Dorothy's Journey: The Wizard of Oz Chapters 1-4 Summarized

Hey, you. [Music] I know you've been having some trouble

sleeping lately, so I thought I could try something to help you wind down before bed.

What do you think? Yeah. You want to try? Okay.

I was thinking that I could read to you. Yeah, I'll lay in bed with you and

I'll read out loud until you fall asleep. I bet it's been a long time since

someone has read out loud to you, right? Well, let's try it. And listen, it's okay if you don't fall

asleep. You know, if you still can't turn your mind off and relax, it's okay. There's no pressure.

But I'm just going to sit here and read to you. And I have a feeling that you'll

probably fall asleep. I think my voice might have a magic touch, but we'll see.

All right. Well, let's get in bed. Let's get nice and cozy and pull the blankets up.

Get your pillow adjusted exactly how you like it. And

yeah, just lay down. There you go. Make sure it's comfy in here. You know,

if you want the air turned up or down or I don't know, if the light is too bright, you can turn it down a little.

Just make your environment as cozy as possible. Very good.

All right, baby. I was thinking that tonight I'll read

The Wizard of Oz. How does that sound? I'm not sure if you've ever read it

before, but I'm sure you've seen the movie. Or maybe you haven't. I don't know.

But it's such a great story. It's really adventurous and a bit fantastical.

It's also amusing, entertaining, can be funny at times.

I think it's a great story to fall asleep to. Okay,

let's get started. Just remember, I'm right here beside you, okay? If you need anything, just

let me know. All right, baby. I'm going to start reading now.

Chapter one, The Cyclone. Dorothy lived in the midst of the great

Kansas prairies with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt M, who was the farmer's wife.

Their house was small, for the lumber to build, it had to be carried by wagon many miles.

There were four walls, a floor, and a roof, which made one room. And this room contained a rusty looking

cook stove, a cover for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs,

and the beds. Uncle Henry and Aunt M had a big bed in one corner,

and Dorothy a little bed in another corner. There was no Garrett at all and no

cellar except a small hole dug in the ground called a cyclone cellar where the family could go in case one of those

great whirlwinds arose mighty enough to crush any building in its path.

It was reached by a trap door in the middle of the floor from which a ladder led down into a small dark hole.

When Dorothy stood in the doorway and looked around, she could see nothing but the great gray

prairie on every side. Not a tree nor a house broke the broad sweep of flat country that reached to

the edge of the sky in all directions. The sun had baked the plowed land into a gray mass with little cracks running

through it. Even the grass was not green, for the sun had burned the tops of the long

blades until they were the same gray color to be seen everywhere. Once the house had been painted, but the

sun blistered the paint and the rains washed it away. And now the house was as dull and gray as everything else.

When Aunt M came there to live, she was a young, pretty wife. The sun and wind had changed her, too.

They had taken the sparkle from her eyes and left them sober gray. They had taken the red from her cheeks

and lips, and those were gray also. She was thin and gaunt and never smiled. Now,

when Dorothy, who was an orphan, first came to her, Aunt M, had been so startled by the child's laughter that

she would scream and press her hand upon her heart whenever Dorothy's merry voice reached her ears,

and she still looked at the little girl with wonder that she could find anything to laugh at.

Uncle Henry never laughed. He worked hard from morning till night and did not know what joy was. He was gray also,

from his long beard to his rough boots, and he looked stern and solemn and rarely spoke.

It was Toto that made Dorothy laugh and saved her from growing as gray as her other surroundings.

Toto was not gray. He was a little black dog with long silky hair and small black eyes that

twinkled merrily on either side of his funny wee nose. Toto played all day long

and Dorothy played with him and loved him dearly. Today, however, they were not playing.

Uncle Henry sat upon the doorstep and looked anxiously at the sky, which was even grayer than usual.

Dorothy stood in the door with Toto in her arms and looked at the sky, too. Aunt M was washing the dishes.

From the far north, they heard a low whale of the wind, and Uncle Henry and Dorothy could see where the long grass

bowed in waves before the coming storm. There now came a sharp whistling in the air from the south.

And as they turned their eyes that way, they saw ripples in the grass coming from that direction also.

Suddenly, Uncle Henry stood up. There's a cyclone coming in. He called to his wife. I'll go look after the

stock. Then he ran towards the sheds where the cows and horses were kept.

