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“Mî darlñ ćîld!” ś craid, foldñ ɖ litl grl in hr armz n cuṿrñ hr fes wɖ cisz. “Ẃr in ɖ wrld dd y cm fṛm?”

“Fṛm ɖ Land v Óz,” sd Doṛʈi grevli. “N hir z Toto, tù. N ǒ, Ānt Ém! I’m so glad t b at hom agn!”

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Ẃn ɖe wr ol qt prizntbl ɖe foloud ɖ soljr grl intu a big rūm ẃr ɖ Wić Glinda sat upn a ʈron v rūbiz.

Ś wz bʈ bytifl n yuñ t ɖer îz. Hr her wz a rić red in culr n fél in flowñ rñlits ovr hr śoldrz. Hr dres wz pyr ẃît bt hr îz wr blu, n ɖe lct cîndli upn ɖ litl grl.

“Ẃt cn I d fr y, mî ćîld?” ś asct.

Doṛʈi tld ɖ Wić ol hr stori: hǎ ɖ sîclon hd bròt hr t ɖ Land v Óz, hǎ ś hd faund hr cmpańnz, n v ɖ wundrfl advnćrz ɖe hd met wɖ.

“Mî gretist wiś nǎ,” ś add, “z t gt bac t Canẓs, fr Ānt Ém wl śrli ʈnc smʈñ dredfl hz hapnd t m, n ɖt wl mc hr pt on mōrnñ; n unls ɖ crops r betr ɖs yir ɖn ɖe wr last, I am śr Uncl Hnri canot aford it.”

Glinda līnd fwd n cist ɖ swīt, uptrnd fes v ɖ luvñ litl grl.

“Bles yr dir hart,” ś sd, “I am śr I cn tel y v a we t gt bac t Canẓs.” Ɖen ś add, “Bt, f I d, y mst gv m ɖ Goldn Cap.”

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“N I ʈnc I śl nīd ɖer srvis jst ɖoz ʈri tîmz,” ansrd Glinda, smîlñ.Doṛʈi ɖen gev hr ɖ Goldn Cap, n ɖ Wić sd t ɖ Scercro, “Ẃt wl y d ẃn Doṛʈi hz left s?”

“I wl rtrn t ɖ Emṛld Siti,” h rplaid, “fr Óz hz md m its rūlr n ɖ ppl lîc m. Ɖ onli ʈñ ɖt wuriz m z hǎ t cros ɖ hil v ɖ Hamrhedz.”

“Bî mīnz v ɖ Goldn Cap I śl cmand ɖ Wñd Munciz t cari y t ɖ gets v ɖ Emṛld Siti,” sd Glinda, “fr it wd b a śem t dprîv ɖ ppl v so wundrfl a rūlr.”

“Am I riyli wundrfl?” asct ɖ Scercro.

“Y r unyźl,” rplaid Glinda.

Trnñ t ɖ Tin Wŭdmn, ś asct, “Ẃt wl bcm v y ẃn Doṛʈi līvz ɖs cuntri?”

H līnd on hiz ax n ʈt a momnt. Ɖen h sd, “Ɖ Wnciz wr vri cnd t m, n wontd m t rūl ovr ɖm aftr ɖ Wicid Wić daid. I am fond v ɖ Wnciz, n f I cd gt bac agn t ɖ Cuntri v ɖ Wst, I śd lîc nʈñ betr ɖn t rūl ovr ɖm fr evr.”

“Mî secnd cmand t ɖ Wñd Munciz,” sd Glinda “wl b ɖt ɖe cari y sefli t ɖ land v ɖ Wnciz. Yr brenz me nt b so larj t lc at az ɖoz v ɖ Scercro, bt y r riyli brîtr ɖn h z—ẃn y r wel poliśt—n I am śr y wl rūl ɖ Wnciz wîzli n wel.”

Ɖen ɖ Wić lct at ɖ big, śagi Layn n asct, “Ẃn Doṛʈi hz rtrnd t hr ǒn hom, ẃt wl bcm v y?”

“Ovr ɖ hil v ɖ Hamrhedz,” h ansrd, “lîz a grand old forist, n ol ɖ bīsts ɖt liv ɖr hv md m ɖer Cñ. F I cd onli gt bac t ɖs forist, I wd pas mî lîf vri haṗli ɖr.”

“Mî ʈrd cmand t ɖ Wñd Munciz,” sd Glinda, “śl b t cari y t yr forist. Ɖen, hvñ yzd p ɖ pǎrz v ɖ Goldn Cap, I śl gv it t ɖ Cñ v ɖ Munciz, ɖt h n hiz band me ɖr-aftr b fri fr eṿmor.”

Ɖ Scercro n ɖ Tin Wŭdmn n ɖ Layn nǎ ʈanct ɖ Gd Wić rṇstli fr hr cîndnis; n Doṛʈi xclemd:

“Y r srtnli az gd az y r bytifl! Bt y hv nt yt tld m hǎ t gt bac t Canẓs.”

“Yr Silvr Śuz wl cari y ovr ɖ deẓt,” rplaid Glinda. “F y hd noun ɖer pǎr y cd hv gn bac t yr Ānt Ém ɖ vri frst de y cem t ɖs cuntri.”

“Bt ɖen I śd nt hv hd mî wundrfl brenz!” craid ɖ Scercro. “I mt hv pást mî hol lîf in ɖ farmr’z cornfīld.”

“N I śd nt hv hd mî luvli hart,” sd ɖ Tin Wŭdmn. “I mt hv std n rustd in ɖ forist tl ɖ end v ɖ wrld.”

“N I śd hv livd a cawd fr evr,” dclerd ɖ Layn, “n no bīst in ol ɖ forist wd hv hd a gd wrd t se t m.”

“Ɖs z ol tru,” sd Doṛʈi, “n I am glad I wz v ys t ɖz gd frendz. Bt nǎ ɖt ć v ɖm hz hd ẃt h most dzîrd, n ć z hapi in hvñ a cñdm t rūl bsdz, I ʈnc I śd lîc t g bac t Canẓs.”

“Ɖ Silvr Śuz,” sd ɖ Gd Wić, “hv wundrfl pǎrz. N wn v ɖ most krịs ʈñz abt ɖm z ɖt ɖe cn cari y t eni ples in ɖ wrld in ʈri steps, n ć step wl b md in ɖ wnc v an î. Ol y hv t d z t noc ɖ hìlz tgɖr ʈri tîmz n cmand ɖ śuz t cari y ẃrvr y wś t g.”

“F ɖt z so,” sd ɖ ćîld jôḟli, “I wl asc ɖm t cari m bac t Canẓs at wns.”

Ś ʈrù hr armz arnd ɖ Layn’z nec n cist him, patñ hiz big hed tndrli. Ɖen ś cist ɖ Tin Wŭdmn, hu wz wīpñ in a we most denjṛs t hiz jônts. Bt ś hugd ɖ soft, stuft bodi v ɖ Scercro in hr armz instd v cisñ hiz pentd fes, n faund ś wz crayñ hrslf at ɖs soṛfl partñ fṛm hr luvñ comredz.

Glinda ɖ Gd stept dǎn fṛm hr rūbi ʈron t gv ɖ litl grl a gdbîcis, n Doṛʈi ʈanct hr fr ol ɖ cîndnis ś hd śoun t hr frendz n hrslf.

Doṛʈi nǎ tc Toto p soḷmli in hr armz, n hvñ sd wn last gdbî ś clapt ɖ hìlz v hr śuz tgɖr ʈri tîmz, seyñ:

“Tec m hom t Ānt Ém!”

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Ɖ Silvr Śuz tc bt ʈri steps, n ɖen ś stopt so sudnli ɖt ś rold ovr upn ɖ gras sevṛl tîmz bfr ś ń ẃr ś wz.At leñʈ, hvr, ś sat p n lct abt hr.

“Gd greśs!” ś craid.

Fr ś wz sitñ on ɖ brōd Canẓs prẹri, n jst bfr hr wz ɖ ny farmhǎs Uncl Hnri bilt aftr ɖ sîclon hd carid awe ɖ old wn. Uncl Hnri wz milcñ ɖ cǎz in ɖ barnyard, n Toto hd jumt ǎt v hr armz n wz runñ twd ɖ barn, barcñ fyrịsli.

Doṛʈi std p n faund ś wz in hr stocñfīt. Fr ɖ Silvr Śuz hd fōḷn of in hr flît ʈru ɖ er, n wr lost fr evr in ɖ deẓt.

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“Ɖt wl b a hard clîm,” sd ɖ Scercro, “bt w mst gt ovr ɖ hil, nvɖles.”

So h léd ɖ we n ɖ uɖrz foloud. Ɖe hd nirli rīćt ɖ frst roc ẃn ɖe hŕd a ruf vôs crî ǎt, “Cīp bac!”

“Hu r y?” asct ɖ Scercro.

Ɖen a hed śoud itslf ovr ɖ roc n ɖ sem vôs sd, “Ɖs hil b’loñz t s, n w d’nt alǎ enwn t cros it.”

“Bt w mst cros it,” sd ɖ Scercro. “W’re gwñ t ɖ cuntri v ɖ Qodlñz.”

“Bt y śl nt!” rplaid ɖ vôs, n ɖr stept fṛm bhnd ɖ roc ɖ strenjist man ɖ travlrz hd evr sìn.

H wz qt śort n stǎt n hd a big hed, ẃć wz flat at ɖ top n s’portd bî a ʈic nec fl v rinclz. Bt h hd no armz at ol, n, siyñ ɖs, ɖ Scercro dd nt fir ɖt so hlplis a crīćr cd privnt ɖm fṛm clîmñ ɖ hil. So h sd, “I’m sori nt t d az y wś, bt w mst pas ovr yr hil ẃɖr y lîc it or nt,” n h wōct boldli fwd.

Az qc az lîtnñ ɖ man’z hed śot fwd n hiz nec strećt ǎt untl ɖ top v ɖ hed, ẃr it wz flat, struc ɖ Scercro in ɖ midl n snt him tumḅlñ, ovr n ovr, dǎn ɖ hil. Olmst az qcli az it cem ɖ hed wnt bac t ɖ bodi, n ɖ man laft harśli az h sd, “It z’nt az īzi az y ʈnc!”

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Ɖ Layn bcem qt angri at ɖ laftr cōzd bî ɖ Scercro’z mishap, n gvñ a lǎd ror ɖt ecoud lîc ʈundr, h daśt p ɖ hil.Agn a hed śot swiftli ǎt, n ɖ gret Layn wnt rolñ dǎn ɖ hil az f h hd bn struc bî a cánnbōl.

Doṛʈi ran dǎn n hlpt ɖ Scercro t hiz fīt, n ɖ Layn cem p t hr, fīlñ rɖr bruzd n sor, n sd, “It z yslis t fît ppl wɖ śūtñ hedz; nwn cn wɖstand ɖm.”

“Ẃt cn w d, ɖen?” ś asct.

