Bedtime Story: The Wizard Of Oz Pt. 9

Good evening,

Beautiful souls,

And welcome to tonight's reading of The Wizard of Oz as we continue our journey with Dorothy and friends.

So taking a few moments now just to arrive fully in this space,

Allowing yourself some moments to relax into your bed,

Feeling yourself held and supported by the mattress beneath you,

Your head supported by your pillow,

And the gentle weight of the blanket or duvet atop you.

Maybe you want to take a moment to stretch out,

Stretching out your limbs,

Maybe taking a big yawn.

Making any last-minute adjustments that you need so that you are truly comfortable in your bed and ready to drift off into a blissful sleep.

And when you are ready,

Let's continue our adventures with Dorothy as she tries to make her way home to Kansas.

Attacked by the fighting trees,

The next morning Dorothy kissed the pretty green girl goodbye and they all shook hands with the soldier with the green whiskers who had walked with them as far as the gate.

When the guardian of the gate saw them again,

He wondered greatly that they could leave the beautiful city to get into new trouble.

But he at once unlocked their spectacles,

Which he put back into the green box and gave them many good wishes to carry with them.

You are now our ruler,

He said to the scarecrow,

So you must come back to us as soon as possible.

I certainly shall,

If I am able,

But I must help Dorothy to get home first.

As Dorothy bade the good-natured guardian a last farewell,

She said,

I have been very kindly treated in your lovely city and everyone has been good to me.

I cannot tell you how grateful I am.

Don't try,

My dear,

He answered.

We should like to keep you with us,

We should like to keep you with us,

But if it is your wish to return to Kansas,

I hope you will find a way.

He then opened the gate of the outer wall and they walked forth and started upon their journey.

The sun shone brightly as our friends turned their faces toward the land of the south.

They were all in the best of spirits and laughed and chatted together.

Dorothy was once more filled with the hope of getting home and the scarecrow and the tin woodman were glad to be of use to her.

As for the lion,

He sniffed the fresh air with delight and whisked his tail from side to side in pure joy at being out in the country again.

While Toto ran around them and chased the moths and butterflies,

Barking merrily all the time.

City life does not agree with me at all,

Remarked the lion.

As they walked along at a brisk pace.

I have lost much flesh since I lived there and now I am anxious for a chance to show the other beasts how courageous I have grown.

They turned now and took a last look at the emerald city.

All they could see was the city.

All they could see was a mass of towers and steeples behind the green walls and high up above everything,

The spires and dome of the palace of Oz.

Oz was not such a bad wizard after all,

Said the tin woodman as he felt his heart rattling around in his breast.

He knew how to give me brains and very good brains too,

Said the scarecrow.

If Oz had taken a dose of the same courage he gave me,

Added the lion,

He would have been a brave man.

Dorothy said nothing.

Oz had not kept the promise he made her but he had done his best so she forgave him.

As he said,

He was a good man even if he was a bad wizard.

The first day's journey was through the green fields and bright flowers that stretched about the emerald city on every side.

They slept that night on the grass with nothing but the stars over them and they rested very well indeed.

In the morning they travelled on until they came to a thick wood.

There was no way of going around it for it seemed to extend to the right and left as far as they could see and besides,

They did not dare change the direction of their journey for fear of getting lost.

So,

They looked for the place where it would be easiest to get into the forest.

The scarecrow,

Who was in the lead,

Finally discovered a big tree with such widespread branches that there was room for the party to pass underneath.

So,

He walked forward to the tree but just as he came under the first branches they bent down and twined around him and the next minute he was raised from the ground and flung headlong among his fellow travellers.

This did not hurt the scarecrow but it surprised him and he looked rather dizzy when Dorothy picked him up.

Here is another space between the trees called the lion.

Let me try it first,

Said the scarecrow for it doesn't hurt me to get thrown about.

He walked up to another tree but its branches immediately seized him and tossed him back again.

This is strange,

Exclaimed Dorothy.

What shall we do?

