The Wizard Of Oz. 3: How Dorothy Saved The Scarecrow

In the third chapter of L Frank Baum's masterpiece, Dorothy makes her preparations (which include putting on the Wicked Witch's silver boots), then bravely sets out for the Emerald City along the yellow brick road. It isn't long before she arrives at a large cornfield and meets a stuffed man who says he's getting a bit fed up with doing nothing but scaring away crows.

L Frank Baum openly admitted to being influenced by Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland and Alice through the Looking Glass. If you're enjoying The Wizard of Oz, you will definitely enjoy these stories too, both narrated by me on Insight Timer.

Both of these books are available, complete, on playlists. Feel free to download the Wizard of Oz playlist too from the InsightTimer App, and listen to the tracks seamlessly. Tracks added as they are published.

Transcript

Hello there,

It's Mandy here.

Thanks very much for joining me this evening.

Welcome back to The Wizard of Oz by L.

Frank Baum.

Those of you who are familiar with Alice in Wonderland and Alice through the Looking Glass might see quite a few similarities to The Wizard of Oz and you'd be right,

L.

Frank Baum openly admitted that he was heavily influenced by the author of the Alice books,

Lewis Carroll.

But we've reached chapter three and before I go ahead please feel free to make yourself really comfortable.

Settling down into your chair or into your bed,

Relaxing your hands,

Softening those shoulders and loosening your jaw.

That's wonderful.

So if you're ready then I shall begin.

Chapter three,

How Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow.

When Dorothy was left alone she began to feel hungry so she went to the cupboard and cut herself some bread which she spread with butter.

She gave some to Toto and taking a pail from the shelf she carried it down to the little brook and filled it with clear sparkling water.

Toto ran over to the trees and began to bark at the birds sitting there.

Dorothy went to get him and saw such delicious fruit hanging from the branches that she gathered some of it,

Finding it just what she wanted to help out her breakfast.

Then she went back to the house and having helped herself and Toto to a good drink of the cool clear water she set about making ready for the journey to the City of Emeralds.

Dorothy had only one other dress but that happened to be clean and was hanging on a peg beside her bed.

It was gingham with checks of white and blue and although the blue was somewhat faded with many washings it was still a pretty frock.

The girl washed herself carefully,

Dressed herself in the clean gingham and tied her pink sun bonnet on her head.

She took a little basket and filled it with bread from the cupboard laying a white cloth over the top.

Then she looked down at her feet and noticed how old and worn her shoes were.

They surely will never do for a long journey Toto she said and Toto looked up into her face with his little black eyes and wagged his tail to show he knew what she meant.

At that moment Dorothy saw lying on the table the silver shoes that had belonged to the Witch of the East.

I wonder if they will fit me she said to Toto.

They would be just the thing to take a long walk in for they couldn't wear out.

She took off her old leather shoes and tried on the silver ones.

They fitted her as well as if they had been made for her.

Finally she picked up a basket.

Come along Toto she said we will go to the Emerald City and ask the Great Oz how to get back to Kansas.

She closed the door locked it and put the key carefully in the pocket of her dress.

And so with Toto trotting along soberly behind her she started on her journey.

There were several roads nearby but it didn't take her long to find the one paved with yellow brick.

Within a short time she was walking briskly towards the Emerald City.

Her silver shoes tinkling merrily on the hard yellow road bed.

The sun shone bright and the birds sang sweetly and Dorothy didn't feel nearly so bad as you might think a little girl would do who had been suddenly whisked away from her own country and sat down in the middle of a strange land.

She was surprised as she walked along to see how pretty the country was about her.

There were neat fences at the sides of the road painted a dainty blue colour and beyond them were fields of grain and vegetables in abundance.

Evidently the munchkins were good farmers and able to raise large crops.

Once in a while she would pass a house and the people came out to look at her and bow low as she went by for everyone knew she had been the means of destroying the wicked witch and setting them free.

The houses of the munchkins were odd-looking dwellings for each was round with a big dome for a roof.

All were painted blue for in this country of the east blue was the favourite colour.

Towards evening when Dorothy was tired with her long walk and began to wonder where she should pass the night she came to a house rather larger than the rest.

On the green lawn before it many men and women were dancing.

Five little fiddlers played as loudly as possible and the people were laughing and singing while a big table nearby was loaded with delicious fruits and nuts pies and cakes and many other good things to eat.

The people greeted Dorothy kindly and invited her to supper and to pass the night with them but this was the home of one of the richest munchkins in the land and his friends were gathered with him to celebrate their freedom from the wicked witch.

Dorothy ate a hearty supper and was waited upon by the rich munchkin himself whose name was Bok.

Then she sat down upon the settee and watched the people dance.

When Bok saw her silver shoes he said you must be a great sorceress.

Why?

Asked the girl.

Because you wear silver shoes and have killed the wicked witch besides you have white in your frock and only witches and sorceresses wear white.

My dress is blue and white checked said Dorothy smoothing out the wrinkles in it.

It is kind of you to wear that said Bok.

Blue is the colour of the munchkins and white is the witch colour so we know you are a friendly witch.