“Cōl ɖ Wñd Munciz,” sjstd ɖ Tin Wŭdmn. “Y hv stl ɖ rît t cmand ɖm wns mor.”

“Vri wel,” ś ansrd, n ptñ on ɖ Goldn Cap ś utrd ɖ majic wrdz. Ɖ Munciz wr az promt az evr, n in a fy momnts ɖ intîr band std bfr hr.

“Ẃt r yr cmandz?” inqîrd ɖ Cñ v ɖ Munciz, bawñ lo.

“Cari s ovr ɖ hil t ɖ cuntri v ɖ Qodlñz,” ansrd ɖ grl.

“It śl b dn,” sd ɖ Cñ, n at wns ɖ Wñd Munciz còt ɖ for travlrz n Toto p in ɖer armz n flù awe wɖ ɖm. Az ɖe pást ovr ɖ hil ɖ Hamrhedz yeld wɖ vxeśn, n śot ɖer hedz hî in ɖ er, bt ɖe cd nt rīć ɖ Wñd Munciz, ẃć carid Doṛʈi n hr comredz sefli ovr ɖ hil n set ɖm dǎn in ɖ bytifl cuntri v ɖ Qodlñz.

“Ɖs z ɖ last tîm y cn sumn s,” sd ɖ līdr t Doṛʈi; “so gdbî n gd luc t y.”

“Gdbî, n ʈanc y vri mć,” rtrnd ɖ grl; n ɖ Munciz rouz intu ɖ er n wr ǎt v sît in a twnc̣lñ.

Ɖ cuntri v ɖ Qodlñz sīmd rić n hapi. Ɖr wz fīld upn fīld v rîṗnñ gren, wɖ wel-pevd rodz runñ btwn, n priti riṗlñ brŭcs wɖ stroñ brijz acrs ɖm. Ɖ fnsz n hǎzz n brijz wr ol pentd brît red, jst az ɖe hd bn pentd yelo in ɖ cuntri v ɖ Wnciz n blu in ɖ cuntri v ɖ Munćcinz. Ɖ Qodlñz ɖmslvz, hu wr śort n fat n lct ćubi n gd-nećrd, wr drest ol in red, ẃć śoud brît agnst ɖ grīn gras n ɖ yelowñ gren.

Ɖ Munciz hd set ɖm dǎn nir a farmhǎs, n ɖ for travlrz wōct p t it n noct at ɖ dor. It wz opnd bî ɖ farmr’z wîf, n ẃn Doṛʈi asct fr smʈñ t īt ɖ wmn gev ɖm ol a gd dinr, wɖ ʈri cndz v cec n for cndz v cciz, n a bol v milc fr Toto.

“Hǎ far z it t ɖ Casl v Glinda?” asct ɖ ćîld.

“It z nt a gret we,” ansrd ɖ farmr’z wîf. “Tec ɖ rod t ɖ Sǎʈ n y wl sn rīć it.”

Ʈancñ ɖ gd wmn, ɖe startd afreś n wōct bî ɖ fīldz n acrs ɖ priti brijz untl ɖe sw bfr ɖm a vri bytifl Casl. Bfr ɖ gets wr ʈri yuñ grlz, drest in hansm red yṇformz trimd wɖ gold brêd; n az Doṛʈi aproćt, wn v ɖm sd t hr:

“Ẃ hv y cm t ɖ Sǎʈ Cuntri?”

“T si ɖ Gd Wić hu rūlz hir,” ś ansrd. “Wl y tec m t hr?”

“Let m hv yr nem, n I wl asc Glinda f ś wl rsiv y.” Ɖe tld hu ɖe wr, n ɖ grlsoljr wnt intu ɖ Casl. Aftr a fy momnts ś cem bac t se ɖt Doṛʈi n ɖ uɖrz wr t b admitd at wns.

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“Ɖs forist z prficli dlîtfl,” dclerd ɖ Layn, lcñ arnd him wɖ jô. “Nvr hv I sìn a mor bytifl ples.”

“It sīmz glūmi,” sd ɖ Scercro.

“Nt a bit v it,” ansrd ɖ Layn. “I śd lîc t liv hir ol mî lîf. Si hǎ soft ɖ draid līvz r undr yr fīt n hǎ rić n grīn ɖ mos z ɖt clñz t ɖz old triz. Śrli no wîld bīst cd wś a plezntr hom.”

“Phps ɖr r wîld bīsts in ɖ forist nǎ,” sd Doṛʈi.

“I s’poz ɖr r,” rtrnd ɖ Layn, “bt I d nt si eni v ɖm abt.”

Ɖe wōct ʈru ɖ forist untl it bcem tù darc t g eni farɖr. Doṛʈi n Toto n ɖ Layn le dǎn t slīp, ẃl ɖ Wŭdmn n ɖ Scercro cept woć ovr ɖm az yźl.

Ẃn mornñ cem, ɖe startd agn. Bfr ɖe hd gn far ɖe hŕd a lo rumbl, az v ɖ grǎlñ v mni wîld animlz. Toto ẃimprd a litl, bt nn v ɖ uɖrz wz frîtnd, n ɖe cept alñ ɖ wel-trodn paʈ untl ɖe cem t an oṗnñ in ɖ wŭd, in ẃć wr gaɖrd hundṛdz v bīsts v evri vrayti. Ɖr wr tîgrz n elifnts n berz n wlvz n foxz n ol ɖ uɖrz in ɖ naćṛl hisṭri, n fr a momnt Doṛʈi wz afreid. Bt ɖ Layn xplend ɖt ɖ animlz wr holdñ a mītñ, n h jujd bî ɖer snarlñ n grǎlñ ɖt ɖe wr in gret trubl.

Az h spouc sevṛl v ɖ bīsts còt sît v him, n at wns ɖ gret asmblij huśt az f bî majic. Ɖ bigist v ɖ tîgrz cem p t ɖ Layn n baud, seyñ:

“Welcm, Ǒ Cñ v Bīsts! Y hv cm in gd tîm t fît ǎr eṇmi n brñ pīs t ol ɖ animlz v ɖ forist wns mor.”

“Ẃt z yr trubl?” asct ɖ Layn qaytli.

“W r ol ʈretnd,” ansrd ɖ tîgr, “bî a firs eṇmi ẃć hz lêtli cm intu ɖs forist. It z a most tṛmnḍs monstr, lîc a gret spîdr, wɖ a bodi az big az an elifnt n legz az loñ az a trītrunc. It hz et v ɖz loñ legz, n az ɖ monstr crōlz ʈru ɖ forist h sizz an animl wɖ a leg n dragz it t hiz mǎʈ, ẃr h īts it az a spîdr dz a flî. Nt wn v s z sef ẃl ɖs firs crīćr z alîv, n w hd cōld a mītñ t dsîd hǎ t tec cer v ǎrslvz ẃn y cem amñ s.”

Ɖ Layn ʈt fr a momnt.

“R ɖr eni uɖr laynz in ɖs forist?” h asct.

“No; ɖr wr sm, bt ɖ monstr hz ītn ɖm ol. N, bsdz, ɖe wr nn v ɖm nirli so larj n brev az y.”

“F I pt an end t yr eṇmi, wl y bo dǎn t m n obe m az Cñ v ɖ Forist?” inqîrd ɖ Layn.

“W wl d ɖt gladli,” rtrnd ɖ tîgr; n ol ɖ uɖr bīsts rord wɖ a mîti ror: “W wl!”

“Ẃr z ɖs gret spîdr v yrz nǎ?” asct ɖ Layn.

“Yondr, amñ ɖ octrīz,” sd ɖ tîgr, pôntñ wɖ hiz fōrfŭt.

“Tec gd cer v ɖz frendz v mîn,” sd ɖ Layn, “n I wl g at wns t fît ɖ monstr.”

H bád hiz comredz gdbî n marćt prǎdli awe t d batl wɖ ɖ eṇmi.

Ɖ gret spîdr wz layñ aslip ẃn ɖ Layn faund him, n it lct so ugli ɖt its fo trnd p hiz nǒz in dsgust. Its legz wr qt az loñ az ɖ tîgr hd sd, n its bodi cuvrd wɖ cōrs blac her. It hd a gret mǎʈ, wɖ a ro v śarp tīʈ a ft loñ; bt its hed wz jônd t ɖ puji bodi bî a nec az slendr az a wosp’s weist. Ɖs gev ɖ Layn a hint v ɖ bst we t atac ɖ crīćr, n az h ń it wz īzịr t fît it aslip ɖn awec, h gev a gret sprñ n landd d’recli upn ɖ monstr’z bac. Ɖen, wɖ wn blo v hiz hevi pw, ol armd wɖ śarp clwz, h noct ɖ spîdr’z hed fṛm its bodi. Jumpñ dǎn, h woćt it untl ɖ loñ legz stopt wiġlñ, ẃn h ń it wz qt ded.

Ɖ Layn wnt bac t ɖ oṗnñ ẃr ɖ bīsts v ɖ forist wr wêtñ fr him n sd prǎdli:

“Y nīd fir yr eṇmi no longr.”

Ɖen ɖ bīsts baud dǎn t ɖ Layn az ɖer Cñ, n h promist t cm bac n rūl ovr ɖm az sn az Doṛʈi wz sefli on hr we t Canẓs.

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Ɖ Scercro woćt ɖ Wŭdmn ẃl h wrct, n sd t him:

“I canot ʈnc ẃ ɖs wōl z hir, nr ẃt it z md v.”

“Rest yr brenz n d nt wuri abt ɖ wōl,” rplaid ɖ Wŭdmn. “Ẃn w hv clîmd ovr it, w śl nǒ ẃt z on ɖ uɖr sîd.”

Aftr a tîm ɖ ladr wz finiśt. It lct clumzi, bt ɖ Tin Wŭdmn wz śr it wz stroñ n wd ansr ɖer prṗs. Ɖ Scercro wect Doṛʈi n ɖ Layn n Toto, n tld ɖm ɖt ɖ ladr wz redi. Ɖ Scercro clîmd p ɖ ladr frst, bt h wz so ōcẉd ɖt Doṛʈi hd t folo clos bhnd n cīp him fṛm fōlñ of. Ẃn h got hiz hed ovr ɖ top v ɖ wōl ɖ Scercro sd, “Ǒ, mî!”

“G on,” xclemd Doṛʈi.

So ɖ Scercro clîmd farɖr p n sat dǎn on ɖ top v ɖ wōl, n Doṛʈi pt hr hed ovr n craid, “Ǒ, mî!” jst az ɖ Scercro hd dn.

Ɖen Toto cem p, n imīɉtli bgan t barc, bt Doṛʈi md him b stl.

Ɖ Layn clîmd ɖ ladr nxt, n ɖ Tin Wŭdmn cem last; bt bʈ v ɖm craid, “Ǒ, mî!” az sn az ɖe lct ovr ɖ wōl. Ẃn ɖe wr ol sitñ in a ro on ɖ top v ɖ wōl, ɖe lct dǎn n sw a strenj sît.

