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〃Yes；〃 answered the Scarecrow。 〃Everything is green here；
while in the country of the Munchkins blue was the favorite color。
But the people do not seem to be as friendly as the Munchkins； and
I'm afraid we shall be unable to find a place to pass the night。〃
〃I should like something to eat besides fruit；〃 said the girl；
〃and I'm sure Toto is nearly starved。 Let us stop at the next
house and talk to the people。〃
So； when they came to a good…sized farmhouse； Dorothy walked
boldly up to the door and knocked。
A woman opened it just far enough to look out； and said；
〃What do you want； child； and why is that great Lion with you？〃
〃We wish to pass the night with you； if you will allow us；〃
answered Dorothy； 〃and the Lion is my friend and comrade； and
would not hurt you for the world。〃
〃Is he tame？〃 asked the woman； opening the door a little wider。
〃Oh； yes；〃 said the girl； 〃and he is a great coward； too。
He will be more afraid of you than you are of him。〃
〃Well；〃 said the woman； after thinking it over and taking
another peep at the Lion； 〃if that is the case you may come in；
and I will give you some supper and a place to sleep。〃
So they all entered the house； where there were； besides the
woman； two children and a man。 The man had hurt his leg； and was
lying on the couch in a corner。 They seemed greatly surprised to
see so strange a company； and while the woman was busy laying the
table the man asked：
〃Where are you all going？〃
〃To the Emerald City；〃 said Dorothy； 〃to see the Great Oz。〃
〃Oh； indeed！〃 exclaimed the man。 〃Are you sure that Oz will see you？〃
〃Why not？〃 she replied。
〃Why； it is said that he never lets anyone come into his presence。
I have been to the Emerald City many times； and it is a beautiful and
wonderful place； but I have never been permitted to see the Great Oz；
nor do I know of any living person who has seen him。〃
〃Does he never go out？〃 asked the Scarecrow。
〃Never。 He sits day after day in the great Throne Room of his
Palace； and even those who wait upon him do not see him face to face。〃
〃What is he like？〃 asked the girl。
〃That is hard to tell；〃 said the man thoughtfully。 〃You see；
Oz is a Great Wizard； and can take on any form he wishes。 So that
some say he looks like a bird； and some say he looks like an
elephant； and some say he looks like a cat。 To others he appears
as a beautiful fairy； or a brownie； or in any other form that
pleases him。 But who the real Oz is； when he is in his own form；
no living person can tell。〃
〃That is very strange；〃 said Dorothy； 〃but we must try； in
some way； to see him； or we shall have made our journey for nothing。〃
〃Why do you wish to see the terrible Oz？〃 asked the man。
〃I want him to give me some brains；〃 said the Scarecrow eagerly。
〃Oh； Oz could do that easily enough；〃 declared the man。
〃He has more brains than he needs。〃
〃And I want him to give me a heart；〃 said the Tin Woodman。
〃That will not trouble him；〃 continued the man； 〃for Oz has a
large collection of hearts； of all sizes and shapes。〃
〃And I want him to give me courage；〃 said the Cowardly Lion。
〃Oz keeps a great pot of courage in his Throne Room；〃 said
the man； 〃which he has covered with a golden plate； to keep it
from running over。 He will be glad to give you some。〃
〃And I want him to send me back to Kansas；〃 said Dorothy。
〃Where is Kansas？〃 asked the man； with surprise。
〃I don't know；〃 replied Dorothy sorrowfully； 〃but it is my home；
and I'm sure it's somewhere。〃
〃Very likely。 Well； Oz can do anything； so I suppose he will
find Kansas for you。 But first you must get to see him； and that
will be a hard task； for the Great Wizard does not like to see anyone；
and he usually has his own way。 But what do YOU want？〃 he continued；
speaking to Toto。 Toto only wagged his tail； for； strange to say；
he could not speak。
The woman now called to them that supper was ready； so they
gathered around the table and Dorothy ate some delicious porridge
and a dish of scrambled eggs and a plate of nice white bread； and
enjoyed her meal。 The Lion ate some of the porridge； but did not
care for it； saying it was made from oats and oats were food for
horses； not for lions。 The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman ate