The trees seem to have made up their minds to fight us and stop our journey,

Remarked the lion.

I believe I will try it myself,

Said the woodman and shouldering his axe he marched up to the first tree that had handled the scarecrow so roughly.

When a big branch bent down to seize him the woodman chopped at it so fiercely that he cut it in two.

At once,

The tree began shaking all its branches as if it was in pain and the tin woodman passed safely under it.

Come on,

She shouted to the others.

Be quick.

They all ran forward and passed under the tree without injury except Toto who was caught by the tree.

He was caught by a small branch and shaken until he howled but the woodman promptly chopped off the branch and set the little dog free.

The other trees of the forest did nothing to keep them back so they made up their minds that only the first row of trees could bend down their branches and that probably these were the policemen of the forest and given this wonderful power in order to keep strangers out of it.

The four travellers walked with ease through the trees until they came to the farther edge of the wood.

Then,

To their surprise they found before them a high wall which seemed to be made of white china.

It was smooth like the surface of a dish and higher than their heads.

What shall we do now?

Asked Dorothy.

I will make a ladder said the tin woodman for we certainly must climb over the wall.

The dainty china country while the woodman was making a ladder from wood which he found in the forest.

Dorothy lay down and slept for she was tired by the long walk.

The lion also curled himself up to sleep and Toto lay beside him.

The scarecrow watched the woodman while he worked and said to him I cannot think why this wall is here nor what it is made of.

Rest your brains,

Scarecrow and do not worry about the wall.

When we have climbed over it we shall know what is on the other side.

After a time the ladder was finished.

It looked clumsy but the tin woodman was sure it was strong and would answer their purpose.

The scarecrow waked Dorothy and the lion and Toto and told them that the ladder was ready.

The scarecrow climbed up the ladder first but he was so awkward that Dorothy had to follow close behind and keep him from falling off.

When he got his head over the top of the wall the scarecrow said Oh my!

Go on!

Exclaimed Dorothy.

So the scarecrow climbed farther up and sat down on the top of the wall and Dorothy put her head over and cried Oh my!

Just as the scarecrow had done.

Then Toto came up and immediately began to bark but Dorothy made him be still.

The lion climbed up the ladder next and the tin woodman came last but both of them cried Oh my!

As soon as they looked over the wall.

When they were all sitting in a row on the top of the wall they looked down and saw a strange sight.

Before them was a great stretch of country having a floor as smooth and shining and white as the bottom of a big platter.

Scattered around were many houses made entirely of china and painted in the brightest colours.

These houses were quite small the biggest of them reaching only as high as Dorothy's waist.

There were also pretty little barns with china fences around them and many cows and sheep and horses and pigs and chickens all made of china were standing about in groups.

But the strangest of all were the people who lived in this queer country.

There were milkmaids and shepherd dresses with brightly coloured bodices and golden spots all over their gowns and princesses with most gorgeous frocks of silver and gold and purple and shepherds dressed in knee breeches with pink and yellow and blue stripes down them and golden buckles on their shoes and princes with jewelled crowns upon their heads wearing robes and satin doublets and funny clowns in ruffled gowns with round red spots upon their cheeks and tall pointed caps.

And strangest of all these people were all wearing these people were all made of china even to their clothes and were so small that the tallest of them was no higher than Dorothy's knee.

No one did so much as look at the travellers at first except one little purple china dog with an extra large head which came to the wall and barked at them in a tiny voice afterwards running away again.

How shall we get down?

Asked Dorothy.

They found the ladder so heavy they could not pull it up so the scarecrow fell off the wall and the others jumped down upon him so that the hard floor would not hurt their feet.

Of course they took pains not to land on his head.

When they were all safely down they picked up the scarecrow whose body was quite flattened out and patted his straw into shape again.

We must cross this strange place in order to get to the other side said Dorothy for it would be unwise for us to go any other way except due south.

They began walking through the country of the china people and the first thing they came to was a china milkmaid milking a china cow.