Bfr ɖm wz a gret streć v cuntri hvñ a flor az smuɖ n śînñ n ẃît az ɖ botm v a big platr. Scatrd arnd wr mni hǎzz md intîrli v ćîna n pentd in ɖ brîtist culrz. Ɖz hǎzz wr qt smōl, ɖ bigist v ɖm rīćñ onli az hî az Doṛʈi’z weist. Ɖr wr olso priti litl barnz, wɖ ćîna fnsz arnd ɖm; n mni cǎz n śīp n horsz n pigz n ćicinz, ol md v ćîna, wr standñ abt in grūps.

Bt ɖ strenjist v ol wr ɖ ppl hu livd in ɖs qir cuntri. Ɖr wr milcmeidz n śepdesz, wɖ brîtli culrd boḍsz n goldn spots ol ovr ɖer gǎnz; n prinsesz wɖ most gorjs frocs v silvr n gold n prpl; n śeṗdz drest in nībrìćz wɖ pnc n yelo n blu strîps dǎn ɖm, n goldn buclz on ɖer śuz; n prinsz wɖ juwld crǎnz upn ɖer hedz, wẹrñ ŕmin rǒbz n satin dublits; n funi clǎnz in rufld gǎnz, wɖ rǎnd red spots upn ɖer ćīcs n tōl, pôntd caps. N, strenjist v ol, ɖz ppl wr ol md v ćîna, īvn t ɖer cloɖz, n wr so smōl ɖt ɖ tōlist v ɖm wz no hayr ɖn Doṛʈi’z ni.

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“Hǎ śl w gt dǎn?” asct Doṛʈi.

Ɖe faund ɖ ladr so hevi ɖe cd nt pl it p, so ɖ Scercro fél of ɖ wōl n ɖ uɖrz jumt dǎn upn him so ɖt ɖ hard flor wd nt hrt ɖer fīt. V cors ɖe tc penz nt t lît on hiz hed n gt ɖ pinz in ɖer fīt. Ẃn ol wr sefli dǎn ɖe pict p ɖ Scercro, huz bodi wz qt flatnd ǎt, n patd hiz strw intu śep agn.

“W mst cros ɖs strenj ples in ordr t gt t ɖ uɖr sîd,” sd Doṛʈi, “fr it wd b unwîz fr s t g eni uɖr we xpt dy Sǎʈ.”

Ɖe bgan wōcñ ʈru ɖ cuntri v ɖ ćîna ppl, n ɖ frst ʈñ ɖe cem t wz a ćîna milcmeid milcñ a ćîna cǎ. Az ɖe drù nir, ɖ cǎ sudnli gev a cic n cict ovr ɖ stūl, ɖ peil, n īvn ɖ milcmeid hrslf, n ol fél on ɖ ćîna grǎnd wɖ a gret clatr.

Doṛʈi wz śoct t si ɖt ɖ cǎ hd brocn hr leg of, n ɖt ɖ peil wz layñ in sevṛl smōl pìsz, ẃl ɖ pur milcmeid hd a nic in hr left elbo.

“Ɖr!” craid ɖ milcmeid angṛli. “Si ẃt y hv dn! Mî cǎ hz brocn hr leg, n I mst tec hr t ɖ mndr’z śop n hv it glùd on agn. Ẃt d y mīn bî cmñ hir n frîṭnñ mî cǎ?”

“I’m vri sori,” rtrnd Doṛʈi. “Plīz fgiv s.”

Bt ɖ priti milcmeid wz mć tù vxt t mc eni ansr. Ś pict p ɖ leg sulc̣li n léd hr cǎ awe, ɖ pur animl limpñ on ʈri legz. Az ś left ɖm ɖ milcmeid cast mni rproćfl glansz ovr hr śoldr at ɖ clumzi strenjrz, holdñ hr nict elbo clos t hr sîd.

Doṛʈi wz qt grīvd at ɖs mishap.

“W mst b vri cerfl hir,” sd ɖ cînd-hartd Wŭdmn, “or w me hrt ɖz priti litl ppl so ɖe wl nvr gt ovr it.”

A litl farɖr on Doṛʈi met a most bytifli drest yuñ Prinses, hu stopt śort az ś sw ɖ strenjrz n startd t run awe.

Doṛʈi wontd t si mor v ɖ Prinses, so ś ran aftr hr. Bt ɖ ćîna grl craid ǎt:

“D’nt ćes m! D’nt ćes m!”

Ś hd sć a frîtnd litl vôs ɖt Doṛʈi stopt n sd, “Ẃ nt?”

“Bcz,” ansrd ɖ Prinses, olso stopñ, a sef distns awe, “f I run I me fōl dǎn n brec mslf.”

“Bt cd y nt b mndd?” asct ɖ grl.

“Ǒ, yes; bt wn z nvr so priti aftr biyñ mndd, y nǒ,” rplaid ɖ Prinses.

“I s’poz nt,” sd Doṛʈi.

“Nǎ ɖr z Mr Jocr, wn v ǎr clǎnz,” cntinyd ɖ ćîna ledi, “hu z olwz trayñ t stand upn hiz hed. H hz brocn himslf so ofn ɖt h z mndd in a hundṛd plesz, n dz’nt lc at ol priti. Hir h cmz nǎ, so y cn si fr yrslf.”

Indd, a joli litl clǎn cem wōcñ twd ɖm, n Doṛʈi cd si ɖt in spît v hiz priti cloɖz v red n yelo n grīn h wz cmplitli cuvrd wɖ cracs, runñ evri ẃć we n śowñ plenli ɖt h hd bn mndd in mni plesz.

Ɖ Clǎn pt hiz handz in hiz pocits, n aftr pufñ ǎt hiz ćīcs n nodñ hiz hed at ɖm sōṣli, h sd:

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“Wel, ɖt’s rspct, I xpct,” dclerd ɖ Clǎn, n imīɉtli std upn hiz hed.“D’nt mînd Mr Jocr,” sd ɖ Prinses t Doṛʈi. “H z cnsidṛbli cract in hiz hed, n ɖt mcs him fūliś.”

“Ǒ, I d’nt mînd him a bit,” sd Doṛʈi. “Bt y r so bytifl,” ś cntinyd, “ɖt I am śr I cd luv y dirli. W’nt y let m cari y bac t Canẓs, n stand y on Ānt Ém’z mantl? I cd cari y in mî bascit.”

“Ɖt wd mc m vri unhapi,” ansrd ɖ ćîna Prinses. “Y si, hir in ǎr cuntri w liv cntntidli, n cn tōc n muv arnd az w plīz. Bt ẃnvr eni v s r tecn awe ǎr jônts at wns stifn, n w cn onli stand stret n lc priti. V cors ɖt z ol ɖt z xpctd v s ẃn w r on mantlz n cabiṇts n drw̃rūm teblz, bt ǎr livz r mć plezntr hir in ǎr ǒn cuntri.”

“I wd nt mc y unhapi fr ol ɖ wrld!” xclemd Doṛʈi. “So I’l jst se gdbî.”

“Gdbî,” rplaid ɖ Prinses.

Ɖe wōct cerḟli ʈru ɖ ćîna cuntri. Ɖ litl animlz n ol ɖ ppl scamprd ǎt v ɖer we, firñ ɖ strenjrz wd brec ɖm, n aftr an aur or so ɖ travlrz rīćt ɖ uɖr sîd v ɖ cuntri n cem t anɖr ćîna wōl.

It wz nt so hî az ɖ frst, hvr, n bî standñ upn ɖ Layn’z bac ɖe ol manijd t scrambl t ɖ top. Ɖen ɖ Layn gaɖrd hiz legz undr him n jumt on ɖ wōl; bt jst az h jumt, h upset a ćîna ćrć wɖ hiz teil n smaśt it ol t pìsz.

“Ɖt wz tù bad,” sd Doṛʈi, “bt riyli I ʈnc w wr luci in nt dwñ ɖz litl ppl mor harm ɖn brecñ a cǎ’z leg n a ćrć. Ɖe r ol so britl!”

“Ɖe r, indd,” sd ɖ Scercro, “n I am ʈancfl I am md v strw n canot b īẓli damijd. Ɖr r wrs ʈñz in ɖ wrld ɖn biyñ a Scercro.”

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“Y r nǎ ǎr rūlr,” h sd t ɖ Scercro; “so y mst cm bac t s az sn az poṣbl.”

“I srtnli śl f I am ebl,” ɖ Scercro rplaid; “bt I mst hlp Doṛʈi t gt hom, frst.”

Az Doṛʈi bád ɖ gd-nećrd Gardịn a last férwel ś sd:

“I hv bn vri cîndli trītd in yr luvli Siti, n evrwn hz bn gd t m. I canot tel y hǎ gretfl I am.”

“D’nt trî, mî dir,” h ansrd. “W śd lîc t cīp y wɖ s, bt f it z yr wiś t rtrn t Canẓs, I hop y wl fînd a we.” H ɖen opnd ɖ get v ɖ ǎtr wōl, n ɖe wōct fʈ n startd upn ɖer jrni.

Ɖ sún śon brîtli az ǎr frendz trnd ɖer fesz twd ɖ Land v ɖ Sǎʈ. Ɖe wr ol in ɖ bst v spirits, n laft n ćatd tgɖr. Doṛʈi wz wns mor fild wɖ ɖ hop v gtñ hom, n ɖ Scercro n ɖ Tin Wŭdmn wr glad t b v ys t hr. Az fr ɖ Layn, h snift ɖ freś er wɖ dlît n ẃisct hiz teil fṛm sîd t sîd in pyr jô at biyñ in ɖ cuntri agn, ẃl Toto ran arnd ɖm n ćest ɖ moʈs n buṭflîz, barcñ meṛli ol ɖ tîm.

“Sitilîf dz nt agri wɖ m at ol,” rmarct ɖ Layn, az ɖe wōct alñ at a brisc pes. “I hv lost mć fleś sins I livd ɖr, n nǎ I am añśs fr a ćans t śo ɖ uɖr bīsts hǎ c’rejs I hv groun.”

Ɖe nǎ trnd n tc a last lc at ɖ Emṛld Siti. Ol ɖe cd si wz a mas v tǎrz n stīplz bhnd ɖ grīn wōlz, n hî p abv evrʈñ ɖ spîrz n dom v ɖ Palis v Óz.

“Óz wz nt sć a bad Wiẓd, aftr ol,” sd ɖ Tin Wŭdmn, az h flt hiz hart raṭlñ arnd in hiz brest.

“H ń hǎ t gv m brenz, n vri gd brenz, tù,” sd ɖ Scercro.

“F Óz hd tecn a dos v ɖ sem curij h gev m,” add ɖ Layn, “h wd hv bn a brev man.”

Doṛʈi sd nʈñ. Óz hd nt cept ɖ promis h md hr, bt h hd dn hiz bst, so ś fgev him. Az h sd, h wz a gd man, īvn f h wz a bad Wiẓd.

Ɖ frst de’z jrni wz ʈru ɖ grīn fīldz n brît flǎrz ɖt strećt abt ɖ Emṛld Siti on evri sîd. Ɖe slept ɖt nît on ɖ gras, wɖ nʈñ bt ɖ starz ovr ɖm; n ɖe restd vri wel indd.

