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these strange people。 Her tears seemed to grieve the kind…hearted
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 EMERALDS〃
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 of。〃
〃Is he a good man？〃 inquired the girl anxiously。
〃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 harm。〃
〃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 out 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。
Good…bye； 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 straightway disappeared； much to the surprise of
little Toto； who barked after her loudly enough when she had gone；
because he had been afraid even to growl while 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。
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 pail 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 fruit hanging from the branches that 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 a peg beside her bed。 It was gingham；
with checks of white and blue； and although the blue was somewhat
faded with many washings； it was still a pretty frock。 The girl
washed herself carefully； dressed herself in the clean gingham；
and tied her pink sunbonnet on her head。 She took a little basket
and filled it with bread from the cupboard； laying a white cloth
over the top。 Then 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 Toto。 〃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； with Toto trotting along soberly
behind her； she started on her journey。
There were several roads near by； 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 merrily on the hard； yellow road…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 would who had
been suddenly whisked away from her own country and set 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 in abundance。 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 odd…looking 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
loudly as possible； and the people were laughing and singing；
while a big table near by 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 Boq。 Then she sat upon a settee
and watched the people dance。
When Boq 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 in 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 Boq。 〃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。
When she had tired watching the dancing； Boq 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； for they had never seen a dog before。
〃How far is it to the Emerald City？〃 the girl asked。
〃I do not know；〃 answered Boq 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 bade her friends good…bye； 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 a