Aunt M dropped her work and came to the door. One glance told her of the danger close

at hand. "Quick, Dorothy," she screamed. "Run for the cellar." Toto jumped out of Dorothy's arms and

hid under the bed. And the girl started to get him. Aunt M, badly frightened, threw open the

trap door in the floor and climbed down the ladder into the small, dark hole. Dorothy caught Toto at last and started

to follow her aunt. When she was halfway across the room, there came a great shriek from the wind,

and the house shook so hard that she lost her footing and sat suddenly upon the floor.

Then a strange thing happened. The house swirled around two or three times and rose slowly through the air.

Dorothy felt as if she were going up in a balloon. North and south winds met where the

house stood and made it the exact center of the cyclone. In the middle of a cyclone, the air is

generally still. The great pressure of the wind on every side of the house raised it up higher

and higher until it was at the very top of the cyclone. And there it remained and was carried

miles and miles away as easily as you could carry a feather. It was very dark and the wind howled

horribly around her. Dorothy found she was writing quite easily.

After the first few whirls around, and one other time, the house tipped badly. She felt as if she were being

rocked gently, like a baby in a cradle. Toto did not like it. He ran about the room, now here, now there, barking

loudly. But Dorothy sat quite still on the floor and waited to see what would happen.

Once Toto got too near the open trap door and fell in. And at first the little girl thought she had lost him.

But soon she saw one of his ears sticking up through the hole for the strong pressure of the air was keeping

him up so that he could not fall. She crept to the hole, caught Toto by the ear.

and dragged him into the room again. Afterward, closing the trap door so that no more accidents could happen.

Hour after hour passed away. And slowly Dorothy got over her fright, but she felt quite lonely, and the wind shrieked

so loudly all about her that she nearly became deaf. At first, she wondered if she would be

dashed to pieces when the house fell again. But as the hours passed and nothing

terrible happened, she stopped worrying and resolved to wait calmly and see what the future would bring.

At last, she crawled over the swaying floor to her bed and lay down upon it, and Toto followed and lay down beside

her. In spite of the swaying of the house and the wailing of the wind,

Dorothy soon closed her eyes and fell fast asleep. Chapter 2.

The Council of the Munchkins. She was awakened by a shock so sudden and severe that if Dorothy had not been

lying on the soft bed, she might have been hurt. As it was, the jar made her catch her

breath and wonder what had happened. And Toto put his cold little nose into her face and whed dismally.

Dorothy sat up and noticed that the house was not moving, nor was it dark, for the bright sunshine

came in at the window, flooding the little room. She sprang from her bed and with Toto at

her heels, ran and opened the door. The little girl gave a cry of amazement and looked about her, her eyes growing

bigger and bigger at the wonderful sights she saw.

A cyclone had set the house down very gently for a cyclone in the midst of a country

of marvelous beauty. There were lovely patches of green swar about,

stately trees bearing rich and luscious fruits. Banks of gorgeous flowers were on every

hand and birds with rare and brilliant plumage sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes.

A little way off was a small brook rushing and sparkling along between green banks and murmuring in a voice

very grateful to a little girl who had lived so long in the dry gray prairies. While she stood looking eagerly at the

strange and beautiful sights, she noticed coming toward her a group of the queerest people she had ever seen.

They were not as big as the grown folk she had always been used to, but neither were they very small.

In fact, they seemed about as tall as Dorothy, who was a well-grown child for her age,

although they were, so far as looks go, many years older. Three were men and one a woman, and all

were oddly dressed. They wore round hats that rose to a small point of foot above their heads

with little bells around the brim that tinkled sweetly as they moved. The hats of the men were blue. The

little woman's hat was white, and she wore a white gown that hung in pleat from her shoulders. Over

it were sprinkled little stars that glistened in the sun like diamonds. The men were dressed in blue of the same

shade as their hats and wore well polished boots with a deep roll of blue at the tops.

The men, Dorothy thought, were about as old as Uncle Henry, for two of them had beards.

