English
DorothyandherfellowtravelersrodeawayfromtheCuttenclipvillageandfollowedtheindistinctpathasfarasthesign-post.
Heretheytookthemainroadagainandproceededpleasantlythroughtheprettyfarmingcountry.
Wheneveningcametheystoppedatadwellingandwerejoyfullywelcomedandgivenplentytoeatandgoodbedsforthenight.
Earlynextmorning,however,theywereupandeagertostart,andafteragoodbreakfasttheybadetheirhostgood-byeandclimbedintotheredwagon,towhichtheSawhorsehadbeenhitchedallnight.
Beingmadeofwood,thishorsenevergottirednorcaredtoliedown.
Dorothywasnotquitesurewhetherheeversleptornot,butitwascertainthatheneverdidwhenanybodywasaround.
TheweatherisalwaysbeautifulinOz,andthismorningtheairwascoolandrefreshingandthesunshinebrilliantanddelightful.
Inaboutanhourtheycametoaplacewhereanotherroadbranchedoff.Therewasasign-postherewhichread:
THISWAYTOFUDDLECUMJIG
“Oh,hereiswhereweturn,”saidDorothy,observingthesign.
“What!ArewegoingtoFuddlecumjig?”askedtheCaptainGeneral.
“Yes;OzmathoughtwemightenjoytheFuddles.Theyaresaidtobeveryinteresting,”shereplied.
“Noonewouldsuspectitfromtheirname,”saidAuntEm.“Whoarethey,anyhow?Morepaperthings?”
“Ithinknot,”answeredDorothy,laughing;“butIcan’tsay‘zactly,AuntEm,whattheyare.We’llfindoutwhenwegetthere.”
“PerhapstheWizardknows,”suggestedUncleHenry.
“No;I’veneverbeentherebefore,”saidtheWizard.“ButI’veoftenheardofFuddlecumjigandtheFuddles,whoaresaidtobethemostpeculiarpeopleinalltheLandofOz.”
“Inwhatway?”askedtheShaggyMan.
“Idon’tknow,I’msure,”saidtheWizard.
Justthen,astheyrodealongtheprettygreenlanetowardFuddlecumjig,theyespiedakangaroosittingbytheroadside.
Thepooranimalhaditsfacecoveredwithbothitsfrontpawsandwascryingsobitterlythatthetearscourseddownitscheeksintwotinystreamsandtrickledacrosstheroad,wheretheyformedapoolinasmallhollow.
TheSawhorsestoppedshortatthispitifulsight,andDorothycriedout,withreadysympathy:
“What’sthematter,Kangaroo?”
“Boo-hoo!Boo-hoo!”wailedtheKangaroo;“I’velostmymi—mi—mi—Oh,boo-hoo!Boo-hoo!”—
“Poorthing,”saidtheWizard,“she’slosthermister.It’sprobablyherhusband,andhe’sdead.”
“No,no,no!”sobbedthekangaroo.“It—itisn’tthat.I’velostmymi—mi—Oh,boo,boo-hoo!”
“Iknow,”saidtheShaggyMan;“she’slosthermirror.”
“No;it’smymi—mi—mi—Boo-hoo!Mymi—Oh,Boo-hoo!”andthekangaroocriedharderthanever.
“Itmustbehermince-pie,”suggestedAuntEm.
“Orhermilk-toast,”proposedUncleHenry.
“I’velostmymi—mi—mittens!”saidthekangaroo,gettingitoutatlast.
“Oh!”criedtheYellowHen,withacackleofrelief.“Whydidn’tyousaysobefore?”
“Boo-hoo!I—I—couldn’t,”answeredthekangaroo.
“But,seehere,”saidDorothy,“youdon’tneedmittensinthiswarmweather.”
“Yes,indeedIdo,”repliedtheanimal,stoppinghersobsandremovingherpawsfromherfacetolookatthelittlegirlreproachfully.
“Myhandswillgetallsunburnedandtannedwithoutmymittens,andI’vewornthemsolongthatI’llprobablycatchcoldwithoutthem.”
“Nonsense!”saidDorothy.“Ineverheardofanykangaroowearingmittens.”
“Didn’tyou?”askedtheanimal,asifsurprised.
“Never!”repeatedthegirl.“Andyou’llprobablymakeyourselfsickifyoudon’tstopcrying.Wheredoyoulive?”
