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"
Whoever drinks at the Forbidden Fountain at once forgets everything he
has ever known," Ozma asserted.
"
"
It wouldn't be a bad way to forget our troubles," suggested Uncle Henry.
That is true; but you would forget everything else, and become as
ignorant as a baby," returned Ozma.
"
Does it make one crazy?" asked Dorothy.
"
-
No; it only makes one forget," replied the girl Ruler. "It is said that once-
long, long ago--a wicked King ruled Oz, and made himself and all his
people very miserable and unhappy. So Glinda, the Good Sorceress,
placed this fountain here, and the King drank of its water and forgot all
his wickedness. His mind became innocent and vacant, and when he
learned the things of life again they were all good things. But the people
remembered how wicked their King had been, and were still afraid of
him. Therefore, he made them all drink of the Water of Oblivion and
forget everything they had known, so that they became as simple and
innocent as their King. After that, they all grew wise together, and their
wisdom was good, so that peace and happiness reigned in the land. But
for fear some one might drink of the water again, and in an instant forget
all he had learned, the King put that sign upon the fountain, where it
has remained for many centuries up to this very day."
They had all listened intently to Ozma's story, and when she finished
speaking there was a long period of silence while all thought upon the
curious magical power of the Water of Oblivion.
Finally the Scarecrow's painted face took on a broad smile that stretched
the cloth as far as it would go.
"
How thankful I am," he said, "that I have such an excellent assortment
of brains!"
"
I gave you the best brains I ever mixed," declared the Wizard, with an air
of pride.
"
You did, indeed!" agreed the Scarecrow, "and they work so splendidly
that they have found a way to save Oz--to save us all!"
"
I'm glad to hear that," said the Wizard. "We never needed saving more
than we do just now."
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