English
ThetravelershadtakennoprovisionswiththembecausetheyknewthattheywouldbewelcomedwherevertheymightgointheLandofOz,andthatthepeoplewouldfeedandlodgethemwithgenuinehospitality.
Soaboutnoontheystoppedatafarm-houseandweregivenadeliciousluncheonofbreadandmilk,fruitsandwheatcakeswithmaplesyrup.
Afterrestingawhileandstrollingthroughtheorchardswiththeirhost—around,jollyfarmer—theygotintothewagonandagainstartedtheSawhorsealongthepretty,windingroad.
Thereweresignpostsatallthecorners,andfinallytheycametoonewhichread:
TAKETHISROADTOTHECUTTENCLIPS
Therewasalsoahandpointingintherightdirection,sotheyturnedtheSawhorsethatwayandfounditaverygoodroad,butseeminglylittletraveled.
“I’veneverseentheCuttenclipsbefore,”remarkedDorothy.
“NorI,”saidtheCaptainGeneral.
“NorI,”saidtheWizard.
“NorI,”saidBillina.
“I’vehardlybeenoutoftheEmeraldCitysinceIarrivedinthiscountry,”addedtheShaggyMan.
“Why,noneofushasbeenthere,then,”exclaimedthelittlegirl.“IwonderwhattheCuttenclipsarelike.”
“Weshallsoonfindout,”saidtheWizard,withaslylaugh.“I’veheardtheyareratherflimsythings.”
Thefarm-housesbecamefewerastheyproceeded,andthepathwasattimessofaintthattheSawhorsehadhardworktokeepintheroad.
Thewagonbegantojounce,too;sotheywereobligedtogoslowly.
Afterasomewhatwearisomejourneytheycameinsightofahighwall,paintedbluewithpinkornaments.
Thiswallwascircular,andseemedtoenclosealargespace.
Itwassohighthatonlythetopsofthetreescouldbeseenaboveit.
Thepathleduptoasmalldoorinthewall,whichwasclosedandlatched.Uponthedoorwasasigningoldlettersreadingasfollows:
VISITORSarerequestedtoMOVESLOWLYandCAREFULLY,andtoavoidCOUGHINGormakinganyBREEZEorDRAUGHT.
“That’sstrange,”saidtheShaggyMan,readingthesignaloud.“WhoAREtheCuttenclips,anyhow?”
“Why,they’repaperdolls,”answeredDorothy.“Didn’tyouknowthat?”
“Paperdolls!Thenlet’sgosomewhereelse,”saidUncleHenry.“We’realltoooldtoplaywithdolls,Dorothy.”
“Butthesearedifferent,”declaredthegirl.“They’realive.”
“Alive!”gaspedAuntEm,inamazement.
“Yes.Let’sgoin,”saidDorothy.
Sotheyallgotoutofthewagon,sincethedoorinthewallwasnotbigenoughforthemtodrivetheSawhorseandwagonthroughit.
“Youstayhere,Toto!”commandedDorothy,shakingherfingeratthelittledog.“You’resocarelessthatyoumightmakeabreezeifIletyouinside.”
Totowaggedhistailasifdisappointedatbeingleftbehind;buthemadenoefforttofollowthem.TheWizardunlatchedthedoor,whichopenedoutward,andtheyalllookedeagerlyinside.
Justbeforetheentrancewasdrawnupalineoftinysoldiers,withuniformsbrightlypaintedandpapergunsupontheirshoulders.
Theywereexactlyalike,fromoneendofthelinetotheother,andallwerecutoutofpaperandjoinedtogetherinthecentersoftheirbodies.
AsthevisitorsenteredtheenclosuretheWizardletthedoorswingbackintoplace,andatoncethelineofsoldierstumbledover,fellflatupontheirbacks,andlayflutteringupontheground.
“Hithere!”calledoneofthem;“whatdoyoumeanbyslammingthedoorandblowingusover?”
“Ibegyourpardon,I’msure,”saidtheWizard,regretfully.“Ididn’tknowyouweresodelicate.”
“We’renotdelicate!”retortedanothersoldier,raisinghisheadfromtheground.“Wearestrongandhealthy;butwecan’tstanddraughts.”
