Волшебство страны Оз

           TheShaggyMan’sbrotherwasbesidethePatchworkGirl,andthencamethatinterestingpersonage,JackPumpkinhead,whohadgrownasplendidbigpumpkinforanewheadtobewornonOzma’sbirthday,andhadcarvedafaceonitthatwasevenjollierinexpressionthantheonehehadlastworn.NewheadswerenotunusualwithJack,forthepumpkinsdidnotkeeplong,andwhentheseeds—whichservedhimasbrains—begantogetsoftandmushy,herealizedhisheadwouldsoonspoil,andsoheprocuredanewonefromhisgreatfieldofpumpkins—grownbyhimsothatheneedneverlackahead.

           YouwillhavenoticedthatthecompanyatOzma’sbanquettablewassomewhatmixed,buteveryoneinvitedwasatriedandtrustedfriendofthegirlRuler,andtheirpresencemadeherquitehappy.

           NosoonerhadOzmaseatedherself,withherbacktothebirthdaytable,thanshenoticedthatallpresentwereeyeingwithcuriosityandpleasuresomethingbehindher,forthegorgeousMagicFlowerwasbloominggloriouslyandthemammothblossomsthatquicklysucceededoneanotherontheplantwerebeautifultoviewandfilledtheentireroomwiththeirdelicatefragrance.Ozmawantedtolook,too,toseewhatallwerestaringat,butshecontrolledhercuriositybecauseitwasnotproperthatsheshouldyetviewherbirthdaygifts.

           SothesweetandlovelyRulerdevotedherselftoherguests,severalofwhom,suchastheScarecrow,theTinWoodman,thePatchworkGirl,Tik-Tok,JackPumpkinheadandtheTinSoldier,neverateanythingbutsatverypolitelyintheirplacesandtriedtoentertainthoseoftheguestswhodideat.