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第22章

the scarecrow of oz-第22章

小说: the scarecrow of oz 字数: 每页4000字

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Trot; too; became sleepy and Pon gently covered her with



the one blanket he possessed。 Then he threw more wood on



the fire and laid himself down before it; next to Button…



Bright。 Soon all three were fast asleep。 They were in a



good deal of trouble; but they were young; and sleep was



good to them because for a time it made them forget。



















Chapter Thirteen







Glinda the Good and the Scarecrow of Oz











That country south of the Emerald City; in the Land of



Oz; is known as the Quadling Country; and in the very



southernmost part of it stands a splendid palace in which



lives Glinda the Good。







Glinda is the Royal Sorceress of Oz。 She has wonderful



magical powers and uses them only to benefit the subjects



of Ozma's kingdom。 Even the famous Wizard of Oz pays



tribute to her; for Glinda taught him all the real magic



he knows; and she is his superior in all sorts of sorcery



Everyone loves Glinda; from the dainty and exquisite



Ruler; Ozma; down to the humblest inhabitant of Oz; for



she is always kindly and helpful and willing to listen to



their troubles; however busy she may be。 No one knows her



age; but all can see how beautiful and stately she is。



Her hair is like red gold and finer than the finest



silken strands。 Her eyes are blue as the sky and always



frank and smiling。 Her cheeks are the envy of peach…blows



and her mouth is enticing as a rosebud。 Glinda is tall



and wears splendid gowns that trail behind her as she



walks。 She wears no jewels; for her beauty would shame



them。







For attendants Glinda has half a hundred of the



loveliest girls in Oz。 They are gathered from all over



Oz; from among the Winkies; the Munchkins; the Gillikins



and the Quadlings; as well as from Ozma's magnificent



Emerald City; and it is considered a great favor to be



allowed to serve the Royal Sorceress。







Among the many wonderful things in Glinda's palace is



the Great Book of Records。 In this book is inscribed



everything that takes place in all the world; just the



instant it happens; so that by referring to its pages



Glinda knows what is taking place far and near; in every



country that exists。 In this way she learns when and



where she can help any in distress or danger; and



although her duties are confined to assisting those who



inhabit the Land of Oz; she is always interested in what



takes place in the unprotected outside world。







So it was that on a certain evening Glinda sat in her



library; surrounded by a bevy of her maids; who were



engaged in spinning; weaving and embroidery; when an



attendant announced the arrival at the palace of the



Scarecrow。







This personage was one of the most famous and popular



in all the Land of Oz。 His body was merely a suit of



Munchkin clothes stuffed with straw; but his head was a



round sack filled with bran; with which the Wizard of Oz



had mixed some magic brains of a very superior sort。 The



eyes; nose and mouth of the Scarecrow were painted upon



the front of the sack; as were his ears; and since this



quaint being had been endowed with life; the expression



of his face was very interesting; if somewhat comical。







The Scarecrow was good all through; even to his brains;



and while he was naturally awkward in his movements and



lacked the neat symmetry of other people; his disposition



was so kind and considerate and he was so obliging and



honest; that all who knew him loved him; and there were



few people in Oz who had not met our Scarecrow and made



his acquaintance。 He lived part of the time in Ozma's



palace at the Emerald City; part of the time in his own



corncob castle in the Winkie Country; and part of the



time he traveled over all Oz; visiting with the people



and playing with the children; whom he dearly loved。







It was on one of his wandering journeys that the



Scarecrow had arrived at Glinda's palace; and the



Sorceress at once made him welcome。 As he sat beside her;



talking of his adventures; he asked:







〃What's new in the way of news?〃







Glinda opened her Great Book of Records and read some



of the last pages。







〃Here is an item quite curious and interesting;〃 she



announced; an accent of surprise in her voice。 〃Three



people from the big Outside World have arrived in



Jinxland。〃







〃Where is Jinxland?〃 inquired the Scarecrow。







〃Very near here; a little to the east of us;〃 she said。



〃In fact; Jinxland is a little slice taken off the



Quadling Country; but separated from it by a range of



high mountains; at the foot of which lies a wide; deep



gulf that is supposed to be impassable。〃







〃Then Jinxland is really a part of the Land of Oz;〃



said he。







〃Yes;〃 returned Glinda; 〃but Oz people know nothing of



it; except what is recorded here in my book。〃







〃What does the Book say about it?〃 asked the Scarecrow。







〃It is ruled by a wicked man called King Krewl;



although he has no right to the title。 Most of the people



are good; but they are very timid and live in constant



fear of their fierce ruler。 There are also several Wicked



Witches who keep the inhabitants of Jinxland in a state



of terror。〃







〃Do those witches have any magical powers?〃 inquired



the Scarecrow。







〃Yes; they seem to understand witchcraft in its most



evil form; for one of them has just transformed a



respectable and honest old sailor  one of the strangers



who arrived there  into a grasshopper。 This same witch;



Blinkie by name; is also planning to freeze the heart of



a beautiful Jinxland girl named Princess Gloria。〃







〃Why; that's a dreadful thing to do!〃 exclaimed the



Scarecrow。







Glinda's face was very grave。 She read in her book how



Trot and Button…Bright were turned out of the King's



castle; and how they found refuge in the hut of Pon; the



gardener's boy







〃I'm afraid those helpless earth people will endure



much suffering in Jinxland; even if the wicked King and



the witches permit them to live;〃 said the good



Sorceress; thoughtfully。 〃I wish I might help them。〃







〃Can I do anything?〃 asked the Scarecrow; anxiously。



〃If so; tell me what to do; and I'll do it。〃







For a few moments Glinda did not reply; but sat musing



over the records。 Then she said: 〃I am going to send you



to Jinxland; to protect Trot and Button…Bright and Cap'n



Bill。〃







〃All right;〃 answered the Scarecrow in a cheerful



voice。 〃I know Button…Bright already; for he has been in



the Land of Oz before。 You remember he went away from the



Land of Oz in one of our Wizard's big bubbles。〃







〃Yes;〃 said Glinda; 〃I remember that。〃 Then she



carefully instructed the Scarecrow what to do and gave



him certain magical things which he placed in the pockets



of his ragged Munchkin coat。







〃As you have no need to sleep;〃 said she; 〃you may as



well start at once。〃







〃The night is the same as day to me;〃 he replied;



〃except that I cannot see my way so well in the dark。〃







〃I will furnish a light to guide you;〃 promised the



Sorceress。







So the Scarecrow bade her good…bye and at once started



on his journey。 By morning he had reached the mountains



that separated the Quadling Country from Jinxland。 The



sides of these mountains were too steep to climb; but the



Scarecrow took a small rope from his pocket and tossed



one end upward; into the air。 The rope

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