“MayIhelpyouup?”askedDorothy.
“Ifyouplease,”repliedtheendsoldier.“Butdoitgently,littlegirl.”
Dorothycarefullystoodupthelineofsoldiers,whofirstdustedtheirpaintedclothesandthensalutedthevisitorswiththeirpapermuskets.
Fromtheenditwaseasytoseethattheentirelinehadbeencutoutofpaper,althoughfromthefrontthesoldierslookedrathersolidandimposing.
“I’vealetterofintroductionfromPrincessOzmatoMissCuttenclip,”announcedDorothy.
“Verywell,”saidtheendsoldier,andblewuponapaperwhistlethathungaroundhisneck.
AtonceapapersoldierinaCaptain’suniformcameoutofapaperhousenearbyandapproachedthegroupattheentrance.
Hewasnotverybig,andhewalkedratherstifflyanduncertainlyonhispaperlegs;buthehadapleasantface,withveryredcheeksandveryblueeyes,andhebowedsolowtothestrangersthatDorothylaughed,andthebreezefromhermouthnearlyblewtheCaptainover.
Hewaveredandstruggledandfinallymanagedtoremainuponhisfeet.
“Takecare,Miss!”hesaid,warningly.“You’rebreakingtherules,youknow,bylaughing.”
“Oh,Ididn’tknowthat,”shereplied.
“Tolaughinthisplaceisnearlyasdangerousastocough,”saidtheCaptain.“You’llhavetobreatheveryquietly,Iassureyou.”
“We’lltryto,”promisedthegirl.“MayweseeMissCuttenclip,please?”
“Youmay,”promptlyreturnedtheCaptain.“Thisisoneofherreceptiondays.Begoodenoughtofollowme.”
Heturnedandledthewayupapath,andastheyfollowedslowly,becausethepaperCaptaindidnotmoveveryswiftly,theytooktheopportunitytogazearoundthematthisstrangepapercountry.
Besidethepathwerepapertrees,allcutoutveryneatlyandpaintedabrilliantgreencolor.
Andbackofthetreeswererowsofcardboardhouses,paintedinvariouscolorsbutmostofthemhavinggreenblinds.
Somewerelargeandsomesmall,andinthefrontyardswerebedsofpaperflowersquitenaturalinappearance.
Oversomeoftheporchespapervinesweretwined,givingthemacozyandshadylook.
Asthevisitorspassedalongthestreetagoodmanypaperdollscametothedoorsandwindowsoftheirhousestolookatthemcuriously.
Thesedollswerenearlyallthesameheight,butwerecutintovariousshapes,somebeingfatandsomelean.
Thegirldollsworemanybeautifulcostumesoftissuepaper,makingthemquitefluffy;buttheirheadsandhandswerenothickerthanthepaperofwhichtheyweremade.
Someofthepaperpeoplewereonthestreet,walkingalongorcongregatedingroupsandtalkingtogether;butassoonastheysawthestrangerstheyallflutteredintothehousesasfastastheycouldgo,soastobeoutofdanger.
“ExcusemeifIgoedgewise,”remarkedtheCaptainastheycametoaslighthill.“Icangetalongfasterthatwayandnotfluttersomuch.”
“That’sallright,”saidDorothy.“Wedon’tmindhowyougo,I’msure.”
Atonesideofthestreetwasapaperpump,andapaperboywaspumpingpaperwaterintoapaperpail.
TheYellowHenhappenedtobrushagainstthisboywithherwing,andheflewintotheairandfellintoapapertree,wherehestuckuntiltheWizardgentlypulledhimout.
Atthesametime,thepailwentintotheair,spillingthepaperwater,whilethepaperpumpbentnearlydouble.
“Goodnessme!”saidtheHen.“IfIshouldflopmywingsIbelieveI’dknockoverthewholevillage!”
“Thendon’tflopthem—pleasedon’t!”entreatedtheCaptain.“MissCuttenclipwouldbeverymuchdistressedifhervillagewasspoiled.”
“Oh,I’llbecareful,”promisedBillina.
“ArenotallthesepapergirlsandwomennamedMissCuttenclips?”inquiredOmbyAmby.
