English
Wanderingthroughthewoods,withoutknowingwhereyouaregoingorwhatadventureyouareabouttomeetnext,isnotaspleasantasonemightthink.
Thewoodsarealwaysbeautifulandimpressive,andifyouarenotworriedorhungryyoumayenjoythemimmensely;butDorothywasworriedandhungrythatmorning,soshepaidlittleattentiontothebeautiesoftheforest,andhurriedalongasfastasshecouldgo.
Shetriedtokeepinonedirectionandnotcirclearound,butshewasnotatallsurethatthedirectionshehadchosenwouldleadhertothecamp.
Byandby,tohergreatjoy,shecameuponapath.
Itrantotherightandtotheleft,beinglostinthetreesinbothdirections,andjustbeforeher,uponabigoak,werefastenedtwosigns,witharmspointingbothways.Onesignread:
TAKETHEOTHERROADTOBUNBURY
andthesecondsignread:
TAKETHEOTHERROADTOBUNNYBURY
“Well!”exclaimedBillina,eyeingthesigns,“thislooksasifweweregettingbacktocivilizationagain.”
“I’mnotsureaboutthecivil’zation,dear,”repliedthelittlegirl;“butitlooksasifwemightgetSOMEWHERE,andthat’sabigrelief,anyhow.”
“Whichpathshallwetake?”inquiredtheYellowHen.
Dorothystaredatthesignsthoughtfully.
“Bunburysoundslikesomethingtoeat,”shesaid.“Let’sgothere.”
“It’sallthesametome,”repliedBillina.
Shehadpickedupenoughbugsandinsectsfromthemossasshewentalongtosatisfyherownhunger,butthehenknewDorothycouldnoteatbugs;norcouldToto.
ThepathtoBunburyseemedlittletraveled,butitwasdistinctenoughandranthroughthetreesinazigzagcourseuntilitfinallyledthemtoanopenspacefilledwiththestrangesthousesDorothyhadeverseen.
Theywereallmadeofcrackerslaidoutintinysquares,andwereofmanyprettyandornamentalshapes,havingbalconiesandporcheswithpostsofbread-sticksandroofsshingledwithwafer-crackers.
Therewerewalksofbread-crustsleadingfromhousetohouseandformingstreets,andtheplaceseemedtohavemanyinhabitants.
WhenDorothy,followedbyBillinaandToto,enteredtheplace,theyfoundpeoplewalkingthestreetsorassembledingroupstalkingtogether,orsittingupontheporchesandbalconies.
Andwhatfunnypeopletheywere!
Men,womenandchildrenwereallmadeofbunsandbread.
Somewerethinandothersfat;somewerewhite,somelightbrownandsomeverydarkofcomplexion.
Afewofthebuns,whichseemedtoformthemoreimportantclassofthepeople,wereneatlyfrosted.
Somehadraisinsforeyesandcurrantbuttonsontheirclothes;othershadeyesofclovesandlegsofstickcinnamon,andmanyworehatsandbonnetsfrostedpinkandgreen.
TherewassomethingofacommotioninBunburywhenthestrangerssuddenlyappearedamongthem.
Womencaughtuptheirchildrenandhurriedintotheirhouses,shuttingthecrackerdoorscarefullybehindthem.
Somemenransohastilythattheytumbledoveroneanother,whileothers,morebrave,assembledinagroupandfacedtheintrudersdefiantly.
Dorothyatoncerealizedthatshemustactwithcautioninordernottofrightentheseshypeople,whowereevidentlyunusedtothepresenceofstrangers.
Therewasadelightfulfragrantodoroffreshbreadinthetown,andthismadethelittlegirlmorehungrythanever.
ShetoldTotoandBillinatostaybackwhilesheslowlyadvancedtowardthegroupthatstoodsilentlyawaitingher.
“Youmust‘scusemeforcomingunexpected,”shesaid,softly,“butIreallydidn’tknowIwascominghereuntilIarrived.Iwaslostinthewoods,youknow,andI’mashungryasanything.”
“Hungry!”theymurmured,inahorrifiedchorus.
“Yes;Ihaven’thadanythingtoeatsincelastnight’ssupper,”sheexclaimed.“ArethereanyeatablesinBunbury?”
Theylookedatoneanotherundecidedly,andthenoneportlybunman,whoseemedapersonofconsequence,steppedforwardandsaid:
“Littlegirl,tobefrankwithyou,wearealleatables.
EverythinginBunburyiseatabletoravenoushumancreatureslikeyou.
Butitistoescapebeingeatenanddestroyedthatwehavesecludedourselvesinthisout-of-the-wayplace,andthereisneitherrightnorjusticeinyourcomingheretofeeduponus.”
Dorothylookedathimlongingly.
“You’rebread,aren’tyou?”sheasked.
“Yes;breadandbutter.Thebutterisinsideme,soitwon’tmeltandrun.Idotherunningmyself.”
Atthisjokealltheothersburstintoachorusoflaughter,andDorothythoughttheycouldn’tbemuchafraidiftheycouldlaughlikethat.