But the little woman was doubtless much older. Her face was covered with wrinkles. Her hair was nearly white, and

she walked rather stiffly. When these people drew near the house where Dorothy was standing in the

doorway, they paused and whispered among themselves

as if afraid to come farther. The little old woman walked up to Dorothy,

made a low bow, and said in a sweet voice, "You are welcome, most noble sorceress

to the land of the Munchkins. We are so grateful for you for having killed the wicked witch of the east and

for setting our people free from bondage." Dorothy listened to this

What could the little woman possibly mean by calling her sorceress and saying she had killed the wicked

witch of the east? Dorothy was an innocent, harmless little girl who had been carried by a cyclone

many miles from home. She had never killed anything in all her life. But the little woman evidently expected

her to answer. So Dorothy said with hesitation. You were very kind. There must be some

mistake. I have not killed anything. Your house did anyway, replied the

little old woman with a laugh. And that is the same thing. See? And that is the same thing.

See, she continued, pointing to the corner of the house. There are her two feet still sticking

out from under a block of wood. Dorothy looked and gave a little cry of fright. There indeed, just under the

corner of the great beam the house rested on. Two feet were sticking out, shaw in silver shoes with pointed toes.

"Oh dear, oh dear," cried Dorothy, clasping her hands together into the house must have fallen on her.

"Whatever shall we do?" "There is nothing to be done," said the little woman, calmly.

But who was she? asked Dorothy. She was the wicked witch of the east. As I said, answered the little woman. She

has held all the munchkins in bondage for many years, making them slave for her night and day.

Now they are all set free and are grateful to you for the favor. Who are the Munchkins? Inquired Dorothy.

They are the people live in this land of the east when the wicked witch ruled. "Are you a munchkin?" asked Dorothy.

"No, but I am their friend. Although I live in the land of the north."

When they saw the witch of the east was dead, the munchkin sent a swift messenger to me, and I came once.

I am the witch of the north. Oh, gracious," cried Dorothy. "Are you a real witch?"

"Yes, indeed," answered the little woman. "But I am a good witch, and the people love me. I am not as powerful as

the wicked witch was. I am not as powerful as the wicked witch was who ruled here, or I should have set

the people free myself." But I thought all witches were wicked, said the girl, who was half frightened

at facing a real witch. Oh no, that is a great mistake. There were only four witches in all the

land of Oz, and two of them, those who lived in the north and the south, are good witches.

I know this is true, for I am one of them myself and cannot be mistaken. Those The east and the west were indeed

wicked witches. But now that you have killed one of them, there is but one wicked witch in

all the land of Oz, the one who lives in the west. But said Dorothy after a moment's

thought, Aunt M has told me that witches were all dead years and years ago.

Who is Aunt M? inquired the little old woman. She is my aunt who lives in Kansas where

I came from. The witch of the north seemed to think for a time, her head bowed and her eyes

upon the ground. Then she looked up and said, "I do not know where Kansas is, for I have never

heard that country mentioned before, but tell me, is it a civilized country?" Oh yes, replied Dorothy.

Then that accounts for it. In the civilized countries, I believe there are no witches left, nor wizards, nor

sorceresses, nor magicians. But you see, the land of Oz has never been civilized, for we are cut off from

all the rest of the world. Therefore, we still have witches and wizards amongst us.

"Who are the wizards?" asked Dorothy. "Z himself is the great wizard," answered the witch, sinking her voice to

a whisper. "He is more powerful than all the rest of us together. He lives in the city of emeralds."

Dorothy was going to ask another question, but just then the Munchkins, who had been standing silently by, gave

a loud shout and pointed to the corner of the house where the wicked witch had been lying.

"What is it?" asked the little old woman and looked and began to laugh. The feet of the dead witch had disappeared

entirely, and nothing was left but the silver shoes. She was so old, explained the witch of

the north, that she dried up quickly in the sun. That is the end of her. But the silver

shoes are yours, and you shall have them to wear." She reached down and picked up the shoes

and after shaking the dust out of them, handed them to Dorothy. "The witch of the east was proud of

those silver shoes," said one of the munchkins. "And there is some charm connected with them.

But what is we never know." Dorothy carried the shoes into the house and placed them on the table.

Then she came out again to the Munchkins and said, "I am anxious to get back to my aunt and

uncle, for I am sure they will worry about me. Can you help me find my way?" The Munchkins and the witch first looked

at one another and then at Dorothy and then shook their heads. "At the east, not far from here," said

one, "there is a great desert, and none could live to cross it. It is the same at the south, said

another, for I have been there and seen it. The south is the country of the Quadlands.