“Noindeed,”answeredtheCaptain,whowaswalkingbettersincehebegantomoveedgewise.
“ThereisbutoneMissCuttenclip,whoisourQueen,becauseshemadeusall.
ThesegirlsareCuttenclips,tobesure,buttheirnamesareEmilyandPollyandSueandBettyandsuchthings.
OnlytheQueeniscalledMissCuttenclip.”
“ImustsaythatthisplacebeatsanythingIeverheardof,”observedAuntEm.“Iusedtoplaywithpaperdollsmyself,an’cut‘emout;butIneverthoughtI’deverseesuchthingsalive.”
“Idon’tseeasit’sanymorecuriousthanhearinghenstalk,”returnedUncleHenry.
“You’relikelytoseemanystrangethingsintheLandofOz,sir,”saidtheWizard.“Butafairycountryisextremelyinterestingwhenyougetusedtobeingsurprised.”
“Hereweare!”calledtheCaptain,stoppingbeforeacottage.
Thishousewasmadeofwood,andwasremarkablyprettyindesign.
IntheEmeraldCityitwouldhavebeenconsideredatinydwelling,indeed;butinthemidstofthispapervillageitseemedimmense.
Realflowerswereinthegardenandrealtreesgrewbesideit.Uponthefrontdoorwasasignreading:
MISSCUTTENCLIP.
Justastheyreachedtheporchthefrontdooropenedandalittlegirlstoodbeforethem.SheappearedtobeaboutthesameageasDorothy,andsmilinguponhervisitorsshesaid,sweetly:
“Youarewelcome.”
Allthepartyseemedrelievedtofindthatherewasarealgirl,offleshandblood.
Shewasverydaintyandprettyasshestoodtherewelcomingthem.
Herhairwasagoldenblondeandhereyesturquoiseblue.
Shehadrosycheeksandlovelywhiteteeth.
Overhersimplewhitelawndresssheworeanapronwithpinkandwhitecheeks,andinonehandsheheldapairofscissors.
“MayweseeMissCuttenclip,please?”askedDorothy.
“IamMissCuttenclip,”wasthereply.“Won’tyoucomein?”
Sheheldthedooropenwhiletheyallenteredaprettysitting-roomthatwaslitteredwithallsortsofpaper—somestiff,somethin,andsometissue.
Thesheetsandscrapswereofallcolors.
Uponatablewerepaintsandbrushes,whileseveralpairofscissors,ofdifferentsizes,werelyingabout.
“Sitdown,please,”saidMissCuttenclip,clearingthepaperscrapsoffsomeofthechairs.
“ItissolongsinceIhavehadanyvisitorsthatIamnotproperlypreparedtoreceivethem.
ButI’msureyouwillpardonmyuntidyroom,forthisismyworkshop.”
“Doyoumakeallthepaperdolls?”inquiredDorothy.
“Yes;Icutthemoutwithmyscissors,andpaintthefacesandsomeofthecostumes.Itisverypleasantwork,andIamhappymakingmypapervillagegrow.”
“Buthowdothepaperdollshappentobealive?”askedAuntEm.
“ThefirstdollsImadewerenotalive,”saidMissCuttenclip.
“IusedtolivenearthecastleofagreatSorceressnamedGlindatheGood,andshesawmydollsandsaidtheywereverypretty.
ItoldherIthoughtIwouldlikethembetteriftheywerealive,andthenextdaytheSorceressbroughtmealotofmagicpaper.
‘Thisislivepaper,’shesaid,‘andallthedollsyoucutoutofitwillbealive,andabletothinkandtotalk.
Whenyouhaveuseditallup,cometomeandIwillgiveyoumore.’
“OfcourseIwasdelightedwiththispresent,”continuedMissCuttenclip,“andatoncesettoworkandmadeseveralpaperdolls,which,assoonastheywerecutout,begantowalkaroundandtalktome.
ButtheyweresothinthatIfoundthatanybreezewouldblowthemoverandscatterthemdreadfully;soGlindafoundthislonelyplaceforme,wherefewpeopleevercome.
Shebuiltthewalltokeepanywindfromblowingawaymypeople,andtoldmeIcouldbuildapapervillagehereandbeitsQueen.
