The Guardian of the Gate

           Evenwitheyesprotectedbythegreenspectacles,DorothyandherfriendswereatfirstdazzledbythebrilliancyofthewonderfulCity. Thestreetswerelinedwithbeautifulhousesallbuiltofgreenmarbleandstuddedeverywherewithsparklingemeralds. Theywalkedoverapavementofthesamegreenmarble,andwheretheblockswerejoinedtogetherwererowsofemeralds,setclosely,andglitteringinthebrightnessofthesun. Thewindowpaneswereofgreenglass; eventheskyabovetheCityhadagreentint,andtheraysofthesunweregreen. 

           Thereweremanypeople—men,women,andchildren—walkingabout,andthesewerealldressedingreenclothesandhadgreenishskins. TheylookedatDorothyandherstrangelyassortedcompanywithwonderingeyes, andthechildrenallranawayandhidbehindtheirmotherswhentheysawtheLion;butnoonespoketothem. Manyshopsstoodinthestreet,andDorothysawthateverythinginthemwasgreen. Greencandyandgreenpopcornwereofferedforsale,aswellasgreenshoes,greenhats,andgreenclothesofallsorts. Atoneplaceamanwassellinggreenlemonade,andwhenthechildrenboughtitDorothycouldseethattheypaidforitwithgreenpennies. 

           Thereseemedtobenohorsesnoranimalsofanykind; themencarriedthingsaroundinlittlegreencarts,whichtheypushedbeforethem. Everyoneseemedhappyandcontentedandprosperous. 

           TheGuardianoftheGatesledthemthroughthestreetsuntiltheycametoabigbuilding,exactlyinthemiddleoftheCity,whichwasthePalaceofOz,theGreatWizard. Therewasasoldierbeforethedoor,dressedinagreenuniformandwearingalonggreenbeard.