Dorothy didn't know what to say to this for all the people seemed to think her a witch and she knew very well she was only an ordinary little girl who would come by the chance of a cyclone into a strange land.

When she had tired watching the dancing Bok led her into the house where he gave her a room with a pretty bed in it.

The sheets were made of blue cloth and Dorothy slept soundly in them till morning with Toto curled up on the blue rug beside her.

She had a hearty breakfast and watched a wee munchkin baby who played with Toto and pulled his tail and crowed and laughed in a way that greatly amused Dorothy.

Toto was a fine curiosity to all the people for they had never seen a dog before.

How far is it to the Emerald City?

The girl asked.

I do not know answered Bok gravely but I've never been there.

It is better for people to keep away from Oz unless they have business with him but it's a long way to the Emerald City and it will take you many days.

The country here is rich and pleasant but you must pass through rough and places before you reach the end of your journey.

This worried Dorothy a little but she knew that only the great Oz could help her get to Kansas again so she bravely resolved not to turn back.

She bade her friends goodbye and again started along the road of yellow brick.

When she'd gone several miles she thought she would stop to rest and so climbed to the top of the fence beside the road and sat down.

There was a great cornfield beyond the fence and not far away she saw a scarecrow placed high on a pole to keep the birds from the ripe corn.

Dorothy leaned her chin upon her hand and gazed thoughtfully at the scarecrow.

Its head was a small sack stuffed with straw with eyes,

Nose and mouth painted on it to represent a face.

An old pointed blue hat that had belonged to some munchkin was perched on his head and the rest of figure was a blue suit of clothes worn and faded which had also been stuffed with straw.

On the feet were some old boots with blue tops such as every man wore in this country and the figure was raised above the stalks of corn by means of the pole stuck up its back.

While Dorothy was looking earnestly into the queer painted face of the scarecrow she was surprised to see one of the eyes slowly wink at her.

She thought she must have been mistaken at first for none of the scarecrows in Kansas ever wink but presently the figure nodded its head to her in a friendly way.

Then she climbed down from the fence and walked up to it while Toto ran about the pole and barked.

Good day said the scarecrow in a rather husky voice.

Did you speak asked the girl in wonder.

Certainly answered the scarecrow.

How do you do?

I'm pretty well thank you replied Dorothy politely.

How do you do?

I'm not feeling well said the scarecrow with a smile for it is very tedious being perched up here night and day to scare away crows.

Can't you get down asked Dorothy.

No for this pole is stuck up my back.

If you will please take away the pole I shall be greatly obliged to you.

Dorothy reached up both arms and lifted the figure off the pole for being stuffed with straw it was quite light.

Thank you very much said the scarecrow when he had been set down on the ground.

I feel like a new man.

Dorothy was puzzled at this for it did sound queer to hear a stuffed man speak and to see him bow and walk along beside her.

Who are you asked the scarecrow when he had stretched himself and yawned and where are you going.

My name is Dorothy said the girl and I'm going to see the Emerald City to ask the great Oz to send me back to Kansas.

Where's the Emerald City inquired the scarecrow and who is Oz.

Why don't you know she returned in surprise.

No indeed I don't know anything you see I am stuffed so I have no brains at all he answered sadly.

Oh said Dorothy I'm awfully sorry for you.

Do you think he asked if I go to the Emerald City with you that Oz would give me some brains.

I cannot tell she returned but you may come with me if you like.

If Oz will not give you any brains you'll be no worse off than you are now.

That is true said the scarecrow.

You see he continued confidentially I don't mind my legs and arms and body being stuffed because I can't get hurt.

If anyone treads on my toes or sticks a pin into me it doesn't matter for I can't feel it.

But I do not want people to call me a fool and if my head stays stuffed with straw instead of with brains as yours is how am I ever going to know anything.

I understand how you feel said the little girl who was truly sorry for him.

If you will come with me I'll ask Oz to do all he can for you.

Thank you the scarecrow answered gratefully.

They walked back to the road.

Dorothy helped him over the fence and they started along the path of yellow brick for the Emerald City.

Toto didn't like this addition to the party at first.

He smelt around the stuffed man as if he suspected there might be a nest of rats in the straw and he often growled in an unfriendly way at the scarecrow.

Don't mind Toto said Dorothy to her new friend.

He never bites.

Oh I'm not afraid replied the scarecrow.

He can't hurt the straw.

Do let me carry that basket for you.

I shan't mind it for I can't get tired.

I'll tell you a secret he continued as they walked along.

There is only one thing in the world that I'm afraid of.

What is that asked Dorothy.

The munchkin farmer who made you.

No answered the scarecrow.

It's a lighted match.

To be continued.

Reviews

I had to search to find the new episodes; not getting notifications from you but really enjoying all the details in the chapters. Thank you Mandy🙏🏻

You are so right, Mandy‼️. They weren’t informing me of your new chapters! Sorry to have made the assumption it was you taking a break and not noticing Insight Timer dropping the ball. Anyway I’m thrilled to have a couple more selections to look forward to. Thank you 🙏🏻😊💖