“AbouttwomilesbeyondFuddlecumjig,”wastheanswer.“GrandmotherGnitmademethemittens,andshe’soneoftheFuddles.”
“Well,you’dbettergohomenow,andperhapstheoldladywillmakeyouanotherpair,”suggestedDorothy.“We’reonourwaytoFuddlecumjig,andyoumayhopalongbesideus.”
Sotheyrodeon,andthekangaroohoppedbesidetheredwagonandseemedquicklytohaveforgottenherloss.ByandbytheWizardsaidtotheanimal:
“AretheFuddlesnicepeople?”
“Oh,verynice,”answeredthekangaroo;“thatis,whenthey’reproperlyputtogether.Buttheygetdreadfullyscatteredandmixedup,attimes,andthenyoucan’tdoanythingwiththem.”
“Whatdoyoumeanbytheirgettingscattered?”inquiredDorothy.
“Why,they’remadeinagoodmanysmallpieces,”explainedthekangaroo;“andwheneveranystrangercomesnearthemtheyhaveahabitoffallingapartandscatteringthemselvesaround.
That’swhentheygetsodreadfullymixed,andit’sahardpuzzletoputthemtogetheragain.”
“Whousuallyputsthemtogether?”askedOmbyAmby.
“Anyonewhoisabletomatchthepieces.
IsometimesputGrandmotherGnittogethermyself,becauseIknowhersowellIcantelleverypiecethatbelongstoher.
Then,whenshe’sallmatched,sheknitsforme,andthat’showshemademymittens.
Butittookagoodmanydayshardknitting,andIhadtoputGrandmothertogetheragoodmanytimes,becauseeverytimeIcamenear,she’dscatterherself.”
“Ishouldthinkshewouldgetusedtoyourcoming,andnotbeafraid,”saidDorothy.
“Itisn’tthat,”repliedthekangaroo.“They’renotabitafraid,whenthey’reputtogether,andusuallythey’reveryjollyandpleasant.
It’sjustahabittheyhave,toscatterthemselves,andiftheydidn’tdoittheywouldn’tbeFuddles.”
Thetravelersthoughtuponthisquiteseriouslyforatime,whiletheSawhorsecontinuedtocarrythemrapidlyforward.ThenAuntEmremarked:
“Idon’tseemuchuseourvisitin’theseFuddles.Ifwefindthemscattered,allwecandoistosweep‘emup,andthengoaboutourbusiness.”
“Oh,Ib’lievewe’dbettergoon,”repliedDorothy.“I’mgettinghungry,andwemusttrytogetsomeluncheonatFuddlecumjig.Perhapsthefoodwon’tbescatteredasbadlyasthepeople.”
“You’llfindplentytoeatthere,”declaredthekangaroo,hoppingalonginbigboundsbecausetheSawhorsewasgoingsofast;“andtheyhaveafinecook,too,ifyoucanmanagetoputhimtogether.There’sthetownnow—justaheadofus!”
Theylookedaheadandsawagroupofveryprettyhousesstandinginagreenfieldalittleapartfromthemainroad.
“SomeMunchkinscamehereafewdaysagoandmatchedalotofpeopletogether,”saidthekangaroo.
“Ithinktheyaretogetheryet,andifyougosoftly,withoutmakinganynoise,perhapstheywon’tscatter.”
“Let’stryit,”suggestedtheWizard.
SotheystoppedtheSawhorseandgotoutofthewagon,and,afterbiddinggoodbyetothekangaroo,whohoppedawayhome,theyenteredthefieldandverycautiouslyapproachedthegroupofhouses.
Sosilentlydidtheymovethatsoontheysawthroughthewindowsofthehouses,peoplemovingaround,whileotherswerepassingtoandfrointheyardsbetweenthebuildings.
Theyseemedmuchlikeotherpeoplefromadistance,andapparentlytheydidnotnoticethelittlepartysoquietlyapproaching.
TheyhadalmostreachedthenearesthousewhenTotosawalargebeetlecrossingthepathandbarkedloudlyatit.
Instantlyawildclatterwasheardfromthehousesandyards.
Dorothythoughtitsoundedlikeasuddenhailstorm,andthevisitors,knowingthatcautionwasnolongernecessary,hurriedforwardtoseewhathadhappened.
