Смарагдове місто країни Оз
25. How the Scarecrow Displayed His Wisdom
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"Shesayswecandonothingtoopposeourenemies,"announcedtheTinWoodman.
"Anddoubtlesssheisright,sir,"answeredtheScarecrow."Still,shewillappreciateoursympathy,anditisthedutyofOzma’sfriendstostandbyhersidewhenthefinaldisasteroccurs."
Hethenledthemintohisqueermansionandshowedthemthebeautifulroomsinallthefivestories.Thelowerroomwasagrandreceptionhall,withahand-organinonecorner.ThisinstrumenttheScarecrow,whenalone,couldturntoamusehimself,ashewasveryfondofmusic.Thewallswerehungwithwhitesilk,uponwhichflocksofblackcrowswereembroideredinblackdiamonds.Someofthechairsweremadeintheshapeofbigcrowsandupholsteredwithcushionsofcorn-coloredsilk.
Thesecondstorycontainedafinebanquetroom,wheretheScarecrowmightentertainhisguests,andthethreestoriesabovethatwerebed-chambersexquisitelyfurnishedanddecorated.
"Fromtheserooms,"saidtheScarecrow,proudly,"onemayobtainfineviewsofthesurroundingcornfields.ThecornIgrowisalwayshusky,andIcalltheearsmyregiments,becausetheyhavesomanykernels.OfcourseIcannotridemycobs,butIreallydon’tcareshucksaboutthat.Takenaltogether,myfarmwillstackupwithanyintheneighborhood."
ThevisitorspartookofsomelightrefreshmentandthenhurriedawaytoresumetheroadtotheEmeraldCity.TheScarecrowfoundaseatinthewagonbetweenOmbyAmbyandtheShaggyMan,andhisweightdidnotaddmuchtotheloadbecausehewasstuffedwithstraw.
