How Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow

           Afterafewhourstheroadbegantoberough,andthewalkinggrewsodifficultthattheScarecrowoftenstumbledovertheyellowbricks,whichwerehereveryuneven. Sometimes,indeed,theywerebrokenormissingaltogether,leavingholesthatTotojumpedacrossandDorothywalkedaround. AsfortheScarecrow,havingnobrains,hewalkedstraightahead,andsosteppedintotheholesandfellatfulllengthonthehardbricks. Itneverhurthim,however,andDorothywouldpickhimupandsethimuponhisfeetagain,whilehejoinedherinlaughingmerrilyathisownmishap. 

           Thefarmswerenotnearlysowellcaredforhereastheywerefartherback. Therewerefewerhousesandfewerfruittrees,andthefarthertheywentthemoredismalandlonesomethecountrybecame. 

           Atnoontheysatdownbytheroadside,nearalittlebrook,andDorothyopenedherbasketandgotoutsomebread.SheofferedapiecetotheScarecrow,butherefused. 

           "Iamneverhungry,"hesaid,"anditisaluckythingIamnot, formymouthisonlypainted,andifIshouldcutaholeinitsoIcouldeat,thestrawIamstuffedwithwouldcomeout,andthatwouldspoiltheshapeofmyhead." 

           Dorothysawatoncethatthiswastrue,sosheonlynoddedandwentoneatingherbread. 

           "Tellmesomethingaboutyourselfandthecountryyoucamefrom,"saidtheScarecrow,whenshehadfinishedherdinner. SoshetoldhimallaboutKansas,andhowgrayeverythingwasthere,andhowthecyclonehadcarriedhertothisqueerLandofOz.