“Couldn’tIeatsomethingbesidespeople?”sheasked.“Couldn’tIeatjustonehouse,oraside-walkorsomething?Iwouldn’tmindmuchwhatitwas,youknow.”
“Thisisnotapublicbakery,child,”repliedtheman,sternly.“It’sprivateproperty.”
“IknowMr.—Mr.—”
“MynameisC.Bunn,Esquire,”saidtheman.“‘C’standsforCinnamon,andthisplaceiscalledaftermyfamily,whichisthemostaristocraticinthetown.”
“Oh,Idon’tknowaboutthat,”objectedanotherofthestrangepeople.
“TheGrahamsandtheBrownsandWhitesareallexcellentfamilies,andthereisnonebetteroftheirkind.I’maBostonBrown,myself.”
“Iadmityouarealldesirablecitizens,”saidMr.Bunnratherstiffly;“butthefactremainsthatourtowniscalledBunbury.”
“’Scuseme,”interruptedDorothy;“butI’mgettinghungriereveryminute.
Now,ifyou’repoliteandkind,asI’msureyououghttobe,you’llletmeeatSOMETHING.
There’ssomuchtoeatherethatyouwillnevermissit.”
Thenabig,puffed-upman,ofadelicatebrowncolor,steppedforwardandsaid:
“Ithinkitwouldbeashametosendthischildawayhungry,especiallyassheagreestoeatwhateverwecanspareandnottouchourpeople.”
“SodoI,Pop,”repliedaRollwhostoodnear.
“What,then,doyousuggest,Mr.Over?”inquiredMr.Bunn.
“Why,I’lllethereatmybackfence,ifshewantsto.It’smadeofwaffles,andthey’reverycrispandnice.”
“Shemayalsoeatmywheelbarrow,”addedapleasantlookingMuffin.“It’smadeofnabiscoswithazuzuwheel.”
“Verygood;verygood,”remarkedMr.Bunn.“Thatiscertainlyverykindofyou.GowithPopOverandMr.Muffin,littlegirl,andtheywillfeedyou.”
“Thankyouverymuch,”saidDorothy,gratefully.“MayIbringmydogToto,andtheYellowHen?They’rehungry,too.”
“Willyoumakethembehave?”askedtheMuffin.
“Ofcourse,”promisedDorothy.
“Thencomealong,”saidPopOver.
SoDorothyandBillinaandTotowalkedupthestreetandthepeopleseemednolongertobeatallafraidofthem.
Mr.Muffin’shousecamefirst,andashiswheelbarrowstoodinthefrontyardthelittlegirlatethatfirst.
Itdidn’tseemveryfresh,butshewassohungrythatshewasnotparticular.
Totoatesome,too,whileBillinapickedupthecrumbs.
Whilethestrangerswereengagedineating,manyofthepeoplecameandstoodinthestreetcuriouslywatchingthem.
Dorothynoticedsixroguishlookingbrownchildrenstandingallinarow,andsheasked:
“Whoareyou,littleones?”
“We’retheGrahamGems,”repliedone;“andwe’realltwins.”
“Iwonderifyourmothercouldspareoneortwoofyou?”askedBillina,whodecidedthattheywerefreshbaked;butatthisdangerousquestionthesixlittlegemsranawayasfastastheycouldgo.
“Youmustn’tsaysuchthings,Billina,”saidDorothy,reprovingly.“Nowlet’sgointoPopOver’sbackyardandgetthewaffles.”
“Isortofhatetoletthatfencego,”remarkedMr.Over,nervously,astheywalkedtowardhishouse.“TheneighborsbackofusareSodaBiscuits,andIdon’tcaretomixwiththem.”
“ButI’mhungryyet,”declaredthegirl.“Thatwheelbarrowwasn’tverybig.”
“I’vegotashortcakepiano,butnoneofmyfamilycanplayonit,”hesaid,reflectively.“Supposeyoueatthat.”
“Allright,”saidDorothy;“Idon’tmind.Anythingtobeaccommodating.”
SoMr.Overledherintothehouse,wheresheatethepiano,whichwasofanexcellentflavor.
“Isthereanythingtodrinkhere?”sheasked.
“Yes;I’veamilkpumpandawaterpump;whichwillyouhave?”heasked.
“IguessI’lltry‘emboth,”saidDorothy.
SoMr.Overcalledtohiswife,whobroughtintotheyardapailmadeofsomekindofbakeddough,andDorothypumpedthepailfullofcool,sweetmilkanddrankiteagerly.
ThewifeofPopOverwasseveralshadesdarkerthanherhusband.
“Aren’tyouoverdone?”thelittlegirlaskedher.
“Noindeed,”answeredthewoman.“I’mneitheroverdonenordoneover;I’mjustMrs.Over,andI’mthePresidentoftheBunburyBreakfastBand.”
Dorothythankedthemfortheirhospitalityandwentaway.
AtthegateMr.CinnamonBunnmetherandsaidhewouldshowheraroundthetown.
“Wehavesomeveryinterestinginhabitants,”heremarked,walkingstifflybesideheronhisstick-cinnamonlegs;“andallofuswhoareingoodhealtharewellbred.
