3 How Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow

When Dorothy was left alone she began hungry So she went cupboard and cut herself some bread, which she spread with butter She gave some to Toto, and taking pail shelf she carried it down little brook and filled it with clear, sparkling water Toto ran over trees and began to bark birds sitting there Dorothy went him, and saw such delicious fruit hanging branches that she gathered some of it, finding it just what she wanted to help out her breakfast

Then she went back house, and having helped herself and Toto to good drink cool, clear water, she set about making ready journey City of Emeralds

Dorothy had other dress, but that happened clean and was hanging on peg beside her bed gingham, with checks of white and blue; and although the blue was somewhat faded with many washings, still pretty frock The girl washed herself carefully, dressed herself clean gingham, and tied her pink sunbonnet on her head She took little basket and filled it with bread cupboard, laying white cloth over the top Then she looked down at her feet and noticed how old and worn her shoes were

"They surely will never do for long journey, Toto," she said And Toto looked up into her face little black eyes and wagged his tail to show what she meant

moment Dorothy saw lying table the silver shoes that had belonged Witch East

"I wonder if fit me," she said to Toto " just the thing long walk in, for wear out "

She took off her old leather shoes and tried silver ones, which fitted her as made for her

Finally she picked up her basket

"Come along, Toto," she said " go Emerald City and Great Oz how back to Kansas again "

She closed the door, locked it, and put the key carefully pocket of her dress And so, with Toto trotting along soberly behind her, she started on her journey

There were several roads near by, but it take her long the one paved with yellow bricks Within short time she was walking briskly toward the Emerald City, her silver shoes tinkling merrily hard, yellow road-bed The sun shone bright birds sang sweetly, and Dorothy feel nearly so bad think little girl would who suddenly whisked away from her own country and set down midst of strange land

She was surprised, as she walked along, how pretty the country was about her There were neat fences sides road, painted dainty blue color, and beyond them were fields of grain and vegetables in abundance Evidently the Munchkins were good farmers and able to raise large crops Once in while pass house, people came out to look at her and bow low as she went by; for everyone knew she the means of destroying the Wicked Witch and setting them free from bondage The houses Munchkins were odd-looking dwellings, for each was round, with big dome for roof All were painted blue, for country East blue favorite color

Toward evening, when Dorothy was tired with her long walk and began to wonder where she should pass the night, she came to house rather larger rest green lawn before it many were dancing Five little fiddlers played as loudly as possible, people were laughing and singing, while big table near by was loaded with delicious fruits and nuts, pies and cakes, and good things to eat

The people greeted Dorothy kindly, and invited her to supper and the night ; for the home of richest Munchkins land, friends were gathered to celebrate their freedom bondage Wicked Witch

Dorothy ate hearty supper and was waited upon rich Munchkin himself, whose name was Boq Then she sat upon settee and watched the people dance

When Boq saw her silver shoes , " great sorceress "

"Why ? " asked the girl

"Because you wear silver shoes killed the Wicked Witch Besides, white in your frock, and only witches and sorceresses wear white "

"My dress is blue and white checked," said Dorothy, smoothing out the wrinkles

" kind of you to wear that," said Boq "Blue color Munchkins, and white witch color So friendly witch "

Dorothy know what , for all the people seemed her witch, and she knew she was only an ordinary little girl who had come chance of cyclone into strange land

When she had tired watching the dancing, Boq led her house, where her room with pretty bed The sheets were made of blue cloth, and Dorothy slept soundly till morning, with Toto curled up blue rug beside her

She ate hearty breakfast, and watched wee Munchkin baby, who played with Toto and pulled his tail and crowed and laughed in way that greatly amused Dorothy Toto was fine curiosity to all the people, for they had never seen dog before

"How far Emerald City ? " the girl asked

" know," answered Boq gravely, "for never been there better for people away from Oz, unless business But long way Emerald City, and take you many days The country rich and pleasant, but pass through rough and dangerous places reach the end of your journey "

This worried Dorothy little, but she knew that only the Great Oz could help her get to Kansas again, so she bravely resolved not back

She bade her friends good-bye, and again started along the road of yellow brick When she had gone several miles she thought stop to rest, and so climbed top fence beside the road and sat down great cornfield beyond the fence, and not far away she saw Scarecrow, placed high on pole the birds ripe corn

Dorothy leaned her chin upon her hand and gazed thoughtfully Scarecrow Its head was small sack stuffed with straw, with eyes, nose, and mouth painted to represent face An old, pointed blue hat, that had belonged to some Munchkin, was perched head, rest figure was blue suit of clothes, worn and faded, which had also been stuffed with straw feet were some old boots with blue tops, such as every man wore country, figure was raised above the stalks of corn pole stuck up its back

While Dorothy was looking earnestly queer, painted face Scarecrow, she was surprised eyes slowly wink at her She thought mistaken at first, for scarecrows in Kansas ever wink; but presently the figure nodded its head to her in friendly way Then she climbed down fence and walked up , while Toto ran around the pole and barked

"Good day," said the Scarecrow, in rather husky voice

"Did you speak ? " asked the girl, in wonder

"Certainly," answered the Scarecrow "How do ? "

"I'm pretty well, ," replied Dorothy politely "How do ? "

"I'm not feeling well," said the Scarecrow, with smile, " is very tedious being perched up here night and day to scare away crows "

"Can't you get down ? " asked Dorothy

"No, pole is stuck up my back please take away the pole greatly obliged "

Dorothy reached up both arms and lifted the figure off the pole, for, being stuffed with straw, quite light

" ," said the Scarecrow, when he set down ground " like new man "

Dorothy was puzzled , sounded queer to hear stuffed man speak, and him bow and walk along beside her

"Who ? " asked the Scarecrow when he had stretched himself and yawned "And where going ? "

"My name is Dorothy," said the girl, "and going Emerald City, to Great Oz to send me back to Kansas "

"Where Emerald City ? " he inquired "And Oz ? "

"Why, don't ? " she returned, in surprise

"No, indeed I don't know anything , stuffed, so no brains at all," he answered sadly

"Oh," said Dorothy, "I'm awfully sorry "

" ," he asked, "if I go Emerald City , that Oz would some brains ? "

" tell," she returned, "but come with me, like If Oz will not any brains no worse off than now "