Aftertheclatteranintensestillnessreignedinthetown.
Thestrangersenteredthefirsthousetheycameto,whichwasalsothelargest,andfoundthefloorstrewnwithpiecesofthepeoplewholivedthere.
Theylookedmuchlikefragmentsofwoodneatlypainted,andwereofallsortsofcuriousandfantasticshapes,notwopiecesbeinginanywayalike.
Theypickedupsomeofthesepiecesandlookedatthemcarefully.
OnonewhichDorothyheldwasaneye,whichlookedatherpleasantlybutwithaninterestedexpression,asifitwonderedwhatshewasgoingtodowithit.
Quitenearbyshediscoveredandpickedupanose,andbymatchingthetwopiecestogetherfoundthattheywerepartofaface.
“IfIcouldfindthemouth,”shesaid,“thisFuddlemightbeabletotalk,andtelluswhattodonext.”
“Thenletusfindit,”repliedtheWizard,andsoallgotdownontheirhandsandkneesandbeganexaminingthescatteredpieces.
“I’vefoundit!”criedtheShaggyMan,andrantoDorothywithanodd-shapedpiecethathadamouthonit.
Butwhentheytriedtofitittotheeyeandnosetheyfoundthepartswouldn’tmatchtogether.
“Thatmouthbelongstosomeotherperson,”saidDorothy.“Youseeweneedacurvehereandapointthere,tomakeitfittheface.”
“Well,itmustbeheresomeplace,”declaredtheWizard;“soifwesearchlongenoughweshallfindit.”
Dorothyfittedanearonnext,andtheearhadalittlepatchofredhairaboveit.
Sowhiletheothersweresearchingforthemouthshehuntedforpieceswithredhair,andfoundseveralofthemwhich,whenmatchedtotheotherpieces,formedthetopofaman’shead.
ShehadalsofoundtheothereyeandtheearbythetimeOmbyAmbyinafarcornerdiscoveredthemouth.
Whenthefacewasthuscompleted,allthepartsjoinedtogetherwithanicetythatwasastonishing.
“Why,it’slikeapicturepuzzle!”exclaimedthelittlegirl.“Let’sfindtherestofhim,andgethimalltogether.”
“What’stherestofhimlike?”askedtheWizard.“Herearesomepiecesofbluelegsandgreenarms,butIdon’tknowwhethertheyarehisornot.”
“Lookforawhiteshirtandawhiteapron,”saidtheheadwhichhadbeenputtogether,speakinginaratherfaintvoice.“I’mthecook.”
“Oh,thankyou,”saidDorothy.“It’sluckywestartedyoufirst,forI’mhungry,andyoucanbecookingsomethingforustoeatwhilewematchtheotherfolkstogether.”
Itwasnotsoverydifficult,nowthattheyhadahintastohowthemanwasdressed,tofindtheotherpiecesbelongingtohim,andasallofthemnowworkedonthecook,tryingpieceafterpiecetoseeifitwouldfit,theyfinallyhadthecooksetupcomplete.
Whenhewasfinishedhemadethemalowbowandsaid:
“Iwillgoatoncetothekitchentoprepareyourdinner.
YouwillfinditsomethingofajobtogetalltheFuddlestogether,soIadviseyoutobeginontheLordHighChigglewitz,whosefirstnameisLarry.
He’sabald-headedfatmanandisdressedinabluecoatwithbrassbuttons,apinkvestanddrabbreeches.
Apieceofhisleftkneeismissing,havingbeenlostyearsagowhenhescatteredhimselftoocarelessly.
Thatmakeshimlimpalittle,buthegetsalongverywellwithhalfaknee.
AsheisthechiefpersonageinthistownofFuddlecumjig,hewillbeabletowelcomeyouandassistyouwiththeothers.
SoitwillbebesttoworkonhimwhileI’mgettingyourdinner.”
“Wewill,”saidtheWizard;“andthankyouverymuch,Cook,forthesuggestion.”
AuntEmwasthefirsttodiscoverapieceoftheLordHighChigglewitz.
“Itseemstomelikeafoolbusiness,thismatchingfolkstogether,”sheremarked;“butaswehaven’tanythingtodotilldinner’sready,wemayaswellgetridofsomeofthisrubbish.