As they drew near the cow suddenly gave a kick and kicked over the stall,

The pail and even the milkmaid herself and all fell on the china ground with a great clatter.

Dorothy was shocked to see that the cow had broken her leg off and that the pail was lying in several small pieces while the poor milkmaid had a nick in her left elbow.

There,

Cried the milkmaid see what you have done my cow has broken her leg and I must take her to the mender shop and have it glued on again.

What do you mean by coming here and frightening my cow?

I'm very sorry returned Dorothy please forgive us.

But the pretty milkmaid was much too vexed to make any answer.

She picked up the leg sulkily and led her cow away the poor animal limping on three legs.

As she left them the milkmaid cast many reproachful glances over her shoulder at the clumsy strangers holding her nicked elbow close to her side.

Dorothy was quite grieved at this mishap.

We must be very careful here said the kind-hearted woodman or we may hurt these pretty little people so that they will never get over it.

A little farther on Dorothy met a most beautifully dressed young princess who stopped short as she saw the strangers and started to run away.

Dorothy wanted to see more of the princess so she ran after her but the china girl cried out don't chase me don't chase me she had such a frightened little voice that Dorothy stopped and said why not?

Because answered the princess also stopping a safe distance away if I run I may fall down and break myself but could you not be mended?

Asked Dorothy oh yes but one is never so pretty after being mended you know replied the princess I suppose not said Dorothy now there is Mr Joker now there is Mr Joker one of our clowns continued the china lady who is always trying to stand upon his head he has broken himself so often that he is mended in a hundred places and doesn't look at all pretty here he comes now so you can see for yourself indeed a jolly little clown came walking toward them and Dorothy could see that in spite of his pretty clothes of red and yellow and green he was completely covered with cracks running every which way and showing plainly that he had been mended in many places the clown put his hands in his pocket and after puffing out his cheeks and nodding his head at them sorcery he said my fair lady why do you stare at poor old Mr Joker?

You're quite as stiff and prim as if you'd eaten up a poker be quiet sir said the princess can't you see these are strangers and should be treated with respect well that's respect I expect declared the clown and immediately stood upon his head don't mind Mr Joker said the princess to Dorothy he is considerably cracked in his head and that makes him foolish oh I don't mind him a bit said Dorothy but you are so beautiful she continued that I am sure I could love you dearly won't you let me carry you back to Kansas and stand you on Aunt Em's mantle I could carry you in my basket that would make me very unhappy answered the china princess you see here in our country we live contentedly and can talk and move around as we please but whenever any of us are taken away our joints at once stiffen and we can only stand straight and look pretty of course that is all that is expected of us when we are on mantles and cabinets and drawing room tables but our lives are much pleasanter here in our own country I would not make you unhappy for all the world exclaimed Dorothy so I will just say goodbye goodbye replied the princess they walked carefully through the china country the little animals and all the people scampered out of their way fearing the strangers would break them and after an hour or so the travellers reached the other side of the country and came to another china wall it was not so high as the first however and by standing upon the lion's back they all managed to scramble to the top then the lion gathered his legs under him and jumped on the wall but just as he jumped but just as he jumped he upset a china church with his tail and smashed it all to pieces that was too bad said Dorothy but really I think we were lucky in not doing these little people more harm than breaking a cow's leg and a church they are all so brittle they are indeed said the scarecrow and I am thankful I am made of straw and cannot be easily damaged there are worse things in the world than being a scarecrow the lion becomes the king of beasts after climbing down from the china wall the travellers found themselves in a disagreeable country full of bogs and marshes and covered with tall rank grass it was difficult to walk without falling into muddy holes for the grass was so thick that it hid them from sight however by carefully picking their way they got safely along until they reached solid ground but here the country seemed wilder than ever and after a long and tiresome walk through the underbrush they entered another forest where the trees were bigger and older than any they had ever seen this forest is perfectly delightful declared the lion looking around him with joy never have I seen a more beautiful place it seems gloomy said the scarecrow not a bit of it answered the lion I should like to live here all my life see how soft the dried leaves are under your feet and how rich and green the moss is that clings to these old trees surely no wild beast could wish a pleasanter home perhaps there are wild beasts in the forest now said Dorothy I suppose there are returned the lion but I do not see any of them about they walked through the forest until it became too dark to go any farther Dorothy and Toto and the lion lay down to sleep while the woodman and the scarecrow kept watch over them as usual when morning came they started again before they had gone far they heard a low rumble as of the growling of many wild animals Toto whimpered a little but none of the others were frightened and they kept along the well-trodden path until they came to an opening in the wood in which were gathered hundreds of beasts of every variety there were tigers and elephants and bears and wolves and foxes and all the others in the natural history and for a moment Dorothy was afraid but the lion explained that the animals were holding a meeting and he judged by their snarling and growling that they were in great trouble as he spoke several of the beasts caught sight of him and at once the great ensemble hushed as if by magic the biggest of the tigers came up to the lion and bowed saying welcome oh king of beasts you have come in good time to fight our enemy and bring peace to all the animals of the forest once more what is your trouble?