nothing at all。 Toto ate a little of everything； and was glad to
get a good supper again。
The woman now gave Dorothy a bed to sleep in； and Toto lay
down beside her； while the Lion guarded the door of her room so
she might not be disturbed。 The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman
stood up in a corner and kept quiet all night； although of course
they could not sleep。
The next morning； as soon as the sun was up； they started on
their way； and soon saw a beautiful green glow in the sky just
before them。
〃That must be the Emerald City；〃 said Dorothy。
As they walked on； the green glow became brighter and brighter；
and it seemed that at last they were nearing the end of their travels。
Yet it was afternoon before they came to the great wall that surrounded
the City。 It was high and thick and of a bright green color。
In front of them； and at the end of the road of yellow brick；
was a big gate； all studded with emeralds that glittered so in the
sun that even the painted eyes of the Scarecrow were dazzled by
their brilliancy。
There was a bell beside the gate； and Dorothy pushed the
button and heard a silvery tinkle sound within。 Then the big gate
swung slowly open； and they all passed through and found
themselves in a high arched room； the walls of which glistened
with countless emeralds。
Before them stood a little man about the same size as the
Munchkins。 He was clothed all in green； from his head to his
feet； and even his skin was of a greenish tint。 At his side was a
large green box。
When he saw Dorothy and her companions the man asked；
〃What do you wish in the Emerald City？〃
〃We came here to see the Great Oz；〃 said Dorothy。
The man was so surprised at this answer that he sat down to
think it over。
〃It has been many years since anyone asked me to see Oz；〃
he said； shaking his head in perplexity。 〃He is powerful and
terrible； and if you come on an idle or foolish errand to bother
the wise reflections of the Great Wizard； he might be angry and
destroy you all in an instant。〃
〃But it is not a foolish errand； nor an idle one；〃 replied the
Scarecrow； 〃it is important。 And we have been told that Oz is a
good Wizard。〃
〃So he is；〃 said the green man； 〃and he rules the Emerald City
wisely and well。 But to those who are not honest； or who approach
him from curiosity； he is most terrible； and few have ever dared
ask to see his face。 I am the Guardian of the Gates； and since
you demand to see the Great Oz I must take you to his Palace。
But first you must put on the spectacles。〃
〃Why？〃 asked Dorothy。
〃Because if you did not wear spectacles the brightness and
glory of the Emerald City would blind you。 Even those who live in
the City must wear spectacles night and day。 They are all locked
on； for Oz so ordered it when the City was first built； and I have
the only key that will unlock them。〃
He opened the big box； and Dorothy saw that it was filled with
spectacles of every size and shape。 All of them had green glasses
in them。 The Guardian of the Gates found a pair that would just
fit Dorothy and put them over her eyes。 There were two golden
bands fastened to them that passed around the back of her head；
where they were locked together by a little key that was at the
end of a chain the Guardian of the Gates wore around his neck。
When they were on； Dorothy could not take them off had she wished；
but of course she did not wish to be blinded by the glare of the
Emerald City； so she said nothing。
Then the green man fitted spectacles for the Scarecrow and the
Tin Woodman and the Lion； and even on little Toto； and all were
locked fast with the key。
Then the Guardian of the Gates put on his own glasses and told
them he was ready to show them to the Palace。 Taking a big golden
key from a peg on the wall； he opened another gate； and they all
followed him through the portal into the streets of the Emerald City。
11。 The Wonderful City of Oz
Even with eyes protected by the green spectacles； Dorothy
and her friends were at first dazzled by the brilliancy of the
wonderful City。 The streets were lined with beautiful houses all
built of green marble and studded everywhere with sparkling
emeralds。 They walked over a pavement of the same green marble；
and where the blocks were joined toge