In ɖ mornñ ɖe travld on untl ɖe cem t a ʈic wŭd. Ɖr wz no we v gwñ arnd it, fr it sīmd t xtnd t ɖ rît n left az far az ɖe cd si; n, bsdz, ɖe dd nt der ćenj ɖ d’rex́n v ɖer jrni fr fir v gtñ lost. So ɖe lct fr ɖ ples ẃr it wd b īziist t gt intu ɖ forist.

Ɖ Scercro, hu wz in ɖ līd, fîṇli dscuvrd a big tri wɖ sć wîd-spredñ branćz ɖt ɖr wz rūm fr ɖ parti t pas undnʈ. So h wōct fwd t ɖ tri, bt jst az h cem undr ɖ frst branćz ɖe bnt dǎn n twînd arnd him, n ɖ nxt minit h wz rezd fṛm ɖ grǎnd n fluñ hedloñ amñ hiz felotravlrz.

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“Hir z anɖr spes btwn ɖ triz,” cōld ɖ Layn.

“Let m trî it frst,” sd ɖ Scercro, “fr it dz’nt hrt m t gt ʈroun abt.” H wōct p t anɖr tri, az h spouc, bt its branćz imīɉtli sizd him n tóst him bac agn.

“Ɖs z strenj,” xclemd Doṛʈi. “Ẃt śl w d?”

“Ɖ triz sīm t hv md p ɖer mîndz t fît s, n stop ǎr jrni,” rmarct ɖ Layn.

“I b’liv I wl trî it mslf,” sd ɖ Wŭdmn, n śolḍrñ hiz ax, h marćt p t ɖ frst tri ɖt hd handld ɖ Scercro so rufli. Ẃn a big branć bnt dǎn t sīz him ɖ Wŭdmn ćopt at it so firsli ɖt h cut it in tū. At wns ɖ tri bgan śecñ ol its branćz az f in pen, n ɖ Tin Wŭdmn pást sefli undr it.

“Cm on!” h śǎtd t ɖ uɖrz. “B qc!” Ɖe ol ran fwd n pást undr ɖ tri wɖt inɉri, xpt Toto, hu wz còt bî a smōl branć n śecn untl h hǎld. Bt ɖ Wŭdmn promtli ćopt of ɖ branć n set ɖ litl dog fri.

Ɖ uɖr triz v ɖ forist dd nʈñ t cīp ɖm bac, so ɖe md p ɖer mîndz ɖt onli ɖ frst ro v triz cd bnd dǎn ɖer branćz, n ɖt probbli ɖz wr ɖ p’līsṃn v ɖ forist, n gvn ɖs wundrfl pǎr in ordr t cīp strenjrz ǎt v it.

Ɖ for travlrz wōct wɖ īz ʈru ɖ triz untl ɖe cem t ɖ farɖr éj v ɖ wŭd. Ɖen, t ɖer s’prîz, ɖe faund bfr ɖm a hî wōl ẃć sīmd t b md v ẃît ćîna. It wz smuɖ, lîc ɖ srfis v a diś, n hayr ɖn ɖer hedz.

“Ẃt śl w d nǎ?” asct Doṛʈi.

“I wl mc a ladr,” sd ɖ Tin Wŭdmn, “fr w srtnli mst clîm ovr ɖ wōl.”

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Ɖ Tin Wŭdmn cem t hr n sd:

“Trūli I śd b ungretfl f I feld t mōrn fr ɖ man hu gev m mî luvli hart. I śd lîc t crî a litl bcz Óz z gn, f y wl cîndli wîp awe mî tirz, so ɖt I śl nt rust.”

“Wɖ pleźr,” ś ansrd, n bròt a tǎl at wns. Ɖen ɖ Tin Wŭdmn wept fr sevṛl minits, n ś woćt ɖ tirz cerḟli n wîpt ɖm awe wɖ ɖ tǎl. Ẃn h hd finiśt, h ʈanct hr cîndli n ôld himslf ʈuṛli wɖ hiz juwld ôlcan, t gard agnst mishap.

Ɖ Scercro wz nǎ ɖ rūlr v ɖ Emṛld Siti, n olɖo h wz nt a Wiẓd ɖ ppl wr prǎd v him. “Fr,” ɖe sd, “ɖr z nt anɖr siti in ol ɖ wrld ɖt z rūld bî a stuft man.” N, so far az ɖe ń, ɖe wr qt rît.

Ɖ mornñ aftr ɖ b’lūn hd gn p wɖ Óz, ɖ for travlrz met in ɖ Ʈronrūm n tōct matrz ovr. Ɖ Scercro sat in ɖ big ʈron n ɖ uɖrz std rspctḟli bfr him.

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“I olso,” sd ɖ Tin Wŭdmn, “am wel-plizd wɖ mî ny hart; n, riyli, ɖt wz ɖ onli ʈñ I wśt in ol ɖ wrld.”

“Fr mî part, I am cntnt in nwñ I am az brev az eni bīst ɖt evr livd, f nt brevr,” sd ɖ Layn moḍstli.

“F Doṛʈi wd onli b cntntd t liv in ɖ Emṛld Siti,” cntinyd ɖ Scercro, “w mt ol b hapi tgɖr.”

“Bt I d’nt wont t liv hir,” craid Doṛʈi. “I wont t g t Canẓs, n liv wɖ Ānt Ém n Uncl Hnri.”

“Wel, ɖen, ẃt cn b dn?” inqîrd ɖ Wŭdmn.

Ɖ Scercro dsîdd t ʈnc, n h ʈt so hard ɖt ɖ pinz n nīdlz bgan t stic ǎt v hiz brenz. Fîṇli h sd:

“Ẃ nt cōl ɖ Wñd Munciz, n asc ɖm t cari y ovr ɖ deẓt?”

“I nvr ʈt v ɖt!” sd Doṛʈi jôḟli. “It’s jst ɖ ʈñ. I’l g at wns fr ɖ Goldn Cap.”

Ẃn ś bròt it intu ɖ Ʈronrūm ś spouc ɖ majic wrdz, n sn ɖ band v Wñd Munciz flù in ʈru ɖ opn windo n std bsd hr.

“Ɖs z ɖ secnd tîm y hv cōld s,” sd ɖ Munci Cñ, bawñ bfr ɖ litl grl. “Ẃt d y wś?”

“I wont y t flî wɖ m t Canẓs,” sd Doṛʈi.

Bt ɖ Munci Cñ śc hiz hed.

“Ɖt canot b dn,” h sd. “W b’loñ t ɖs cuntri alon, n canot līv it. Ɖr hz nvr bn a Wñd Munci in Canẓs yt, n I s’poz ɖr nvr wl b, fr ɖe d’nt b’loñ ɖr. W śl b glad t srv y in eni we in ǎr pǎr, bt w canot cros ɖ deẓt. Gdbî.”

N wɖ anɖr bǎ, ɖ Munci Cñ spred hiz wñz n flù awe ʈru ɖ windo, foloud bî ol hiz band.

Doṛʈi wz redi t crî wɖ dis’pôntmnt. “I hv westd ɖ ćarm v ɖ Goldn Cap t no prṗs,” ś sd, “fr ɖ Wñd Munciz canot hlp m.”

“It z srtnli tù bad!” sd ɖ tndr-hartd Wŭdmn.

Ɖ Scercro wz ʈncñ agn, n hiz hed buljd ǎt so hoṛbli ɖt Doṛʈi fird it wd brst.

“Let s cōl in ɖ soljr wɖ ɖ grīn ẃiscrz,” h sd, “n asc hiz advîs.”

So ɖ soljr wz sumnd n entrd ɖ Ʈronrūm timidli, fr ẃl Óz wz alîv h nvr wz alaud t cm farɖr ɖn ɖ dor.

“Ɖs litl grl,” sd ɖ Scercro t ɖ soljr, “wśz t cros ɖ deẓt. Hǎ cn ś d so?”

“I canot tel,” ansrd ɖ soljr, “fr nbdi hz evr crost ɖ deẓt, unls it z Óz himslf.”

“Z ɖr nwn hu cn hlp m?” asct Doṛʈi rṇstli.

“Glinda mt,” h sjstd.

“Hu z Glinda?” inqîrd ɖ Scercro.

“Ɖ Wić v ɖ Sǎʈ. Ś z ɖ most pǎrfl v ol ɖ Wićz, n rūlz ovr ɖ Qodlñz. Bsdz, hr casl standz on ɖ éj v ɖ deẓt, so ś me nǒ a we t cros it.”

“Glinda z a Gd Wić, z’nt ś?” asct ɖ ćîld.

“Ɖ Qodlñz ʈnc ś z gd,” sd ɖ soljr, “n ś z cînd t evrwn. I hv hŕd ɖt Glinda z a bytifl wmn, hu nz hǎ t cīp yuñ in spît v ɖ mni yirz ś hz livd.”

“Hǎ cn I gt t hr casl?” asct Doṛʈi.

“Ɖ rod z stret t ɖ Sǎʈ,” h ansrd, “bt it z sd t b fl v denjrz t travlrz. Ɖr r wîld bīsts in ɖ wŭdz, n a rês v qir men hu d nt lîc strenjrz t cros ɖer cuntri. Fr ɖs rīzn nn v ɖ Qodlñz evr cm t ɖ Emṛld Siti.”

Ɖ soljr ɖen left ɖm n ɖ Scercro sd:

“It sīmz, in spît v denjrz, ɖt ɖ bst ʈñ Doṛʈi cn d z t travl t ɖ Land v ɖ Sǎʈ n asc Glinda t hlp hr. Fr, v cors, f Doṛʈi stez hir ś wl nvr gt bac t Canẓs.”

“Y mst hv bn ʈncñ agn,” rmarct ɖ Tin Wŭdmn.

“I hv,” sd ɖ Scercro.

“I śl g wɖ Doṛʈi,” dclerd ɖ Layn, “fr I am tîrd v yr siti n loñ fr ɖ wŭdz n ɖ cuntri agn. I am riyli a wîld bīst, y nǒ. Bsdz, Doṛʈi wl nīd smwn t pṛtct hr.”

“Ɖt z tru,” agrìd ɖ Wŭdmn. “Mî ax me b v srvis t hr; so I olso wl g wɖ hr t ɖ Land v ɖ Sǎʈ.”

“Ẃn śl w start?” asct ɖ Scercro.

“R y gwñ?” ɖe asct, in s’prîz.

“Srtnli. F it wz’nt fr Doṛʈi I śd nvr hv hd brenz. Ś liftd m fṛm ɖ pol in ɖ cornfīld n bròt m t ɖ Emṛld Siti. So mî gd luc z ol dy t hr, n I śl nvr līv hr untl ś starts bac t Canẓs fr gd n ol.”

“Ʈanc y,” sd Doṛʈi gretḟli. “Y r ol vri cînd t m. Bt I śd lîc t start az sn az poṣbl.”