Asked the lion quietly we are all threatened answered the tiger by a fierce enemy which has lately come into this forest it is a most tremendous monster like a great spider with a body as big as an elephant and legs as long as a tree trunk it has eight of these long legs and as the monster crawls through the forest he seizes an animal with a leg and drags it to his mouth where he eats it as a spider does a fly none of us is safe whilst this fierce creature is alive and we had called a meeting to decide how to take care of ourselves when you came among us the lion thought for a moment are there any other lions in this forest?

He asked no there were some but the monster has eaten them all and besides there were none of them nearly so large and brave as you if I put an end to your enemy will you bow down to me and obey me as king of the forest?

Inquired the lion we will do that gladly returned the tiger and all the other beasts roared with a mighty roar we will where is this great spider of yours now?

Asked the lion yonder among the oak trees said the tiger pointing with his forefoot take care of these friends of mine said the lion and I will go at once to fight the monster he bade his comrades goodbye and marched proudly away to do battle with the enemy the great spider was lying asleep when the lion found him and it looked so ugly that its foe turned up his nose in disgust its legs were quite as long as the tiger had said and its body covered with coarse black hair it had a great mouth with a row of sharp teeth a foot long but its head was joined to the pudgy body by a neck as slender as a wasp's waist this gave the lion a hint of the best way to attack the creature and as he knew it was easier to fight it asleep than awake he gave a great spring and landed directly upon the monster's back then with one blow of his heavy paw all armed with sharp claws he knocked the spider's head from its body jumping down he watched it until the long legs stopped wiggling when he knew it was quite dead the lion went back to the opening where the beasts of the forest were waiting for him and said proudly you need fear your enemy no longer then the beasts bowed down to the lion as their king and he promised to come back and rule over them as soon as Dorothy was safely on her way to Kansas the country of the quadlings the four travelers passed through the rest of the forest in safety and when they came out from its gloom saw before them a steep hill covered from top to bottom with great pieces of rock that will be a hard climb said the scarecrow but we must get over the hill nevertheless so he led the way and the others followed they had nearly reached the first rock when they heard a rough voice cry out keep back who are you?

Asked the scarecrow then a head showed itself over the rock and the same voice said this hill belongs to us and we don't allow anyone to cross it but we must cross it said the scarecrow we're going to the country of the quadlings but you shall not replied the voice and there stepped from behind the rock the strangest man the travelers had ever seen he was quite short and stout and had a big head which was flat at the top and supported by a thick neck full of wrinkles but he had no arms at all and seeing this the scarecrow did not fear that so helpless a creature could prevent them from climbing the hill so he said I'm sorry not to do as you wish but we must pass over your hill whether you like it or not and he walked boldly forward as quick as lightning the man's head shot forward and his neck stretched out until the top of the head where it was flat struck the scarecrow in the middle and sent him tumbling over and over back down the hill almost as quickly as it came the head went back to the body and the man laughed harshly as he said it isn't as easy as you think a chorus of boisterous laughter came from the other rocks and Dorothy saw hundreds of the armless hammerheads upon the hillside one behind every rock the lion became quite angry at the laughter caused by the scarecrow's mishap and giving a loud roar that echoed like thunder he dashed up the hill again a head shot swiftly out and the great lion went rolling down the hill as if he had been struck by a cannonball Dorothy ran down and helped the scarecrow to his feet and the lion came up to her feeling rather bruised and sore and said it is useless to fight people with shooting heads no one can withstand them what can we do then?