I am told, said the third man, that it is the same at the west. And that country where the Winkies live is ruled

by the wicked witch of the west and would make you her slave if you passed her way.

The north is my home, said the old lady. And at its edge is the same great desert that surrounds this land of pawns.

I'm afraid, my dear, you will have to live with us." Dorothy began to sob at this, for she

felt lonely among all these strange people. Her tears seemed to grieve the

kindhearted munchkins, for they immediately took out their handkerchiefs and began to weep also.

As for the little old woman, she took off her cap and balanced the point on the end of her nose

while she counted one, two, three in a solemn voice. At once the cap changed to a slate on

which was written in big white chalk marks. Let Dorothy go to the city of immance.

The little old woman took the slate from her nose and having read the words on it asked, "Is your name Dorothy, my dear?"

"Yes," answered the child, looking up and drying her tears. Then you must go to the city of

emeralds. Perhaps Oz will help you. Where is this city? asked Dorothy.

It is exactly in the center of the country and is ruled by Oz the great wizard I told you.

Is he a good man? Inquired the girliously. He is a good wizard. Whether he is a man

or not, I cannot tell, for I have never seen him. How can I get there? asked Dorothy.

You must walk. It is a long journey through a country that is sometimes pleasant and sometimes dark and

terrible. However, I will use all the magic arts I know of to keep you from home.

"Won't you go with me?" pleaded the girl who had begun to look upon the little old woman as her only friend.

"No, I cannot do that," she replied. "But I will give you my kiss, and no one will dare injure a person who has been

kissed by the witch of the north." She came close to Dorothy and kissed her gently on the forehead.

where her lips touched the girl they left a round shining mark as Dorothy found soon after.

"The road to the city of emeralds is paved with yellow brick," said the witch. "So you cannot miss it. When you

get to Oz, do not be afraid of him. But tell your story and ask him to help you. Goodbye, my dear."

The three munchkins bowed low to her and wished her a pleasant journey, after which they walked away through the

trees. The witch gave Dorothy a friendly little nod, whirled around on her left heel

three times, and straight away disappeared, much to the surprise of little Toto, who

barked after her loudly enough when she had gone because he had been afraid to grow. She stood by.

But Dorothy, knowing her to be a witch, had expected her to disappear in just that way.

and was not surprised in the least. Chapter 3. How Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow.

When Dorothy was left alone, she began to feel hungry. So, she went to the cupboard and cut

herself some bread, which she spread with butter. She gave some to Toto and taking a pale

from the shelf, she carried it down to the little brook and filled it with clear, sparkling water.

Toto ran over to the trees and began to bark at the birds sitting there. Dorothy went to get him and saw such

delicious fruits hanging from the branches and she gathered some of it, finding it just what she wanted to help

out her breakfast. Then she went back to the house and having helped herself and Toto to a good

drink of the cool, clear water, she set about making ready for the journey to the city of emeralds.

Dorothy had only one other dress, but that happened to be clean and was hanging on the peg beside her bed.

It was gingham with checks of white and blue. Although the blue was somewhat faded with many washings, it was still a

pretty frock. The girl washed herself carefully, dressed herself in a clean game,

and tied her pink sun bonnet on her head. She took a little basket and filled it

with bread from the cupboard, laying a white cloth over the top. And she looked down at her feet and

noticed how old and worn her shoes were. They surely will never do for a long journey, Toto," she said. And Toto

looked up into her face with his little black eyes and wagged his tail to show he knew what she meant.

At that moment, Dorothy saw lying on the table the silver shoes that had belonged to the witch of the east.

I wonder if they will fit me, she said to him. They would be just the thing to take a long walk in, for they could not

wear out. She took off her old leather shoes and tried on the silver ones, which fitted

her as well as if they had been made for her. Finally, she picked up her basket.

"Come along, Toto," she said. We will go to the Emerald City and ask the great Oz how to get back to Kansas again.

She closed the door, locked it, and put the key carefully in the pocket of her dress.

And so, Toto, trotting along soberly behind her, she started on her journey. There were several roads nearby, but it

did not take her long to find the one paved with yellow bricks. Within a short time, she was walking

briskly toward the emerald city, her silver shoes tinkling narr yellow bed. The sun shone bright and the birds sang

sweetly. And Dorothy did not feel nearly so bad as you might think a little girl who had.