Ifyouarenolongerhungrywewillcalluponafewofthemostimportantcitizens.”
TotoandBillinafollowedbehindthem,behavingverywell,andalittlewaydownthestreettheycametoahandsomeresidencewhereAuntSallyLunnlived.
Theoldladywasgladtomeetthelittlegirlandgaveherasliceofwhitebreadandbutterwhichhadbeenusedasadoor-mat.
ItwasalmostfreshandtastedbetterthananythingDorothyhadeateninthetown.
“Wheredoyougetthebutter?”sheinquired.
“Wedigitoutoftheground,which,asyoumayhaveobserved,isallflourandmeal,”repliedMr.Bunn.
“Thereisabutterminejustattheoppositesideofthevillage.
Thetreeswhichyouseeherearealldoughleandersanddoughderas,andintheseasonwegetquiteacropofdough-nutsoffthem.”
“Ishouldthinktheflourwouldblowaroundandgetintoyoureyes,”saidDorothy.
“No,”saidhe;“wearebotheredwithcrackerdustsometimes,butneverwithflour.”
ThenhetookhertoseeJohnnyCake,acheerfuloldgentlemanwholivednearby.
“Isupposeyou’veheardofme,”saidoldJohnny,withanairofpride.“I’magreatfavoriteallovertheworld.”
“Aren’tyouratheryellow?”askedDorothy,lookingathimcritically.
“Maybe,child.Butdon’tthinkI’mbilious,forIwasneverinbetterhealthinmylife,”repliedtheoldgentleman.“Ifanythingailedme,I’dwillinglyacknowledgethecorn.”
“Johnny’satriflestale,”saidMr.Bunn,astheywentaway;“buthe’sagoodmixerandnevergetscross-grained.
Iwillnowtakeyoutocalluponsomeofmyownrelatives.”
TheyvisitedtheSugarBunns,theCurrantBunnsandtheSpanishBunns,thelatterhavingadecidedlyforeignappearance.
ThentheysawtheFrenchRolls,whowereverypolitetothem,andmadeabriefcallupontheParkerH.Rolls,whoseemedabitproudandoverbearing.
“Butthey’renotasstuckupastheFrostedJumbles,”declaredMr.Bunn,“whoarepeopleIreallycan’tabide.
Idon’tliketobesuspiciousortalkscandal,butsometimesIthinktheJumbleshavetoomuchbakingpowderinthem.”
Justthenadreadfulscreamwasheard,andDorothyturnedhastilyaroundtofindasceneofgreatexcitementalittlewaydownthestreet.
ThepeoplewerecrowdingaroundTotoandthrowingathimeverythingtheycouldfindathand.
Theypeltedthelittledogwithhard-tack,crackers,andevenarticlesoffurniturewhichwerehardbakedandheavyenoughformissiles.
Totohowledalittleastheassortmentofbakestuffstruckhim;buthestoodstill,withheadbowedandtailbetweenhislegs,untilDorothyranupandinquiredwhatthematterwas.
“Matter!”criedaryeloafer,indignantly,“whythehorridbeasthaseatenthreeofourdearCrumpets,andisnowdevouringaSalt-risingBiscuit!”
“Oh,Toto!Howcouldyou?”exclaimedDorothy,muchdistressed.
Toto’smouthwasfullofhissalt-risingvictim;soheonlywhinedandwaggedhistail.ButBillina,whohadflowntothetopofacrackerhousetobeinasafeplace,calledout:
“Don’tblamehim,Dorothy;theCrumpetsdaredhimtodoit.”
“Yes,andyoupeckedouttheeyesofaRaisinBunn—oneofourbestcitizens!”shoutedabreadpudding,shakingitsfistattheYellowHen.
“What’sthat!What’sthat?”wailedMr.CinnamonBunn,whohadnowjoinedthem.“Oh,whatamisfortune—whataterriblemisfortune!”
“Seehere,”saidDorothy,determinedtodefendherpets,“Ithinkwe’vetreatedyouallprettywell,seeingyou’reeatablesan’reg’larfoodforus.
I’vebeenkindtoyouandeatenyouroldwheelbarrowsandpianosandrubbish,an’notsaidaword.
ButTotoandBillinacan’tbe‘spectedtogohungrywhenthetown’sfullofgoodthingstheyliketoeat,‘causetheycan’tunderstandyourstingywaysasIdo.”
“Youmustleavehereatonce!”saidMr.Bunn,sternly.
“Supposewewon’tgo?”saidDorothy,whowasnowmuchprovoked.
“Then,”saidhe,“wewillputyouintothegreatovenswherewearemade,andbakeyou.”
Dorothygazedaroundandsawthreateninglooksuponthefacesofall.
Shehadnotnoticedanyovensinthetown,buttheymightbethere,nevertheless,forsomeoftheinhabitantsseemedveryfresh.
Soshedecidedtogo,andcallingtoTotoandBillinatofollowhershemarchedupthestreetwithasmuchdignityaspossible,consideringthatshewasfollowedbythehootsandcriesofthebunsandbiscuitsandotherbakestuff.
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