Here,Henry,getbusyandlookforLarry’sbaldhead.I’vegothispinkvest,allright.”
Theyworkedwitheagerinterest,andBillinaprovedagreathelptothem.
TheYellowHenhadsharpeyesandcouldputherheadclosetothevariouspiecesthatlayscatteredaround.
ShewouldexaminetheLordHighChigglewitzandseewhichpieceofhimwasnextneeded,andthenhuntarounduntilshefoundit.
SobeforeanhourhadpassedoldLarrywasstandingcompletebeforethem.
“Icongratulateyou,myfriends,”hesaid,speakinginacheerfulvoice.
“Youarecertainlythecleverestpeoplewhoevervisitedus.
Iwasnevermatchedtogethersoquicklyinmylife.
I’mconsideredagreatpuzzle,usually.”
“Well,”saidDorothy,“thereusedtobeapicturepuzzlecrazeinKansas,andsoI’vehadsome‘speriencematchingpuzzles.
Butthepictureswereflat,whileyouareround,andthatmakesyouhardertofigureout.”
“Thankyou,mydear,”repliedoldLarry,greatlypleased.“Ifeelhighlycomplimented.WereInotareallygoodpuzzle,therewouldbenoobjectinmyscatteringmyself.”
“Whydoyoudoit?”askedAuntEm,severely.“Whydon’tyoubehaveyourself,andstayputtogether?”
TheLordHighChigglewitzseemedannoyedbythisspeech;buthereplied,politely:
“Madam,youhaveperhapsnoticedthateverypersonhassomepeculiarity.Mineistoscattermyself.
WhatyourownpeculiarityisIwillnotventuretosay;butIshallneverfindfaultwithyou,whateveryoudo.”
“Nowyou’vegotyourdiploma,Em,”saidUncleHenry,withalaugh,“andI’mgladofit.Thisisastrangecountry,andwemayaswelltakepeopleaswefindthem.”
“Ifwedid,we’dleavethesefolksscattered,”shereturned,andthisretortmadeeverybodylaughgood-naturedly.
JustthenOmbyAmbyfoundahandwithaknittingneedleinit,andtheydecidedtoputGrandmotherGnittogether.
SheprovedaneasierpuzzlethanoldLarry,andwhenshewascompletedtheyfoundherapleasantoldladywhowelcomedthemcordially.
Dorothytoldherhowthekangaroohadlosthermittens,andGrandmotherGnitpromisedtosettoworkatonceandmakethepooranimalanotherpair.
Thenthecookcametocallthemtodinner,andtheyfoundaninvitingmealpreparedforthem.
TheLordHighChigglewitzsatattheheadofthetableandGrandmotherGnitatthefoot,andtheguestshadamerrytimeandthoroughlyenjoyedthemselves.
Afterdinnertheywentoutintotheyardandmatchedseveralotherpeopletogether,andthisworkwassointerestingthattheymighthavespenttheentiredayatFuddlecumjighadnottheWizardsuggestedthattheyresumetheirjourney.
“ButIdon’tliketoleaveallthesepoorpeoplescattered,”saidDorothy,undecidedwhattodo.
“Oh,don’tmindus,mydear,”returnedoldLarry.
“EverydayorsosomeoftheGillikins,orMunchkins,orWinkiescomeheretoamusethemselvesbymatchingustogether,sotherewillbenoharminleavingthesepieceswheretheyareforatime.
ButIhopeyouwillvisitusagain,andifyoudoyouwillalwaysbewelcome,Iassureyou.”
“Don’tyouevermatcheachother?”sheinquired.
“Never;forwearenopuzzlestoourselves,andsotherewouldn’tbeanyfuninit.”
TheynowsaidgoodbyetothestrangeFuddlesandgotintotheirwagontocontinuetheirjourney.
“Thosearecertainlystrangepeople,”remarkedAuntEm,thoughtfully,astheydroveawayfromFuddlecumjig,“butIreallycan’tseewhatusetheyare,atall.”
“Why,theyamusedusallforseveralhours,”repliedtheWizard.“Thatisbeingofusetous,I’msure.”
“Ithinkthey’remorefunthanplayingsolitaireormumbletypeg,”declaredUncleHenry,soberly.“Formypart,I’mgladwevisitedtheFuddles.”
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