The Magic of Oz

CHAPTER 15. The Lonesome

Duck

Trot and Cap'n Bill stood before the Magic Flower, actually rooted to

the spot.

Aren't you hungry, Cap'n?" asked the little girl, with a long sigh, for

she had been standing there for hours and hours.

Well," replied the sailor-man, "I ain't sayin' as I couldn't EAT, Trot--if

a dinner was handy--but I guess old folks don't get as hungry as young

folks do."

I'm not sure 'bout that, Cap'n Bill," she said thoughtfully. "Age

MIGHT make a diff'rence, but seems to me SIZE would make a bigger

diff'rence. Seeing you're twice as big as me, you ought to be twice as

hungry."

I hope I am," he rejoined, "for I can stand it a while longer. I do hope

the Glass Cat will hurry, and I hope the Wizard won't waste time a-comin'

to us."

Trot sighed again and watched the wonderful Magic Flower, because

there was nothing else to do. Just now a lovely group of pink peonies

budded and bloomed, but soon they faded away, and a mass of deep blue

lilies took their place. Then some yellow chrysanthemums blossomed on

the plant, and when they had opened all their petals and reached perfection,

they gave way to a lot of white floral balls spotted with crimson--a flower

Trot had never seen before.

But I get awful tired watchin' flowers an' flowers an' flowers," she

said impatiently.

They're might pretty," observed Cap'n Bill.

I know; and if a person could come and look at the Magic Flower just

when she felt like it, it would be a fine thing, but to HAVE TO stand and

watch it, whether you want to or not, isn't so much fun. I wish, Cap'n Bill,

the thing would grow fruit for a while instead of flowers."