The Emerald City of Oz


google search for The Emerald City of Oz

Return to Master Book Index.

Page
149 150 151 152 153

Quick Jump
1 43 86 129 172

www.freeclassicebooks.com  
"
From these rooms," said the Scarecrow, proudly, "one may obtain fine  
views of the surrounding cornfields. The corn I grow is always husky,  
and I call the ears my regiments, because they have so many kernels. Of  
course I cannot ride my cobs, but I really don't care shucks about that.  
Taken altogether, my farm will stack up with any in the neighborhood."  
The visitors partook of some light refreshment and then hurried away to  
resume the road to the Emerald City. The Scarecrow found a seat in the  
wagon between Omby Amby and the Shaggy Man, and his weight did not  
add much to the load because he was stuffed with straw.  
"
You will notice I have one oat-field on my property," he remarked, as  
they drove away. "Oat-straw is, I have found, the best of all straws to re-  
stuff myself with when my interior gets musty or out of shape."  
"
Are you able to re-stuff yourself without help?" asked Aunt Em. "I  
should think that after the straw was taken out of you there wouldn't be  
anything left but your clothes."  
"
You are almost correct, madam," he answered. "My servants do the  
stuffing, under my direction. For my head, in which are my excellent  
brains, is a bag tied at the bottom. My face is neatly painted upon one  
side of the bag, as you may see. My head does not need re-stuffing, as  
my body does, for all that it requires is to have the face touched up with  
fresh paint occasionally."  
It was not far from the Scarecrow's mansion to the farm of Jack  
Pumpkinhead, and when they arrived there both Uncle Henry and Aunt  
Em were much impressed. The farm was one vast pumpkin field, and  
some of the pumpkins were of enormous size. In one of them, which had  
been neatly hollowed out, Jack himself lived, and he declared that it was  
a very comfortable residence. The reason he grew so many pumpkins  
was in order that he might change his head as often as it became  
wrinkled or threatened to spoil.  
The pumpkin-headed man welcomed his visitors joyfully and offered  
them several delicious pumpkin pies to eat.  
"
I don't indulge in pumpkin pies myself, for two reasons," he said. "One  
reason is that were I to eat pumpkins I would become a cannibal, and  
the other reason is that I never eat, not being hollow inside."  
"
Very good reasons," agreed the Scarecrow.  
1
51  


Page
149 150 151 152 153

Quick Jump
1 43 86 129 172