Dorothy asked call the winged monkeys suggested the tin woodman you have still the right to command them once more very well she answered and putting on the golden cap she uttered the magic words the monkeys were as prompt as ever and in a few moments the entire band stood before her what are your commands?

What are your commands?

Inquired the king of the monkeys bowing low carry us over the hill to the country of the quadlings answered the girl it shall be done said the king and at once the winged monkeys caught the four travellers Aunt Toto up in their arms and flew away with them as they passed over the hill the hammerheads yelled with vexation and shot their heads high in the air but they could not reach the winged monkeys which carried Dorothy and her comrades safely over the hill and set them down in the beautiful country of the quadlings this is the last time you can summon us said the leader to Dorothy so goodbye and good luck to you goodbye and thank you very very much returned the girl and the monkeys rose into the air and were out of sight in a twinkling the country of the quadlings seemed rich and happy there was field upon field of ripening grain with well paved roads running between and pretty rippling brooks with strong bridges across them the fences and houses and bridges were all painted bright red just as they had been painted yellow in the country of the winkies and blue in the country of the munchkins the quadlings themselves who were short and fat and looked chubby and good natured were dressed all in red which showed bright against the green grass and the yellowing grass and green the monkeys had set them down near a farmhouse and the four travellers walked up to it and knocked at the door it was opened by the farmer's wife and when Dorothy asked for something to eat the woman gave them all a good dinner with three kinds of cake and four kinds of cookies and a bowl of milk for Toto how far is it to the castle of Glinda?

Asked the child it's not a great way answered the farmer's wife take the road to the south and you will soon reach it thanking the good woman they started afresh and walked by the fields and across the pretty bridges until they saw before them a very beautiful castle before the gates were three young girls dressed in handsome red uniforms trimmed with gold braid and as Dorothy approached one of them said to her why have you come to the south country?

To see the good witch who rules here she answered will you take me to her?

Let me have your name and I will ask Glinda if she will receive you they told who they were and the girl soldier went into the castle after a few moments she came back to say that Dorothy and the others were to be admitted at once Glinda,

The good witch grants Dorothy's wish before they went to see Glinda,

However they were taken to a room of the castle where Dorothy washed her face and combed her hair and the lion shook the dust out of his mane and the scarecrow patted himself into his best shape and the woodman polished his tin and oiled his joints when they were all quite presentable they followed the soldier girl into a big room where the witch Glinda sat upon a throne of rubies she was both beautiful and young to their eyes her hair was a rich red in colour and fell in flowing ringlets over her shoulders her dress was pure white but her eyes were blue and they looked kindly upon the little girl what can I do for you,

My child?

She asked Dorothy told the witch all her story how the cyclone had brought her to the land of Oz how she had found her companions and of the wonderful adventures they had met with my greatest wish now,

She added is to get back to Kansas for Aunt Em will surely think something dreadful has happened to me and that will make her put on mourning and unless the crops are better this year than they were last year I am sure Uncle Henry cannot afford it Glinda leaned forward and kissed the sweet upturned face of the loving little girl bless your dear heart,

She said I am sure I can tell you of a way to get back to Kansas then she added but if I do you must give me the golden cap willingly,

Exclaimed Dorothy indeed,

It is of no use to me now and when you have it you can command the winged monkeys three times and I think I shall need their service just those three times answered Glinda,

