Away to the South

           ThenextmorningDorothykissedtheprettygreengirlgood-bye,andtheyallshookhandswiththesoldierwiththegreenwhiskers,whohadwalkedwiththemasfarasthegate. WhentheGuardianoftheGatesawthemagainhewonderedgreatlythattheycouldleavethebeautifulCitytogetintonewtrouble. Butheatonceunlockedtheirspectacles,whichheputbackintothegreenbox,andgavethemmanygoodwishestocarrywiththem. 

           "Youarenowourruler,"hesaidtotheScarecrow;"soyoumustcomebacktousassoonaspossible." 

           "IcertainlyshallifIamable,"theScarecrowreplied; "butImusthelpDorothytogethome,first." 

           AsDorothybadethegood-naturedGuardianalastfarewellshesaid: 

           "IhavebeenverykindlytreatedinyourlovelyCity,andeveryonehasbeengoodtome. IcannottellyouhowgratefulIam." 

           "Don’ttry,mydear,"heanswered. "Weshouldliketokeepyouwithus,butifitisyourwishtoreturntoKansas,Ihopeyouwillfindaway." Hethenopenedthegateoftheouterwall,andtheywalkedforthandstartedupontheirjourney. 

           ThesunshonebrightlyasourfriendsturnedtheirfacestowardtheLandoftheSouth. Theywereallinthebestofspirits,andlaughedandchattedtogether. Dorothywasoncemorefilledwiththehopeofgettinghome,andtheScarecrowandtheTinWoodmanweregladtobeofusetoher. AsfortheLion,hesniffedthefreshairwithdelightandwhiskedhistailfromsidetosideinpurejoyatbeinginthecountryagain,whileTotoranaroundthemandchasedthemothsandbutterflies,barkingmerrilyallthetime.