Earlythenextmorningheroseandtookawalkthroughthegardens,wherethereweretinfountainsandbedsofcurioustinflowers,andwheretinbirdspercheduponthebranchesoftintreesandsangsongsthatsoundedlikethenotesoftinwhistles.
AllthesewondershadbeenmadebythecleverWinkietinsmiths,whowoundthebirdsupeverymorningsothattheywouldmoveaboutandsing.
Afterbreakfasttheboywentintothethroneroom,wheretheEmperorwashavinghistinjointscarefullyoiledbyaservant,whileotherservantswerestuffingsweet,freshstrawintothebodyoftheScarecrow.
Thecoatwasbuttonedtighttokeepthepackedstrawfromfallingoutandaropewastiedaroundthewaisttoholditinshapeandpreventthestrawfromsaggingdown.
Wootnoticedthatevenwhencarefullystuffedandpattedintoshape,thestrawmanwasawkwardinhismovementsanddecidedlywobblyonhisfeet,sotheboywonderediftheScarecrowwouldbeabletotravelwiththemallthewaytotheforestsoftheMunchkinCountryofOz.
TheTinWoodmanshoulderedanaxewhichwassharpandbrightlypolished,andtheScarecrowputtheEmperor’soil-caninhispocket,thathemightoilhisfriend’sjointsshouldtheyneedit.
“Asamatteroffact,mypeopledonotneedanEmperor,forOzmaofOzwatchesoverthewelfareofallhersubjects,includingtheWinkies.
Likeagoodmanykingsandemperors,Ihaveagrandtitle,butverylittlerealpower,whichallowsmetimetoamusemyselfinmyownway.
ThepeopleofOzhavebutonelawtoobey,whichis:‘BehaveYourself,’soitiseasyforthemtoabidebythisLaw,andyou’llnoticetheybehaveverywell.
Butitistimeforustobeoff,andIameagertostartbecauseIsupposethatthatpoorMunchkingirlisanxiouslyawaitingmycoming.”
“She’swaitedalongtimealready,seemstome,”remarkedtheScarecrow,astheyleftthegroundsofthecastleandfollowedapaththatledeastward.
“True,”repliedtheTinWoodman;“butI’venoticedthatthelastendofawait,howeverlongithasbeen,isthehardesttoendure;soImusttrytomakeNimmieAmeehappyassoonaspossible.”
“It’stoobadhehasn’taLovingHeart,”saidWoot.“ThisTinManisgoingtomarryanicegirlthroughkindness,andnotbecausehelovesher,andsomehowthatdoesn’tseemquiteright.”
“Evenso,Iamnotsureitisn’tbestforthegirl,”saidtheScarecrow,whoseemedveryintelligentforastrawman,“foralovinghusbandisnotalwayskind,whileakindhusbandissuretomakeanygirlcontent.”
“Ishallhaveatingownmadeforher,withtinrufflesandtucksonit,andsheshallhavetinslippers,andtinearringsandbracelets,andwearatincrownonherhead.
“ArewegoingtotheMunchkinCountrybywayoftheEmeraldCity?”inquiredtheScarecrow,wholookedupontheTinWoodmanastheleaderoftheparty.
“Ithinknot,”wasthereply.“Weareengageduponaratherdelicateadventure,forweareseekingagirlwhofearsherformerloverhasforgottenher.
Itwillberatherhardforme,youmustadmit,whenIconfesstoNimmieAmeethatIhavecometomarryherbecauseitismydutytodoso,andthereforethefewerwitnessestherearetoourmeetingthebetterforbothofus.
AfterIhavefoundNimmieAmeeandshehasmanagedtocontrolherjoyatourreunion,IshalltakehertotheEmeraldCityandintroducehertoOzmaandDorothy,andtoBetsyBobbinandTinyTrot,andallourotherfriends;but,ifIrememberrightly,poorNimmieAmeehasasharptonguewhenangry,andshemaybeatrifleangrywithme,atfirst,becauseIhavebeensolongincomingtoher.”
“Icanunderstandthat,”saidWootgravely.“ButhowcanwegettothatpartoftheMunchkinCountrywhereyouoncelivedwithoutpassingthroughtheEmeraldCity?”
“IhaveamapofOzinmypocket,”persistedtheboy,“anditshowsthattheWinkieCountry,wherewenoware,isatthewestofOz,andtheMunchkinCountryattheeast,whiledirectlybetweenthemliestheEmeraldCity.”
“Trueenough;butweshallgotowardthenorth,firstofall,intotheGillikinCountry,andsopassaroundtheEmeraldCity,”explainedtheTinWoodman.
“IusedtoliveinoneofthetopcornersoftheGillikinCountry,neartoOogaboo,andIhavebeentoldthatinthisnorthlandcountryaremanypeoplewhomitisnotpleasanttomeet.
“AWanderershouldhavenofear,”observedtheScarecrow,whowaswobblingalonginafunny,haphazardmanner,butkeepingpacewithhisfriends.
“Feardoesnotmakeoneacoward,”returnedWoot,growingalittleredintheface,“butIbelieveitismoreeasytoavoiddangerthantoovercomeit.
OncearoundtheEmeraldCitywewillturnsouthintotheMunchkinCountry,wheretheScarecrowandIarewellacquaintedandhavemanyfriends.”
“IhavetraveledsomeintheGillikinCountry,”remarkedtheScarecrow,“andwhileImustsayIhavemetsomestrangepeoplethereattimes,Ihaveneveryetbeenharmedbythem.”
“Well,it’sallthesametome,”saidWoot,withassumedcarelessness.“Dangers,whentheycannotbeavoided,areoftenquiteinteresting,andIamwillingtogowhereveryoutwoventuretogo.”
Sotheyleftthepaththeyhadbeenfollowingandbegantotraveltowardthenortheast,andallthatdaytheywereinthepleasantWinkieCountry,andallthepeopletheymetsalutedtheEmperorwithgreatrespectandwishedhimgoodluckonhisjourney.
“WeretheScarecrowandIalone,”saidtheTinWoodman,“wewouldtravelbynightaswellasbyday;butwithameatpersoninourparty,wemusthaltatnighttopermithimtorest.”
“Meattires,afteraday’stravel,”addedtheScarecrow,“whilestrawandtinnevertireatall.Whichproves,”saidhe,“thatwearesomewhatsuperiortopeoplemadeinthecommonway.”
Wootcouldnotdenythathewastired,andhesleptsoundlyuntilmorning,whenhewasgivenagoodbreakfast,smokinghot.
“Itistrue,”respondedtheScarecrow.“Wemisssufferingfromhunger,whenfoodcannotbehad,andwemissastomachache,nowandthen.”
Allthatseconddaytheytraveledsteadily,entertainingoneanotherthewhilewithstoriesofadventurestheyhadformerlymetandlisteningtotheScarecrowrecitepoetry.
HehadlearnedagreatmanypoemsfromProfessorWogglebugandlovedtorepeatthemwheneveranybodywouldlistentohim.
Share this article to
FINISH