The sun shone brightly as our friends turned their faces toward the Land South They were all best of spirits, and laughed and chatted together Dorothy was once more filled hope of getting home, Scarecrow Tin Woodman were glad of use to her As Lion, he sniffed the fresh air with delight and whisked his tail from side to side in pure joy at being country again, while Toto ran around them and chased the moths and butterflies, barking merrily all the time

"City life agree with me at all," remarked the Lion, walked along at brisk pace " lost much flesh since I lived there, and now anxious for chance to show the other beasts how courageous grown "

They now turned and took last look Emerald City All see was mass of towers and steeples behind the green walls, and high up above everything the spires and dome Palace of Oz

"Oz was not such bad Wizard, after all," said the Tin Woodman, as his heart rattling around breast

" how brains, and brains, too," said the Scarecrow

"If Oz had taken dose same courage he ," added the Lion, "he brave man "

Dorothy said nothing Oz kept the promise her, but he had done his best, so she forgave him As , good man, even if bad Wizard

The first day's journey was green fields and bright flowers that stretched Emerald City on every side They slept that night grass, with nothing but the stars over them; rested indeed

morning they traveled on until they came to thick wood no way of going around it, seemed to extend right and left as far as see; and, besides, dare change the direction journey for fear of getting lost So they looked place where it easiest forest

The Scarecrow, who was lead, finally discovered big tree wide-spreading branches that room party underneath So he walked forward tree, but just as under the first branches they bent down and twined around him, next minute raised ground and flung headlong among his fellow travelers

hurt the Scarecrow, but it surprised him, and he looked rather dizzy when Dorothy picked him up

" another space trees," called the Lion

"Let me try it first," said the Scarecrow, " doesn't hurt me thrown about " He walked another tree, as he spoke, but its branches immediately seized him and tossed him back again

" strange," exclaimed Dorothy "What shall ? "

"The trees seem to up their minds to fight us, and stop our journey," remarked the Lion

"I believe try it myself," said the Woodman, and shouldering his axe, he marched first tree that had handled the Scarecrow so roughly When big branch bent down to seize him the Woodman chopped at it so fiercely that he cut it in two At once the tree began shaking all its branches in pain, Tin Woodman passed safely under it

"Come on ! " he shouted others "Be quick ! " They all ran forward and passed under the tree without injury, except Toto, who was caught by small branch and shaken until he howled But the Woodman promptly chopped off the branch and set the little dog free

The other trees forest did nothing them back, so they made up their minds that only the first row of trees could bend down their branches, probably these were the policemen forest, and given this wonderful power strangers out of it

The four travelers walked with ease trees until they came farther edge wood Then, surprise, they found before them high wall which seemed made of white china smooth, like the surface of dish, and higher than their heads

"What shall now ? " asked Dorothy

" make ladder," said the Tin Woodman, "for we certainly must climb over the wall "

20 The Dainty China Country

While the Woodman was making ladder from wood which forest Dorothy lay down and slept, for she was tired long walk The Lion also curled himself sleep and Toto lay beside him

The Scarecrow watched the Woodman while he worked, and said to him:

" think why this wall is here, nor what made of "

"Rest your brains and worry wall," replied the Woodman "When climbed over it, know other side "

After time the ladder was finished It looked clumsy, but the Tin Woodman was sure strong and would answer their purpose The Scarecrow waked Dorothy Lion and Toto, and told them ladder was ready The Scarecrow climbed up the ladder first, but so awkward that Dorothy had close behind and keep him from falling off When he got his head over the top wall the Scarecrow said, "Oh, my ! "

"Go on," exclaimed Dorothy

So the Scarecrow climbed farther up and sat down top wall, and Dorothy put her head over and cried, "Oh, my ! " just Scarecrow had done

Then Toto came up, and immediately began to bark, but Dorothy made him be still

The Lion climbed the ladder next, Tin Woodman came last; but both cried, "Oh, my ! " they looked over the wall were all sitting in row top wall, they looked down and saw strange sight

Before them was great stretch of country having floor as smooth and shining and white bottom of big platter Scattered around were many houses made entirely of china and painted brightest colors These houses were quite small, the biggest reaching only as high as Dorothy's waist There were also pretty little barns, with china fences around them; and many cows and sheep and horses and pigs and chickens, all made of china, were standing about in groups

But the strangest of all were the people who lived queer country There were milkmaids and shepherdesses, with brightly colored bodices and golden spots all over their gowns; and princesses with most gorgeous frocks of silver and gold and purple; and shepherds dressed in knee breeches with pink and yellow and blue stripes down them, and golden buckles on their shoes; and princes with jeweled crowns upon their heads, wearing ermine robes and satin doublets; and funny clowns in ruffled gowns, with round red spots upon their cheeks and tall, pointed caps And, strangest of all, these people were all made of china, even clothes, and were so small tallest was no higher than Dorothy's knee

No one did as look travelers at first, except one little purple china dog with an extra-large head, which came wall and barked at them in tiny voice, afterwards running away again

"How shall we get down ? " asked Dorothy

They found the ladder so heavy pull it up, so the Scarecrow fell off the wall others jumped down upon him so hard floor hurt their feet they took pains not to light head and get the pins in their feet When all were safely down they picked up the Scarecrow, whose body was quite flattened out, and patted his straw into shape again

" cross this strange place other side," said Dorothy, " unwise way except due South "

They began walking country china people, first thing they came to was china milkmaid milking china cow drew near, the cow suddenly gave kick and kicked over the stool, the pail, and even the milkmaid herself, and all fell china ground with great clatter

Dorothy was shocked cow had broken her leg off, and pail was lying in several small pieces, while the poor milkmaid had nick in her left elbow

"There ! " cried the milkmaid angrily "See what you ! My cow has broken her leg, and take her mender's shop it glued on again What by coming here and frightening my cow ? "

"I'm very sorry," returned Dorothy "Please forgive us "

But the pretty milkmaid was much too vexed any answer She picked up the leg sulkily and led her cow away, the poor animal limping on three legs As she left them the milkmaid cast many reproachful glances over her shoulder clumsy strangers, holding her nicked elbow close to her side

Dorothy was quite grieved mishap

" very careful here," said the kind-hearted Woodman, "or hurt these pretty little people so never get over it "

little farther on Dorothy met most beautifully dressed young Princess, who stopped short as she saw the strangers and started to run away

Dorothy wanted more Princess, so she ran after her But the china girl cried out:

"Don't chase me ! Don't chase me ! "

She had such frightened little voice that Dorothy stopped and said, " ? "

"Because," answered the Princess, also stopping, safe distance away, "if I run fall down and break myself "

"But could you not be mended ? " asked the girl

"Oh, yes; but one is never so pretty after being mended, ," replied the Princess

"I suppose not," said Dorothy

"Now Mr Joker, clowns," continued the china lady, " always trying to stand upon his head He has broken himself so often that mended in hundred places, and doesn't look at all pretty Here he comes now, so you "

Indeed, jolly little clown came walking toward them, and Dorothy that pretty clothes of red and yellow and green completely covered with cracks, running every and showing plainly that he mended in many places

The Clown put his hands pockets, and after puffing out his cheeks and nodding his head at them saucily, :