Smiling Dorothy then gave her the golden cap and the witch said to the scarecrow what will you do when Dorothy has left us I will return to the Emerald City,

He replied for Oz has made me its ruler and the people like me the only thing that worries me is how to cross the hill of the Hammerheads by means of the golden cap I shall command the winged monkeys to carry you to the gates of the Emerald City said Glinda for it would be a shame to deprive the people of so wonderful a ruler am I really wonderful am I wonderful asked the scarecrow you are unusual replied Glinda turning to the tin woodman she asked what will become of you when Dorothy leaves this country he leaned on his axe and thought a moment then he said the winged monkeys were very kind to me and wanted me to rule over them after the wicked witch died I am fond of the Winkies and if I could get back again to the country of the West I should like nothing better than to rule over them forever my second command to the winged monkeys said Glinda will be that they carry you safely to the land of the Winkies your brain may not be so large to look at as those of the scarecrow but you are really brighter than he is when you are well polished and I am sure you will rule the Winkies wisely and well then the witch looked at the big shaggy lion and asked when Dorothy has returned to her own home what will become of you over the hill of the hammerheads he answered lies a grand old forest and all the beasts that live there have made me their king if I could only get back to this forest I would pass my life very happily there my third command to the winged monkeys said Glinda shall be to carry you to your forest then having used up the powers of the golden cap I shall give it to the king of the monkeys that he and his band may thereafter be free forevermore the scarecrow and the tin woodman and the lion now thanked the good witch earnestly for her kindness and Dorothy exclaimed you are certainly as good as you are beautiful but you have not yet told me how to get back to Kansas your silver shoes will carry you over the desert Dorothy replied Glinda if you had known their power you could have gone back to your Aunt M the very first day you came to this country but then I should not have had my wonderful brains but then I should not have had my wonderful brains cried the scarecrow I might have passed my whole life in the farmer's cornfield and I should not have had my lovely heart said the tin woodman I might have stood and rusted in the forest till the end of the world and I should have lived a coward forever declared the lion and no beast in all the forest would have had a good word to say to me this is all true said Dorothy and I am glad I was of use to these good friends but now that each of them has had what he most desired and each is happy in having a kingdom to rule besides I think I should like to go back to Kansas the silver shoes said the good witch have wonderful powers and one of the most curious things about them is that they can carry you to any place in the world in three steps and each step will be made in the wink of an eye all you have to do is knock the heels together three times and command the shoes to carry you wherever you wish to go if that is so said the child joyfully I will ask them to carry me back to Kansas at once she threw her arms around the lion's neck and kissed him patting his big head tenderly then she kissed the tin woodman who was weeping in a way most dangerous to his joints but she hugged the soft stuffed body of the scarecrow in her arms instead of kissing his painted face and found she was crying herself at this sorrowful parting from her loving comrades Glinda the good witch stepped down from her ruby throne to give the little girl a goodbye kiss and Dorothy thanked her for all the kindness she had shown to her friends and herself Dorothy now took Toto up solemnly in her arms and having said one last goodbye she clapped the heels of her shoes together three times saying take me home to Aunt M instantly she was whirling through the air so swiftly that all she could see or feel was the wind whistling past her ears the silver shoes took but three steps and then she stopped so suddenly that she rolled over upon the grass several times before she knew where she was at length however she sat up and looked about her good gracious she cried for she was sitting on the broad Kansas prairie and just before her was the new farmhouse Uncle Henry built after the cyclone had carried away the old one Uncle Henry was milking the cows in the barnyard and Toto had jumped out of her arms and was running toward the barn barking furiously Dorothy stood up and found she was in her stocking feet for the silver shoes had fallen off in her flight through the air and were lost forever in the desert home again Aunt M had just come out of the house to water the cabbages when she looked up and saw Dorothy running toward her my darling child she cried folding the little girl in her arms and covering her face with kisses where in the world did you come from from the land of Oz said Dorothy gravely and here is Toto too and oh Aunt M I'm so glad to be at home again