“W śl g tmoromornñ,” rtrnd ɖ Scercro. “So nǎ let s ol gt redi, fr it wl b a loñ jrni.”

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Ɖus ć v ɖ litl parti wz saṭsfaid xpt Doṛʈi, hu loñd mor ɖn evr t gt bac t Canẓs.

On ɖ forʈ de, t hr gret jô, Óz snt fr hr, n ẃn ś entrd ɖ Ʈronrūm h grītd hr plezntli:

“Sit dǎn, mî dir; I ʈnc I hv faund ɖ we t gt y ǎt v ɖs cuntri.”

“N bac t Canẓs?” ś asct īgrli.

“Wel, I’m nt śr abt Canẓs,” sd Óz, “fr I hv’nt ɖ fentist nośn ẃć we it lîz. Bt ɖ frst ʈñ t d z t cros ɖ deẓt, n ɖen it śd b īzi t fînd yr we hom.”

“Hǎ cn I cros ɖ deẓt?” ś inqîrd.

“Wel, I’l tel y ẃt I ʈnc,” sd ɖ litl man. “Y si, ẃn I cem t ɖs cuntri it wz in a b’lūn. Y olso cem ʈru ɖ er, biyñ carid bî a sîclon. So I b’liv ɖ bst we t gt acrs ɖ deẓt wl b ʈru ɖ er. Nǎ, it z qt bynd mî pǎrz t mc a sîclon; bt I’v bn ʈncñ ɖ matr ovr, n I b’liv I cn mc a b’lūn.”

“Hǎ?” asct Doṛʈi.

“A b’lūn,” sd Óz, “z md v silc, ẃć z cotd wɖ glu t cīp ɖ gas in it. I hv plenti v silc in ɖ Palis, so it wl b no trubl t mc ɖ b’lūn. Bt in ol ɖs cuntri ɖr z no gas t fil ɖ b’lūn wɖ, t mc it flot.”

“F it w’nt flot,” rmarct Doṛʈi, “it wl b v no ys t s.”

“Tru,” ansrd Óz. “Bt ɖr z anɖr we t mc it flot, ẃć z t fil it wɖ hot er. Hot er z’nt az gd az gas, fr f ɖ er śd gt cold ɖ b’lūn wd cm dǎn in ɖ deẓt, n w śd b lost.”

“W!” xclemd ɖ grl. “R y gwñ wɖ m?”

“Yes, v cors,” rplaid Óz. “I am tîrd v biyñ sć a humbug. F I śd g ǎt v ɖs Palis mî ppl wd sn dscuvr I am nt a Wiẓd, n ɖen ɖe wd b vxt wɖ m fr hvñ dsivd ɖm. So I hv t ste śut p in ɖz rūmz ol de, n it gts tîrsm. I’d mć rɖr g bac t Canẓs wɖ y n b in a src̣s agn.”

“I śl b glad t hv yr cumṗni,” sd Doṛʈi.

“Ʈanc y,” h ansrd. “Nǎ, f y wl hlp m sou ɖ silc tgɖr, w wl bgin t wrc on ǎr b’lūn.”

So Doṛʈi tc a nīdl n ʈred, n az fast az Óz cut ɖ strips v silc intu propr śep ɖ grl soud ɖm nītli tgɖr. Frst ɖr wz a strip v lît grīn silc, ɖen a strip v darc grīn n ɖen a strip v emṛld grīn; fr Óz hd a fansi t mc ɖ b’lūn in difṛnt śêdz v ɖ culr abt ɖm. It tc ʈri dez t sou ol ɖ strips tgɖr, bt ẃn it wz finiśt ɖe hd a big bag v grīn silc mor ɖn twenti fīt loñ.

Ɖen Óz pentd it on ɖ insd wɖ a cot v ʈin glu, t mc it ertît, aftr ẃć h anǎnst ɖt ɖ b’lūn wz redi.

“Bt w mst hv a bascit t rîd in,” h sd. So h snt ɖ soljr wɖ ɖ grīn ẃiscrz fr a big cloɖzbascit, ẃć h fasnd wɖ mni rops t ɖ botm v ɖ b’lūn.

Ẃn it wz ol redi, Óz snt wrd t hiz ppl ɖt h wz gwñ t mc a vizit t a gret bruɖr Wiẓd hu livd in ɖ clǎdz. Ɖ nyz spred rapidli ʈrt ɖ siti n evrwn cem t si ɖ wundrfl sît.

Óz ordrd ɖ b’lūn carid ǎt in frunt v ɖ Palis, n ɖ ppl gezd upn it wɖ mć krioṣti. Ɖ Tin Wŭdmn hd ćopt a big pîl v wŭd, n nǎ h md a fîr v it, n Óz hld ɖ botm v ɖ b’lūn ovr ɖ fîr so ɖt ɖ hot er ɖt arouz fṛm it wd b còt in ɖ silcn bag. Graɉli ɖ b’lūn sweld ǎt n rouz intu ɖ er, untl fîṇli ɖ bascit jst tućt ɖ grǎnd.

Ɖen Óz got intu ɖ bascit n sd t ol ɖ ppl in a lǎd vôs:

“I am nǎ gwñ awe t mc a vizit. Ẃl I am gn ɖ Scercro wl rūl ovr y. I cmand y t obe him az y wd m.”

Ɖ b’lūn wz bî ɖs tîm tugñ hard at ɖ rop ɖt hld it t ɖ grǎnd, fr ɖ er wɖn it wz hot, n ɖs md it so mć lîtr in weit ɖn ɖ er wɖt ɖt it pld hard t rîz intu ɖ scî.

“Cm, Doṛʈi!” craid ɖ Wiẓd. “Huri p, or ɖ b’lūn wl flî awe.”

“I c’nt fînd Toto enẃr,” rplaid Doṛʈi, hu dd nt wś t līv hr litl dog bhnd. Toto hd run intu ɖ crǎd t barc at a citn, n Doṛʈi at last faund him. Ś pict him p n ran twdz ɖ b’lūn.

Ś wz wɖn a fy steps v it, n Óz wz holdñ ǎt hiz handz t hlp hr intu ɖ bascit, ẃn, crac! wnt ɖ rops, n ɖ b’lūn rouz intu ɖ er wɖt hr.

“Cm bac!” ś scrīmd. “I wont t g, tù!”

“I c’nt cm bac, mî dir,” cōld Óz fṛm ɖ bascit. “Gdbî!”

“Gdbî!” śǎtd evrwn, n ol îz wr trnd upwd t ẃr ɖ Wiẓd wz rîdñ in ɖ bascit, rîzñ evri momnt farɖr n farɖr intu ɖ scî.

N ɖt wz ɖ last eni v ɖm evr sw v Óz, ɖ Wundrfl Wiẓd, ɖo h me hv rīćt Ǒṃhā sefli, n b ɖr nǎ, fr ol w nǒ. Bt ɖ ppl rmembrd him luvñli, n sd t wn anɖr:

“Óz wz olwz ǎr frend. Ẃn h wz hir h bilt fr s ɖs bytifl Emṛld Siti, n nǎ h z gn h hz left ɖ Wîz Scercro t rūl ovr s.”

Stl, fr mni dez ɖe grīvd ovr ɖ los v ɖ Wundrfl Wiẓd, n wd nt b cumḟtd.

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“Cngrać̣let m. I am gwñ t Óz t gt mî brenz at last. Ẃn I rtrn I śl b az uɖr men r.”

“I hv olwz lîct y az y wr,” sd Doṛʈi simpli.

“It z cînd v y t lîc a Scercro,” h rplaid. “Bt śrli y wl ʈnc mor v m ẃn y hír ɖ splendid ʈōts mî ny bren z gwñ t trn ǎt.” Ɖen h sd gdbî t ɖm ol in a ćirfl vôs n wnt t ɖ Ʈronrūm, ẃr h rapt upn ɖ dor.

“Cm in,” sd Óz.

Ɖ Scercro wnt in n faund ɖ litl man sitñ dǎn bî ɖ windo, ingejd in dīp ʈōt.

“I hv cm fr mî brenz,” rmarct ɖ Scercro, a litl unīẓli.

“Ǒ, yes; sit dǎn in ɖt ćer, plīz,” rplaid Óz. “Y mst xkz m fr tecñ yr hed of, bt I śl hv t d it in ordr t pt yr brenz in ɖer propr ples.”

“Ɖt’s ol rît,” sd ɖ Scercro. “Y r qt welcm t tec mî hed of, az loñ az it wl b a betr wn ẃn y pt it on agn.”

So ɖ Wiẓd unfasnd hiz hed n emtid ǎt ɖ strw. Ɖen h entrd ɖ bac rūm n tc p a meźr v bran, ẃć h mixt wɖ a gret mni pinz n nīdlz. Hvñ śecn ɖm tgɖr ʈuṛli, h fild ɖ top v ɖ Scercro’z hed wɖ ɖ mixćr n stuft ɖ rest v ɖ spes wɖ strw, t hold it in ples.

Ẃn h hd fasnd ɖ Scercro’z hed on hiz bodi agn h sd t him, “Hiraftr y wl b a gret man, fr I hv gvn y a lot v bran-ny brenz.”

Ɖ Scercro wz bʈ plizd n prǎd at ɖ flfilmnt v hiz gretist wiś, n hvñ ʈanct Óz wormli h wnt bac t hiz frendz.

Doṛʈi lct at him krịsli. Hiz hed wz qt buljd ǎt at ɖ top wɖ brenz.

“Hǎ d y fīl?” ś asct.

“I fīl wîz indd,” h ansrd rṇstli. “Ẃn I gt yst t mî brenz I śl nǒ evrʈñ.”

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“Ɖt z prūf ɖt h z śarp,” rmarct ɖ Layn.

“Wel, I mst g t Óz n gt mî hart,” sd ɖ Wŭdmn. So h wōct t ɖ Ʈronrūm n noct at ɖ dor.

“Cm in,” cōld Óz, n ɖ Wŭdmn entrd n sd, “I hv cm fr mî hart.”

“Vri wel,” ansrd ɖ litl man. “Bt I śl hv t cut a houl in yr brest, so I cn pt yr hart in ɖ rît ples. I hop it w’nt hrt y.”

“Ǒ, no,” ansrd ɖ Wŭdmn. “I śl nt fīl it at ol.”

So Óz bròt a per v tinsmiʈ’s śirz n cut a smōl, sqer houl in ɖ left sîd v ɖ Tin Wŭdmn’z brest. Ɖen, gwñ t a ćst v drorz, h tc ǎt a priti hart, md intîrli v silc n stuft wɖ swdust.

“Z’nt it a byti?” h asct.

“It z, indd!” rplaid ɖ Wŭdmn, hu wz gretli plizd. “Bt z it a cînd hart?”

“Ǒ, vri!” ansrd Óz. H pt ɖ hart in ɖ Wŭdmn’z brest n ɖen rplest ɖ sqer v tin, soldrñ it nītli tgɖr ẃr it hd bn cut.