The sun shone bright and the birds sang sweetly. And Dorothy did not feel nearly so bad as you might think a little girl

would, who had been suddenly whisked away from her own country and sat down in the midst of a strange land.

She was surprised as she walked along to see how pretty the country was about her. There were neat fences at the sides

of the road painted a dainty blue color. And beyond them were fields of grain and vegetables and

evidently the munchkins were good farmers and able to raise large crops. Once in a while she would pass a house

and the people came out to look at her and bow low as she went by. For everyone knew she had been the means of

destroying the wicked witch and setting them free from bondage. The houses of the Munchkins were

oddlooking dwellings, for each was round with a big dome for a roof. All were painted blue, for in this

country of the east, blue was the favorite color. Toward evening, when Dorothy was tired

with her long walk, and began to wonder where she should pass the night, she came to a house rather larger than the

rest. On the green lawn before it, many men and women were dancing. Five little fiddlers played as loud as

possible and the people were laughing and singing while the big table nearby was loaded with delicious fruits and

nuts, pies and cakes and many other good things to eat. The people greeted Dorothy kindly and

invited her to supper and to pass the night with them. For this was the home of one of the richest munchkins in the

land, and his friends were gathered with him to celebrate their freedom from the bondage of the wicked witch.

Dorothy ate a hearty supper and was waited upon by the rich munchkin himself, whose name was Bach.

And she sat upon a seti and watched the people dance. When Boach saw her silver shoes, he

said, "You must be a great sorceress." "Why?" asked the girl. "Because you wear silver shoes and have killed the wicked

witch. Besides, you have white and your frock, and only witches and sorceresses wear white."

"My dress is blue and white checked," said Dorothy, smoothing out the wrinkles in it. It is kind of you to wear that,

said Buck. Blue is the color of the Munchkins, and white is the witch color, so we know you are a friendly witch.

Dorothy did not know what to say to this, for all the people seemed to think her a witch, and she knew very well she

was only an ordinary little girl who had come by the chance of a cyclone into a strange land,

and she had tired of watching the dancing. Bach led her into the house where he

gave her a room with a pretty bed in it. The sheets were made of blue cloth and Dorothy slept soundly in them till

morning with Toto curled up on the blue rug beside her. She ate a hearty breakfast and watched a

wee munchkin baby who played with Toto and pulled his tail and crowed and laughed in a way that greatly amused

Dorothy. Toto was a fine curiosity to all the people.

But they had never seen a dog before. "How far is it to the Emerald City?" the girl asked.

"I do not know," answered Bach gravely, "for I have never been there." "It is better for people to keep away from Oz

unless they have business with him." "But it is a long way to the Emerald City, and it will take you many days.

The country here is rich and pleasant, but you must pass through rough and dangerous places before you reach the

end of your journey. This worried Dorothy a little, but she knew that only the great Oz could help

her get to Kansas again, so she bravely resolved not to turn back. She paid her friends goodbye and again

started along the road of yellow brick. When she had gone several miles, she thought she would stop to rest and so

climbed to the top of the fence beside the road and sat down. There was a great cornfield beyond the

fence. And not far away, she saw a scarecrow placed high on a pole to keep the birds from the ripe corn.

Dorothy leaned her chin upon her hand and gazed thoughtfully at the scarecrow. Its head was a small sack stuffed with

straw with eyes, nose, and mouth painted on it to represent a face. An old pointed blue hat

that belonged to some munchkin was perched on his head, and the rest of the figure was a blue suit of clothes worn

and faded, which had also been stuffed with straw. On his feet were some old boots with

blue tops. such as every man wore in this country. And the figure was raised above the stalks of corn by means of the

pole stuck up its back. While Dorothy was looking earnestly into the queer painted face of the scarecrow,

she was surprised to see one of the eyes slowly wink at her. She thought she must have been mistaken

at first, for none of the scarecrows in Kansas ever wink. But presently the figure nodded its head

to her in a friendly way. And she climbed down from the fence and walked up to her while Toto ran around

the pole and barked. "Good day," said the scarecrow in a rather husky voice. "Did you speak?"

asked the girl in wonder. "Certainly," answered the scarecrow. "How do you do?" I'm pretty well, thank you, replied

Dorothy politely. How do you do? I'm not feeling well, said the scarecrow with a smile. For it is very tedious

being perched up here night and day to scare away crows. Can't you get down? asked Dorothy.