ThatiswhyIcamehereandsettleddowntoworkandstartedthevillageyounowsee.
ItwasmanyyearsagothatIbuiltthefirsthouses,andI’vekeptprettybusyandmademyvillagegrowfinely;andIneednottellyouthatIamveryhappyinmywork.”
“Manyyearsago!”exclaimedAuntEm.“Why,howoldareyou,child?”
“Ineverkeeptrackoftheyears,”saidMissCuttenclip,laughing.
“Yousee,Idon’tgrowupatall,butstayjustthesameasIwaswhenfirstIcamehere.
PerhapsI’moldereventhanyouare,madam;butIcouldn’tsayforsure.”
Theylookedatthelovelylittlegirlwonderingly,andtheWizardasked:
“Whathappenstoyourpapervillagewhenitrains?”
“Itdoesnotrainhere,”repliedMissCuttenclip.
“Glindakeepsalltherainstormsaway;soIneverworryaboutmydollsgettingwet.
Butnow,ifyouwillcomewithme,itwillgivemepleasuretoshowyouovermypaperkingdom.
Ofcourseyoumustgoslowlyandcarefully,andavoidmakinganybreeze.”
Theyleftthecottageandfollowedtheirguidethroughthevariousstreetsofthevillage.
Itwasindeedanamazingplace,whenoneconsideredthatitwasallmadewithscissors,andthevisitorswerenotonlygreatlyinterestedbutfullofadmirationfortheskilloflittleMissCuttenclip.
InoneplacealargegroupofespeciallynicepaperdollsassembledtogreettheirQueen,whomitwaseasytoseetheyloveddearly.
Thesedollsmarchedanddancedbeforethevisitors,andthentheyallwavedtheirpaperhandkerchiefsandsanginasweetchorusasongcalled“TheFlagofOurNativeLand.”
Attheconclusionofthesongtheyranupahandsomepaperflagonatallflagpole,andallofthepeopleofthevillagegatheredaroundtocheerasloudlyastheycould—although,ofcourse,theirvoiceswerenotespeciallystrong.
MissCuttenclipwasabouttomakehersubjectsaspeechinreplytothispatrioticsong,whentheShaggyManhappenedtosneeze.
Hewasaveryloudandpowerfulsneezeratanytime,andhehadtriedsohardtoholdinthissneezethatwhenitsuddenlyexplodedtheresultwasterrible.
Thepaperdollsweremoweddownbydozens,andflewandflutteredinwildconfusionineverydirection,tumblingthiswayandthatandgettingmoreorlesswrinkledandbent.
Awailofterrorandgriefcamefromthescatteredthrong,andMissCuttenclipexclaimed:
“Dearme!dearme!”andhurriedatoncetotherescueofheroverturnedpeople.
“Oh,ShaggyMan!Howcouldyou?”askedDorothy,reproachfully.
“Icouldn’thelpit—reallyIcouldn’t,”protestedtheShaggyMan,lookingquiteashamed.“AndIhadnoideaittooksolittletoupsetthesepaperdolls.”
“Solittle!”saidDorothy.
“Why,itwas‘mostasbadasaKansascyclone.”
AndthenshehelpedMissCuttencliprescuethepaperfolkandstandthemontheirfeetagain.
Twoofthecardboardhouseshadalsotumbledover,andthelittleQueensaidshewouldhavetorepairthemandpastethemtogetherbeforetheycouldbelivedinagain.
Andnow,fearingtheymightdomoredamagetotheflimsypaperpeople,theydecidedtogoaway.ButfirsttheythankedMissCuttenclipverywarmlyforhercourtesyandkindnesstothem.
“AnyfriendofPrincessOzmaisalwayswelcomehere—unlesshesneezes,”saidtheQueenwitharatherseverelookattheShaggyMan,whohunghishead.
“Iliketohavevisitorsadmiremywonderfulvillage,andIhopeyouwillcallagain.”
MissCuttenclipherselfledthemtothedoorinthewall,andastheypassedalongthestreetthepaperdollspeepedatthemhalffearfullyfromthedoorsandwindows.
PerhapstheywillneverforgettheShaggyMan’sawfulsneeze,andIamsuretheywereallgladtoseethemeatpeoplegoaway.
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