“Ɖr,” sd h; “nǎ y hv a hart ɖt eni man mt b prǎd v. I’m sori I hd t pt a pać on yr brest, bt it riyli cd’nt b hlpt.”

“Nvr mînd ɖ pać,” xclemd ɖ hapi Wŭdmn. “I am vri gretfl t y, n śl nvr fget yr cîndnis.”

“D’nt spīc v it,” rplaid Óz.

Ɖen ɖ Tin Wŭdmn wnt bac t hiz frendz, hu wśt him evri jô on acǎnt v hiz gd fortyn.

Ɖ Layn nǎ wōct t ɖ Ʈronrūm n noct at ɖ dor.

“Cm in,” sd Óz.

“I hv cm fr mî curij,” anǎnst ɖ Layn, enṭrñ ɖ rūm.

“Vri wel,” ansrd ɖ litl man; “I wl gt it fr y.”

H wnt t a cuḅd n rīćñ p t a hî ślf tc dǎn a sqer grīn botl, ɖ contents v ẃć h pord intu a grīn-gold diś, bytifli carvd. Plesñ ɖs bfr ɖ Cawdli Layn, hu snift at it az f h dd nt lîc it, ɖ Wiẓd sd:

“Drinc.”

“Ẃt z it?” asct ɖ Layn.

“Wel,” ansrd Óz, “f it wr insd v y, it wd b curij. Y nǒ, v cors, ɖt curij z olwz insd wn; so ɖt ɖs riyli canot b cōld curij untl y hv swoloud it. Ɖrfr I advîz y t drinc it az sn az poṣbl.”

Ɖ Layn heztetd no longr, bt dranc tl ɖ diś wz emti.

“Hǎ d y fīl nǎ?” asct Óz.

“Fl v curij,” rplaid ɖ Layn, hu wnt jôḟli bac t hiz frendz t tel ɖm v hiz gd fortyn.

Óz, left t himslf, smîld t ʈnc v hiz s’xes in gvñ ɖ Scercro n ɖ Tin Wŭdmn n ɖ Layn xacli ẃt ɖe ʈt ɖe wontd. “Hǎ cn I hlp biyñ a humbug,” h sd, “ẃn ol ɖz ppl mc m d ʈñz ɖt evrbdi nz c’nt b dn? It wz īzi t mc ɖ Scercro n ɖ Layn n ɖ Wŭdmn hapi, bcz ɖe imajind I cd d enʈñ. Bt it wl tec mor ɖn imaɉneśn t cari Doṛʈi bac t Canẓs, n I’m śr I d’nt nǒ hǎ it cn b dn.”

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“Ẃt! r y bac agn?” h asct, in s’prîz.

“D y nt si s?” ansrd ɖ Scercro.

“Bt I ʈt y hd gn t vizit ɖ Wicid Wić v ɖ Wst.”

“W dd vizit hr,” sd ɖ Scercro.

“N ś let y g agn?” asct ɖ man, in wundr.

“Ś cd nt hlp it, fr ś z mltd,” xplend ɖ Scercro.

“Mltd! Wel, ɖt z gd nyz, indd,” sd ɖ man. “Hu mltd hr?”

“It wz Doṛʈi,” sd ɖ Layn grevli.

“Gd greśs!” xclemd ɖ man, n h baud vri lo indd bfr hr.

Ɖen h léd ɖm intu hiz litl rūm n loct ɖ specṭclz fṛm ɖ gret box on ol ɖer îz, jst az h hd dn bfr. Afṭwd ɖe pást on ʈru ɖ get intu ɖ Emṛld Siti. Ẃn ɖ ppl hŕd fṛm ɖ Gardịn v ɖ Gets ɖt Doṛʈi hd mltd ɖ Wicid Wić v ɖ Wst, ɖe ol gaɖrd arnd ɖ travlrz n foloud ɖm in a gret crǎd t ɖ Palis v Óz.

Ɖ soljr wɖ ɖ grīn ẃiscrz wz stl on gard bfr ɖ dor, bt h let ɖm in at wns, n ɖe wr agn met bî ɖ bytifl grīn grl, hu śoud ć v ɖm t ɖer old rūmz at wns, so ɖe mt rest untl ɖ Gret Óz wz redi t rsiv ɖm.

Ɖ soljr hd ɖ nyz carid stret t Óz ɖt Doṛʈi n ɖ uɖr travlrz hd cm bac agn, aftr dstroyñ ɖ Wicid Wić; bt Óz md no rplî. Ɖe ʈt ɖ Gret Wiẓd wd snd fr ɖm at wns, bt h dd nt. Ɖe hd no wrd fṛm him ɖ nxt de, nr ɖ nxt, nr ɖ nxt. Ɖ wêtñ wz tîrsm n wẹrñ, n at last ɖe grù vxt ɖt Óz śd trīt ɖm in so pur a faśn, aftr sndñ ɖm t unḍgo hardśps n sleṿri. So ɖ Scercro at last asct ɖ grīn grl t tec anɖr mesij t Óz, seyñ f h dd nt let ɖm in t si him at wns ɖe wd cōl ɖ Wñd Munciz t hlp ɖm, n fînd ǎt ẃɖr h cept hiz proṃsz or nt. Ẃn ɖ Wiẓd wz gvn ɖs mesij h wz so frîtnd ɖt h snt wrd fr ɖm t cm t ɖ Ʈronrūm at for minits aftr nîn o’cloc ɖ nxt mornñ. H hd wns met ɖ Wñd Munciz in ɖ Land v ɖ Wst, n h dd nt wś t mīt ɖm agn.

Ɖ for travlrz pást a slīplis nît, ć ʈncñ v ɖ gift Óz hd promist t bsto on him. Doṛʈi fél aslip onli wns, n ɖen ś drīmd ś wz in Canẓs, ẃr Ānt Ém wz telñ hr hǎ glad ś wz t hv hr litl grl at hom agn.

Promtli at nîn o’cloc ɖ nxt mornñ ɖ grīn-ẃiscrd soljr cem t ɖm, n for minits lêtr ɖe ol wnt intu ɖ Ʈronrūm v ɖ Gret Óz.

V cors ć wn v ɖm xpctd t si ɖ Wiẓd in ɖ śep h hd tecn bfr, n ol wr gretli s’prîzd ẃn ɖe lct abt n sw nwn at ol in ɖ rūm. Ɖe cept clos t ɖ dor n closr t wn anɖr, fr ɖ stilnis v ɖ emti rūm wz mor dredfl ɖn eni v ɖ formz ɖe hd sìn Óz tec.

Prezntli ɖe hŕd a soḷm Vôs, ɖt sīmd t cm fṛm smẃr nir ɖ top v ɖ gret dom, n it sd:

“I am Óz, ɖ Gret n Teribl. Ẃ d y sīc m?”

Ɖe lct agn in evri part v ɖ rūm, n ɖen, siyñ nwn, Doṛʈi asct, “Ẃr r y?”

“I am evrẃr,” ansrd ɖ Vôs, “bt t ɖ îz v comn mortlz I am inviẓbl. I wl nǎ sīt mslf upn mî ʈron, ɖt y me cnvrs wɖ m.” Indd, ɖ Vôs sīmd jst ɖen t cm stret fṛm ɖ ʈron itslf; so ɖe wōct twd it n std in a ro ẃl Doṛʈi sd:

“W hv cm t clem ǎr promis, Ǒ Óz.”

“Ẃt promis?” asct Óz.

“Y promist t snd m bac t Canẓs ẃn ɖ Wicid Wić wz dstroid,” sd ɖ grl.

“N y promist t gv m brenz,” sd ɖ Scercro.

“N y promist t gv m a hart,” sd ɖ Tin Wŭdmn.

“N y promist t gv m curij,” sd ɖ Cawdli Layn.

“Z ɖ Wicid Wić riyli dstroid?” asct ɖ Vôs, n Doṛʈi ʈt it trembld a litl.

“Yes,” ś ansrd, “I mltd hr wɖ a bucit v wōtr.”

“Dir m,” sd ɖ Vôs, “hǎ sudn! Wel, cm t m tmoro, fr I mst hv tîm t ʈnc it ovr.”

“Y’v hd plenti v tîm olrdi,” sd ɖ Tin Wŭdmn angṛli.

“W ś’nt wêt a de longr,” sd ɖ Scercro.

“Y mst cīp yr proṃsz t s!” xclemd Doṛʈi.

Ɖ Layn ʈt it mt b az wel t frîtn ɖ Wiẓd, so h gev a larj, lǎd ror, ẃć wz so firs n dredfl ɖt Toto jumt awe fṛm him in alarm n tipt ovr ɖ scrīn ɖt std in a cornr. Az it fél wɖ a craś ɖe lct ɖt we, n ɖ nxt momnt ol v ɖm wr fild wɖ wundr. Fr ɖe sw, standñ in jst ɖ spot ɖ scrīn hd hidn, a litl old man, wɖ a bòld hed n a rincld fes, hu sīmd t b az mć s’prîzd az ɖe wr. Ɖ Tin Wŭdmn, rezñ hiz ax, ruśt twd ɖ litl man n craid ǎt, “Hu r y?”

“I am Óz, ɖ Gret n Teribl,” sd ɖ litl man, in a tremḅlñ vôs. “Bt d’nt strîc m—plīz d’nt—n I’l d enʈñ y wont m t.”

Ǎr frendz lct at him in s’prîz n dsme.

“I ʈt Óz wz a gret Hed,” sd Doṛʈi.

“N I ʈt Óz wz a luvli Ledi,” sd ɖ Scercro.

“N I ʈt Óz wz a teribl Bīst,” sd ɖ Tin Wŭdmn.

“N I ʈt Óz wz a Bōl v Fîr,” xclemd ɖ Layn.

“No, y r ol roñ,” sd ɖ litl man mīcli. “I hv bn mcñ b’liv.”

“Mcñ b’liv!” craid Doṛʈi. “R y nt a Gret Wiẓd?”

“Huś, mî dir,” h sd. “D’nt spīc so lǎd, or y wl b oṿhŕd—n I śd b ruind. I’m s’pozd t b a Gret Wiẓd.”

“N r’nt y?” ś asct.

“Nt a bit v it, mî dir; I’m jst a comn man.”

“Y’r mor ɖn ɖt,” sd ɖ Scercro, in a grīvd ton; “y’r a humbug.”

“Xacli so!” dclerd ɖ litl man, rubñ hiz handz tgɖr az f it plizd him. “I am a humbug.”

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“Or I mî curij?” asct ɖ Layn.“Or I mî brenz?” weild ɖ Scercro, wîpñ ɖ tirz fṛm hiz îz wɖ hiz cot slīv.

“Mî dir frendz,” sd Óz, “I pre y nt t spīc v ɖz litl ʈñz. Ʈnc v m, n ɖ teribl trubl I’m in at biyñ faund ǎt.”

“Dz’nt enwn els nǒ y’r a humbug?” asct Doṛʈi.