No, for this pole is stuck up my back. If you will please take away the pole, I shall be greatly obliged to you.

Dorothy reached up both arms and lifted the figure off the pole, for being stuffed with straw is quite light.

"Thank you very much," said the scarecrow when he had been set down on the ground. "I feel like a new man."

Dorothy was puzzled at this, for it sounded queer to hear a stuffed man speak, and to see him bow and walk along

beside her. "Who are you?" asked the scarecrow when he had stretched himself and yawned.

"And where are you going?" "My name is Dorothy," said the girl. "And I'm going to the Emerald City to

ask the great Oz to send me back to Kansas." "Where's the Emerald City?" he inquired.

"And who is Oz?" "Why, don't you know?" she returned in surprise.

No, indeed I don't know anything. You see, I'm stuffed, so I have no brains at all, answered sadly.

Oh, said Dorothy, I'm awfully sorry for you. Do you think, he asked, if I go to the

Emerald City with you, that Oz could give me some brains? I cannot tell, she returned. But you may

come with me if you like. If Oz will not give you any brains, you will be no worse off than you are now.

That is true, said the scarecrow. You see, he continued confidently. I don't mind my legs and arms and body

being stuffed because I cannot get hurt. If anyone treads on my toes or sticks a pen into me, it doesn't matter, for I

can't feel it. But I do not want people to call me a fool. And if my head stays stuffed with

straw instead of brains as yours is, how am I ever to know anything? I understand how you feel, said the

little girl, who was truly sorry for him. If you will come with me, I'll ask Oz to

do all he can for you. Thank you, he answered gratefully. They walked back to the road. Dorothy

helped him over the fence and they started along the path of yellow brick for the emerald city.

Toto did not like the addition to the party at first. He smelled around the stuffed man as if he suspected there

might be a nest of rats in the straw, and he often growled in an unfriendly way at the scarecrow.

"Don't mind, Toto," said Dorothy to her new friend. "He never bites." "Oh, I'm not afraid," replied the

scarecrow. He can't hurt the stroll. Do let me carry that basket for you. I shall not mind it, for I can't get

tired. I'll tell you a secret, he continued as he walked along. There is only one thing

in the world I am afraid of. What is that? asked Dorothy. The munchkin farmer who made you? No,

answered the scarecrow. It's a lighted match. Chapter 4.

the road through the forest. After a few hours, the road began to be rough and the walking grew so difficult

that the scarecrow often stumbled over the yellow bricks which were very uneven.

Sometimes indeed they were broken or missing, leaving holes that Toto jumped across and Dorothy walked around.

As for the scarecrow, having no brains, he walked straight ahead and so stepped into the holes and fell at full length

on the hard bricks. It never hurt him, however, and Dorothy would pick him up and set him upon his

feet again, while he joined her in laughing merrily at his own mouth. The farms were not nearly so well cared

for here as they were farther back. There were fewer houses and fewer fruit trees, and the farther they went, the

more dismal and lonesome the country became. At noon, they sat down by the roadside

near a little brook, and Dorothy opened her basket and got out some bread. She offered a piece to the scarecrow,

but he refused. "I am never hungry," he said. And it is a lucky thing I am not. For my mouth is

only painted. And if I should cut a hole in it so I could eat, the straw I stuffed with would come out and that

would spoil the shape of my head. Dorothy saw at once that this was true. So she only nodded and went on eating

her bread. Tell me something about yourself and the country you came from, said the

scarecrow when she had finished her dinner. So she told him all about Kansas and how gray everything was there and

how the cyclone had carried her to this queer land of the scarecrow listened carefully and

said, "I cannot understand why you should wish to leave this beautiful country and go back to the dry, gray

place you call Kansas." "That is because you have no brains," answered the girl.

No matter how dreary and gray our homes are, we people of flesh and blood would rather live there than in any other

country, be it ever so beautiful. There's no place like home. The scarecrow sighed.

Of course, I cannot understand it, he said. If your heads were stuffed with straw like mine, you would probably all

live in the beautiful places and then Kansas would have no people at all. It is fortunate for Kansas that you have

brains. Won't you tell me a story while we are resting? asked the child.

