come She built the wall any wind from blowing away my people, and told me build paper village here and be its Queen why here and settled down to work and started the village you now see many that I built the first houses, and I've kept pretty busy and made my village grow finely; and not tell you that very happy in my work "

"Many ! " exclaimed Aunt Em "Why, how old , child ? "

"I never keep track years," said Miss Cuttenclip, laughing " , I don't grow up at all, but stay just the same as when first here Perhaps I'm older even than , madam; but I couldn't say for sure "

They looked lovely little girl wonderingly, Wizard asked:

"What happens to your paper village when it rains ? "

"It rain here," replied Miss Cuttenclip "Glinda keeps all the rain storms away; so I never worry dolls getting wet But now, come with me, pleasure to show you over my paper kingdom go slowly and carefully, and avoid making any breeze "

They left the cottage and followed their guide various streets village indeed an amazing place, when one considered all made with scissors, visitors only greatly interested but full of admiration skill of little Miss Cuttenclip

In one place large group of especially nice paper dolls assembled to greet their Queen, whom easy they loved early These dolls marched and danced visitors, and then they all waved their paper handkerchiefs and sang in sweet chorus song called "The Flag Native Land "

conclusion song they ran up handsome paper flag on tall flagpole, and all people village gathered around to cheer as loudly as --although, , their voices especially strong

Miss Cuttenclip was about her subjects speech in reply patriotic song, Shaggy Man happened to sneeze

very loud and powerful sneezer at , and he had tried so hard to hold sneeze that when it suddenly exploded the result was terrible

The paper dolls were mowed down by dozens, and flew and fluttered in wild confusion in every direction, tumbling and getting more or less wrinkled and bent

wail of terror and grief came scattered throng, and Miss Cuttenclip exclaimed:

"Dear me ! dear me ! " and hurried at once rescue of her overturned people

"Oh, Shaggy Man ! How could you ? " asked Dorothy, reproachfully

"I couldn't help it--really I couldn't," protested the Shaggy Man, looking quite ashamed "And I had no idea it took so little to upset these paper dolls "

"So little ! " said Dorothy "Why, 'most as bad as Kansas cyclone " And then she helped Miss Cuttenclip rescue the paper folk and stand them on their feet again Two cardboard houses had also tumbled over, little Queen said she to repair them and paste them together lived in again

And now, fearing do more damage flimsy paper people, they decided away But first they thanked Miss Cuttenclip very warmly for her courtesy and kindness

"Any friend of Princess Ozma is always welcome here--unless he sneezes," said the Queen with rather severe look Shaggy Man, who hung his head "I like visitors admire my wonderful village, and call again "

Miss Cuttenclip herself led them door wall, and passed along the street the paper dolls peeped at them half fearfully doors and windows Perhaps never forget the Shaggy Man's awful sneeze, and they were all the meat people go away

11 How the General Met the First and Foremost

On leaving the Growleywogs General Guph had to recross the Ripple Lands, and find it pleasant thing Perhaps having his whiskers pulled out one by one and being used as pin-cushion innocent amusement of good natured jailer improved the quality of Guph's temper, old Nome raved and raged recollection wrongs he had suffered, and vowed vengeance Growleywogs after he had used them purposes and Oz conquered He went on furious way until half across the Ripple Land Then he became seasick, rest way this naughty Nome was almost as miserable as he deserved

But when he reached the plains again ground was firm under his feet he began better, and instead of going back home he turned directly west squirrel, perched in tree, saw him take this road and called to him warningly: "Look out ! " But he paid no attention An eagle paused in its flight air to look at him wonderingly and say: "Look out ! " But on he went

No one that Guph was not brave, for he had determined to visit those dangerous creatures the Phanfasms, who resided very top dread Mountain of Phantastico The Phanfasms were Erbs, and so dreaded by mortals and immortals alike that no one near their mountain home for several thousand years Yet General Guph hoped to induce them to join proposed warfare against the good and happy Oz people

Guph knew Phanfasms almost as dangerous Nomes as Ozites, but he thought himself so clever that he believed manage these strange creatures and make them obey him And at all that if enlist the services Phanfasms, their tremendous power, united strength Growleywogs cunning Whimsies would doom the Land of Oz to absolute destruction

So the old Nome climbed the foothills and trudged along the wild mountain paths until to big gully that encircled the Mountain of Phantastico and marked the boundary line dominion Phanfasms This gully was about third way up the mountain, and filled brim with red-hot molten lava swam fire-serpents and poisonous salamanders The heat mass and its poisonous smell were both so unbearable that even birds hesitated to fly over the gully, but circled around it All living things kept away mountain

Now Guph had heard, during his long lifetime, many tales dreaded Phanfasms; so he had heard barrier of melted lava, and also he told that narrow bridge that spanned it in one place So he walked along the edge until the bridge single arch of gray stone, and lying flat bridge was scarlet alligator, seemingly fast asleep

When Guph stumbled over the rocks in approaching the bridge the creature opened its eyes, tiny flames shot in all directions, and after looking intruder very wickedly the scarlet alligator closed its eyelids again and lay still

Guph saw no room for him the alligator narrow bridge, so out :

"Good morning, friend I don't wish to hurry you, but please tell me coming down, or going up ? "

"Neither," snapped the alligator, clicking its cruel jaws together

The General hesitated

" likely to stay there long ? " he asked

"A few hundred years or so," said the alligator

Guph softly rubbed the end nose and tried what

" whether the First and Foremost Phanfasm of Phantastico is at home or not ? " he presently inquired

"I expect , seeing always at home," replied the alligator

"Ah; who coming down the mountain ? " asked the Nome, gazing upward