“Nwn nz it bt y for—n mslf,” rplaid Óz. “I hv fūld evrwn so loñ ɖt I ʈt I śd nvr b faund ǎt. It wz a gret mstec mî evr letñ y intu ɖ Ʈronrūm. Yẓ́li I wl nt si īvn mî subjicts, n so ɖe b’liv I am smʈñ teribl.”

“Bt, I d’nt unḍstand,” sd Doṛʈi, in bwildrmnt. “Hǎ wz it ɖt y apird t m az a gret Hed?”

“Ɖt wz wn v mî trics,” ansrd Óz. “Step ɖs we, plīz, n I wl tel y ol abt it.”

H léd ɖ we t a smōl ćembr in ɖ rir v ɖ Ʈronrūm, n ɖe ol foloud him. H pôntd t wn cornr, in ẃć le ɖ gret Hed, md ǎt v mni ʈicṇsz v pepr, n wɖ a cerḟli pentd fes.

“Ɖs I huñ fṛm ɖ sīlñ bî a wîr,” sd Óz. “I std bhnd ɖ scrīn n pld a ʈred, t mc ɖ îz muv n ɖ mǎʈ opn.”

“Bt hǎ abt ɖ vôs?” ś inqîrd.

“Ǒ, I am a vntriḷqist,” sd ɖ litl man. “I cn ʈro ɖ sǎnd v mî vôs ẃrvr I wś, so ɖt y ʈt it wz cmñ ǎt v ɖ Hed. Hir r ɖ uɖr ʈñz I yzd t dsiv y.” H śoud ɖ Scercro ɖ dres n ɖ masc h hd wòrn ẃn h sīmd t b ɖ luvli Ledi. N ɖ Tin Wŭdmn sw ɖt hiz teribl Bīst wz nʈñ bt a lot v scinz, soun tgɖr, wɖ slats t cīp ɖer sîdz ǎt. Az fr ɖ Bōl v Fîr, ɖ fōls Wiẓd hd huñ ɖt olso fṛm ɖ sīlñ. It wz riyli a bōl v cotn, bt ẃn ôl wz pord upn it ɖ bōl brnd firsli.

“Riyli,” sd ɖ Scercro, “y òt t b aśemd v yrslf fr biyñ sć a humbug.”

“I am—I srtnli am,” ansrd ɖ litl man soroḟli; “bt it wz ɖ onli ʈñ I cd d. Sit dǎn, plīz, ɖr r plenti v ćerz; n I wl tel y mî stori.”

So ɖe sat dǎn n lisnd ẃl h tld ɖ folowñ têl.

“I wz born in Ǒṃhā—”

“Ẃ, ɖt z’nt vri far fṛm Canẓs!” craid Doṛʈi.

“No, bt it’s farɖr fṛm hir,” h sd, śecñ hiz hed at hr sadli. “Ẃn I grù p I bcem a vntriḷqist, n at ɖt I wz vri wel trênd bî a gret mastr. I cn iṃtet eni cnd v a brd or bīst.” Hir h mewed so lîc a citn ɖt Toto prict p hiz irz n lct evrẃr t si ẃr ś wz. “Aftr a tîm,” cntinyd Óz, “I tîrd v ɖt, n bcem a b’lūnist.”

“Ẃt z ɖt?” asct Doṛʈi.

“A man hu gz p in a b’lūn on src̣s de, so az t drw a crǎd v ppl tgɖr n gt ɖm t pe t si ɖ src̣s,” h xplend.

“Ǒ,” ś sd, “I nǒ.”

“Wel, wn de I wnt p in a b’lūn n ɖ rops got twistd, so ɖt I cd’nt cm dǎn agn. It wnt we p abv ɖ clǎdz, so far ɖt a cuṛnt v er struc it n carid it mni, mni mîlz awe. Fr a de n a nît I travld ʈru ɖ er, n on ɖ mornñ v ɖ secnd de I awouc n faund ɖ b’lūn flotñ ovr a strenj n bytifl cuntri.

“It cem dǎn graɉli, n I wz nt hrt a bit. Bt I faund mslf in ɖ mdst v a strenj ppl, hu, siyñ m cm fṛm ɖ clǎdz, ʈt I wz a gret Wiẓd. V cors I let ɖm ʈnc so, bcz ɖe wr afreid v m, n promist t d enʈñ I wśt ɖm t.

“Jst t aḿz mslf, n cīp ɖ gd ppl bizi, I ordrd ɖm t bild ɖs Siti, n mî Palis; n ɖe dd it ol wilñli n wel. Ɖen I ʈt, az ɖ cuntri wz so grīn n bytifl, I wd cōl it ɖ Emṛld Siti; n t mc ɖ nem fit betr I pt grīn specṭclz on ol ɖ ppl, so ɖt evrʈñ ɖe sw wz grīn.”

“Bt z’nt evrʈñ hir grīn?” asct Doṛʈi.

“No mor ɖn in eni uɖr siti,” rplaid Óz; “bt ẃn y wer grīn specṭclz, ẃ v cors evrʈñ y si lcs grīn t y. Ɖ Emṛld Siti wz bilt a gret mni yirz ago, fr I wz a yuñ man ẃn ɖ b’lūn bròt m hir, n I am a vri old man nǎ. Bt mî ppl hv wòrn grīn glasz on ɖer îz so loñ ɖt most v ɖm ʈnc it riyli z an Emṛld Siti, n it srtnli z a bytifl ples, abǎndñ in juwlz n preśs metlz, n evri gd ʈñ ɖt z nīdd t mc wn hapi. I hv bn gd t ɖ ppl, n ɖe lîc m; bt evr sins ɖs Palis wz bilt, I hv śut mslf p n wd nt si eni v ɖm.

“Wn v mî gretist firz wz ɖ Wićz, fr ẃl I hd no majicl pǎrz at ol I sn faund ǎt ɖt ɖ Wićz wr riyli ebl t d wundrfl ʈñz. Ɖr wr for v ɖm in ɖs cuntri, n ɖe rūld ɖ ppl hu liv in ɖ Norʈ n Sǎʈ n Īst n Wst. Forćṇtli, ɖ Wićz v ɖ Norʈ n Sǎʈ wr gd, n I ń ɖe wd d m no harm; bt ɖ Wićz v ɖ Īst n Wst wr teṛbli wicid, n hd ɖe nt ʈt I wz mor pǎrfl ɖn ɖe ɖmslvz, ɖe wd śrli hv dstroid m. Az it wz, I livd in dedli fir v ɖm fr mni yirz; so y cn imajin hǎ plizd I wz ẃn I hŕd yr hǎs hd fōḷn on ɖ Wicid Wić v ɖ Īst. Ẃn y cem t m, I wz wilñ t promis enʈñ f y wd onli d awe wɖ ɖ uɖr Wić; bt, nǎ ɖt y hv mltd hr, I am aśemd t se ɖt I canot cīp mî proṃsz.”

“I ʈnc y r a vri bad man,” sd Doṛʈi.

“Ǒ, no, mî dir; I’m riyli a vri gd man, bt I’m a vri bad Wiẓd, I mst admit.”

“C’nt y gv m brenz?” asct ɖ Scercro.

“Y d’nt nīd ɖm. Y r lrnñ smʈñ evri de. A bebi hz brenz, bt it dz’nt nǒ mć. Xpirịns z ɖ onli ʈñ ɖt brñz nolij, n ɖ longr y r on rʈ ɖ mor xpirịns y r śr t gt.”

“Ɖt me ol b tru,” sd ɖ Scercro, “bt I śl b vri unhapi unls y gv m brenz.”

Ɖ fōls Wiẓd lct at him cerḟli.

“Wel,” h sd wɖ a sai, “I’m nt mć v a mjiśn, az I sd; bt f y wl cm t m tmoromornñ, I wl stuf yr hed wɖ brenz. I canot tel y hǎ t yz ɖm, hvr; y mst fînd ɖt ǎt fr yrslf.”

“Ǒ, ʈanc y—ʈanc y!” craid ɖ Scercro. “I’l fînd a we t yz ɖm, nvr fir!”

“Bt hǎ abt mî curij?” asct ɖ Layn añśsli.

“Y hv plenti v curij, I am śr,” ansrd Óz. “Ol y nīd z confidns in yrslf. Ɖr z no livñ ʈñ ɖt z nt afreid ẃn it fesz denjr. Ɖ tru curij z in fesñ denjr ẃn y r afreid, n ɖt cnd v curij y hv in plenti.”

“Phps I hv, bt I’m scerd jst ɖ sem,” sd ɖ Layn. “I śl riyli b vri unhapi unls y gv m ɖ sort v curij ɖt mcs wn fget h z afreid.”

“Vri wel, I wl gv y ɖt sort v curij tmoro,” rplaid Óz.

“Hǎ abt mî hart?” asct ɖ Tin Wŭdmn.

“Ẃ, az fr ɖt,” ansrd Óz, “I ʈnc y r roñ t wont a hart. It mcs most ppl unhapi. F y onli ń it, y r in luc nt t hv a hart.”

“Ɖt mst b a matr v opińn,” sd ɖ Tin Wŭdmn. “Fr mî part, I wl ber ol ɖ unhapinis wɖt a mrmr, f y wl gv m ɖ hart.”

“Vri wel,” ansrd Óz mīcli. “Cm t m tmoro n y śl hv a hart. I hv pleid Wiẓd fr so mni yirz ɖt I me az wel cntiny ɖ part a litl longr.”

“N nǎ,” sd Doṛʈi, “hǎ am I t gt bac t Canẓs?”

“W śl hv t ʈnc abt ɖt,” rplaid ɖ litl man. “Gv m tū or ʈri dez t cnsidr ɖ matr n I’l trî t fînd a we t cari y ovr ɖ deẓt. In ɖ mntm y śl ol b trītd az mî gsts, n ẃl y liv in ɖ Palis mî ppl wl wêt upn y n obe yr slîtist wiś. Ɖr z onli wn ʈñ I asc in rtrn fr mî hlp—sć az it z. Y mst cīp mî sīcrit n tel nwn I am a humbug.”

Ɖe agrìd t se nʈñ v ẃt ɖe hd lrnt, n wnt bac t ɖer rūmz in hî spirits. Īvn Doṛʈi hd hop ɖt “Ɖ Gret n Teribl Humbug,” az ś cōld him, wd fînd a we t snd hr bac t Canẓs, n f h dd ś wz wilñ t fgiv him evrʈñ.

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Ɖ nxt mornñ ɖ sún wz bhnd a clǎd, bt ɖe startd on, az f ɖe wr qt śr ẃć we ɖe wr gwñ.

“F w wōc far inuf,” sd Doṛʈi, “I am śr w śl smtm cm t sm ples.”

Bt de bî de pást awe, n ɖe stl sw nʈñ bfr ɖm bt ɖ scarlit fīldz. Ɖ Scercro bgan t grumbl a bit.

“W hv śrli lost ǎr we,” h sd, “n unls w fînd it agn in tîm t rīć ɖ Emṛld Siti, I śl nvr gt mî brenz.”