The scarecrow looked at her reproachfully and answered. My life has been so short that I really

know nothing whatever. I was only made day before yesterday. What happened in the world before that

time is all unknown to me. Luckily, when the farmer made my head, one of the first things he did was to

paint my ears so that I heard what was going on. There was another munchkin with him, and

the first thing I heard was the farmer say, "How do you like those ears?" "They aren't straight," answered the

other. "Never mind," said the farm. "They are ears just the same," which was true enough.

Now I'll make the eyes, said the farmer. So he painted my right eye, and as soon as it was finished, I found myself

looking at him and at everything around me with a great deal of curiosity, for this was my first glimpse of the

world. "That's a rather pretty eye," remarked the Munchkin, who was watching the

farmer. Blue paint is just the color for eyes. I think I'll make the other a little

bigger, said the farmer. And when the second eye was done, I could see much better than before.

Then he made my nose and my mouth. But I did not speak because at that time I didn't know what a mouth was for.

I had the fun of watching them make my body and my arms and legs. And when they fastened on my head, at

last I felt very proud. I thought I was just as good a man as anyone.

"This fellow will scare the crows fast enough," said the farmer. "He looks just like a man." "Why, he is a man," said

the other. "And I quite agreed with him. The farmer carried me under his arm to the cornfield and set me up on a tall

stick where he found me. He and his friend soon after walked away and left me alone.

I did not like to be deserted this way, so I tried to walk after them, but my feet would not touch the ground, and I

was forced to stay on that pole. It was a lonely life to lead, for I had nothing to think of, having been made

such a little while before. Many crows and other birds flew into the cornfield.

But as soon as they saw me, they flew away again, thinking I was a munchkin. And this pleased me and made me feel

that I was quite an important person. By and by, an old crow flew near me. And after looking at me carefully, he

perched upon my shoulder and said, "I wonder if that farmer thought to fool me in this clumsy manner.

Any crow of sense could see that you are only stuffed with straw." Then he hopped down at my feet and ate

all the corn he wanted. The other birds, seeing he was not harmed by me, came to eat the corn, too.

So, in a short time, there was a great flock of them about me. I felt sad at this, for it showed I was

not such a good scarecrow after all. But the old crow comforted me, saying, "If you only had brains in your head, you

would be as good a man as any of them, and a better man than some of them." Brains are the only things worth having

in this world, no matter whether one is a crow or a man. After the crows had gone, I thought this

over. And I decided I would try hard to get some brains.

By good luck, you came along and pulled me off the stick. And from what you say, I'm sure the

great Oz will give me brains as soon as we get to Emerald City. I hope so, said Dorothy earnestly, since

you seem anxious to have them. Oh, yes, I am anxious, returned the scarecrow.

It is such an uncomfortable feeling to know one is a fool. Well, said the girl, "Let us go." And

she handed the basket to the scarecrow. There were no fences at all by the roadside now, and the land was rough and

untilled. Toward evening, they came to a great forest, where the trees grew so big and

close together that their branches met over the road of yellow brick. It was almost dark under the trees, for

the branches shut out the daylight, but the travelers did not stop and went on into the forest.

If this road goes in, it must come out, said the Scarecrow. And as the Emerald City is at the other

end of the road, we must go wherever it leads us. Anyone would know that, said Dorothy.

Certainly, that is why I know it, returned the Scarecrow. If it required brains to figure it out, I never should

have said it. After an hour or so, After an hour or so, the light faded away, and they found

themselves stumbling along in the darkness. Dorothy could not see at all, but Toto

could, for some dogs see very well in the dark, and the scarecrow declared, "He could see as well as by day."

So she took hold of his arm and managed to get along fairly well. If you see any house or any place where

we can pass the night, she said, you must tell me, for it is very uncomfortable walking in the dark.

Soon after, the scarecrow stopped. I see a little cottage at the right of us, he said, built of logs and branches.

Shall we go there? Yes, indeed, answered the child. I am all tired out.

So the scarecrow led her through the trees until they reached the cottage and Dorothy entered and found a bed of dried

leaves in one corner. She lay down at once and with Toto beside her soon fell into a sound sleep. The scarecrow, who

was never tired, stood up in another corner and waited patiently until morning came.

[Music]