“Nr I mî hart,” dclerd ɖ Tin Wŭdmn. “It sīmz t m I cn scersli wêt tl I gt t Óz, n y mst admit ɖs z a vri loñ jrni.”

“Y si,” sd ɖ Cawdli Layn, wɖ a ẃimpr, “I hv’nt ɖ curij t cīp trampñ fr evr, wɖt gtñ enẃr at ol.”

Ɖen Doṛʈi lost hart. Ś sat dǎn on ɖ gras n lct at hr cmpańnz, n ɖe sat dǎn n lct at hr, n Toto faund ɖt fr ɖ frst tîm in hiz lîf h wz tù tîrd t ćes a buṭflî ɖt flù past hiz hed. So h pt ǎt hiz tuñ n pantd n lct at Doṛʈi az f t asc ẃt ɖe śd d nxt.

“S’poz w cōl ɖ fīldmîs,” ś sjstd. “Ɖe cd probbli tel s ɖ we t ɖ Emṛld Siti.”

“T b śr ɖe cd,” craid ɖ Scercro. “Ẃ dd’nt w ʈnc v ɖt bfr?”

Doṛʈi blù ɖ litl ẃisl ś hd olwz carid abt hr nec sins ɖ Qīn v ɖ Mîs hd gvn it t hr. In a fy minits ɖe hŕd ɖ paṭrñ v tîni fīt, n mni v ɖ smōl gre mîs cem runñ p t hr. Amñ ɖm wz ɖ Qīn hrslf, hu asct, in hr sqīci litl vôs:

“Ẃt cn I d fr mî frendz?”

“W hv lost ǎr we,” sd Doṛʈi. “Cn y tel s ẃr ɖ Emṛld Siti z?”

“Srtnli,” ansrd ɖ Qīn; “bt it z a gret we of, fr y hv hd it at yr bacs ol ɖs tîm.” Ɖen ś notist Doṛʈi’z Goldn Cap, n sd, “Ẃ d’nt y yz ɖ ćarm v ɖ Cap, n cōl ɖ Wñd Munciz t y? Ɖe wl cari y t ɖ Siti v Óz in les ɖn an aur.”

“I dd’nt nǒ ɖr wz a ćarm,” ansrd Doṛʈi, in s’prîz. “Ẃt z it?”

“It z ritn insd ɖ Goldn Cap,” rplaid ɖ Qīn v ɖ Mîs. “Bt f y r gwñ t cōl ɖ Wñd Munciz w mst run awe, fr ɖe r fl v misćif n ʈnc it gret fun t pleg s.”

“W’nt ɖe hrt m?” asct ɖ grl añśsli.

“Ǒ, no. Ɖe mst obe ɖ werr v ɖ Cap. Gdbî!” N ś scamprd ǎt v sît, wɖ ol ɖ mîs huriyñ aftr hr.

Doṛʈi lct insd ɖ Goldn Cap n sw sm wrdz ritn upn ɖ lînñ. Ɖz, ś ʈt, mst b ɖ ćarm, so ś réd ɖ d’rex́nz cerḟli n pt ɖ Cap upn hr hed.

“Ep-pe, pep-pe, cac-ce!” ś sd, standñ on hr left ft.

“Ẃt dd y se?” asct ɖ Scercro, hu dd nt nǒ ẃt ś wz dwñ.

“Hil-lo, hol-lo, hel-lo!” Doṛʈi wnt on, standñ ɖs tîm on hr rît ft.

“Hlo!” rplaid ɖ Tin Wŭdmn cāmli.

“Ziz-zi, zuz-zi, zic!” sd Doṛʈi, hu wz nǎ standñ on bʈ fīt. Ɖs endd ɖ seyñ v ɖ ćarm, n ɖe hŕd a gret ćaṭrñ n flapñ v wñz, az ɖ band v Wñd Munciz flù p t ɖm.

Ɖ Cñ baud lo bfr Doṛʈi, n asct, “Ẃt z yr cmand?”

“W wś t g t ɖ Emṛld Siti,” sd ɖ ćîld, “n w hv lost ǎr we.”

“W wl cari y,” rplaid ɖ Cñ, n no snr hd h spocn ɖn tū v ɖ Munciz còt Doṛʈi in ɖer armz n flù awe wɖ hr. Uɖrz tc ɖ Scercro n ɖ Wŭdmn n ɖ Layn, n wn litl Munci sizd Toto n flù aftr ɖm, olɖo ɖ dog traid hard t bît him.

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Doṛʈi faund hrslf rîdñ īẓli btwn tū v ɖ bigist Munciz, wn v ɖm ɖ Cñ himslf. Ɖe hd md a ćer v ɖer handz n wr cerfl nt t hrt hr.

“Ẃ d y hv t obe ɖ ćarm v ɖ Goldn Cap?” ś asct.

“Ɖt z a loñ stori,” ansrd ɖ Cñ, wɖ a wñd laf; “bt az w hv a loñ jrni bfr s, I wl pas ɖ tîm bî telñ y abt it, f y wś.”

“I śl b glad t hír it,” ś rplaid.

“Wns,” bgan ɖ līdr, “w wr a fri ppl, livñ haṗli in ɖ gret forist, flayñ fṛm tri t tri, ītñ nuts n frūt, n dwñ jst az w plizd wɖt cōlñ enbdi mastr. Phps sm v s wr rɖr tù fl v misćif at tîmz, flayñ dǎn t pl ɖ teilz v ɖ animlz ɖt hd no wñz, ćesñ brdz, n ʈrowñ nuts at ɖ ppl hu wōct in ɖ forist. Bt w wr cerlis n hapi n fl v fun, n injoid evri minit v ɖ de. Ɖs wz mni yirz ago, loñ bfr Óz cem ǎt v ɖ clǎdz t rūl ovr ɖs land.

“Ɖr livd hir ɖen, awe at ɖ Norʈ, a bytifl prinses, hu wz olso a pǎrfl sorṣres. Ol hr majic wz yzd t hlp ɖ ppl, n ś wz nvr noun t hrt enwn hu wz gd. Hr nem wz Geylét, n ś livd in a hansm palis bilt fṛm gret blocs v rūbi. Evrwn luvd hr, bt hr gretist soro wz ɖt ś cd fînd nwn t luv in rtrn, sins ol ɖ men wr mć tù stypid n ugli t mêt wɖ wn so bytifl n wîz. At last, hvr, ś faund a bô hu wz hansm n manli n wîz bynd hiz yirz. Geylét md p hr mînd ɖt ẃn h grù t b a man ś wd mc him hr huzbnd, so ś tc him t hr rūbi palis n yzd ol hr majic pǎrz t mc him az stroñ n gd n luvli az eni wmn cd wś. Ẃn h grù t manhd, Qelala, az h wz cōld, wz sd t b ɖ bst n wîzist man in ol ɖ land, ẃl hiz manli byti wz so gret ɖt Geylét luvd him dirli, n hesnd t mc evrʈñ redi fr ɖ wedñ.

“Mî granfaɖr wz at ɖt tîm ɖ Cñ v ɖ Wñd Munciz ẃć livd in ɖ forist nir Geylét’z palis, n ɖ old felo luvd a joc betr ɖn a gd dinr. Wn de, jst bfr ɖ wedñ, mî granfaɖr wz flayñ ǎt wɖ hiz band ẃn h sw Qelala wōcñ bsd ɖ rivr. H wz drest in a rić costym v pnc silc n prpl velvit, n mî granfaɖr ʈt h wd si ẃt h cd d. At hiz wrd ɖ band flù dǎn n sizd Qelala, carid him in ɖer armz untl ɖe wr ovr ɖ midl v ɖ rivr, n ɖen dropt him intu ɖ wōtr.

“‘Swim ǎt, mî fîn felo,’ craid mî granfaɖr, ‘n si f ɖ wōtr hz spotd yr cloɖz.’ Qelala wz mć tù wîz nt t swim, n h wz nt in ɖ līst spôld bî ol hiz gd fortyn. H laft, ẃn h cem t ɖ top v ɖ wōtr, n swam in t śor. Bt ẃn Geylét cem runñ ǎt t him ś faund hiz silcs n velvit ol ruind bî ɖ rivr.

“Ɖ prinses wz angri, n ś ń, v cors, hu dd it. Ś hd ol ɖ Wñd Munciz bròt bfr hr, n ś sd at frst ɖt ɖer wñz śd b taid n ɖe śd b trītd az ɖe hd trītd Qelala, n dropt in ɖ rivr. Bt mî granfaɖr plīdd hard, fr h ń ɖ Munciz wd drǎn in ɖ rivr wɖ ɖer wñz taid, n Qelala sd a cînd wrd fr ɖm olso; so ɖt Geylét fîṇli sperd ɖm, on cndiśn ɖt ɖ Wñd Munciz śd evr aftr d ʈri tîmz ɖ bidñ v ɖ ǒnr v ɖ Goldn Cap. Ɖs Cap hd bn md fr a wedñpreznt t Qelala, n it z sd t hv cost ɖ prinses haf hr cñdm. V cors mî granfaɖr n ol ɖ uɖr Munciz at wns agrìd t ɖ cndiśn, n ɖt z hǎ it hapnz ɖt w r ʈri tîmz ɖ slevz v ɖ ǒnr v ɖ Goldn Cap, hsvr h me b.”

“N ẃt bcem v ɖm?” asct Doṛʈi, hu hd bn gretli inṭrestd in ɖ stori.

“Qelala biyñ ɖ frst ǒnr v ɖ Goldn Cap,” rplaid ɖ Munci, “h wz ɖ frst t le hiz wiśz upn s. Az hiz brîd cd nt ber ɖ sît v s, h cōld s ol t him in ɖ forist aftr h hd marid hr n ordrd s olwz t cīp ẃr ś cd nvr agn set îz on a Wñd Munci, ẃć w wr glad t d, fr w wr ol afreid v hr.

“Ɖs wz ol w evr hd t d untl ɖ Goldn Cap fél intu ɖ handz v ɖ Wicid Wić v ɖ Wst, hu md s inslev ɖ Wnciz, n afṭwd drîv Óz himslf ǎt v ɖ Land v ɖ Wst. Nǎ ɖ Goldn Cap z yrz, n ʈri tîmz y hv ɖ rît t le yr wiśz upn s.”

Az ɖ Munci Cñ finiśt hiz stori Doṛʈi lct dǎn n sw ɖ grīn, śînñ wōlz v ɖ Emṛld Siti bfr ɖm. Ś wundrd at ɖ rapid flît v ɖ Munciz, bt wz glad ɖ jrni wz ovr. Ɖ strenj crīćrz set ɖ travlrz dǎn cerḟli bfr ɖ get v ɖ Siti, ɖ Cñ baud lo t Doṛʈi, n ɖen flù swiftli awe, foloud bî ol hiz band.

“Ɖt wz a gd rîd,” sd ɖ litl grl.

“Yes, n a qc we ǎt v ǎr trublz,” rplaid ɖ Layn. “Hǎ luci it wz y bròt awe ɖt wundrfl Cap!”

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