按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
their way； and soon saw a beautiful green glow in the sky just
before them。
〃That must be the Emerald City；〃 said Dorothy。
As they walked on； the green glow became brighter and brighter；
and it seemed that at last they were nearing the end of their travels。
Yet it was afternoon before they came to the great wall that surrounded
the City。 It was high and thick and of a bright green color。
In front of them； and at the end of the road of yellow brick；
was a big gate； all studded with emeralds that glittered so in the
sun that even the painted eyes of the Scarecrow were dazzled by
their brilliancy。
There was a bell beside the gate； and Dorothy pushed the
button and heard a silvery tinkle sound within。 Then the big gate
swung slowly open； and they all passed through and found
themselves in a high arched room； the walls of which glistened
with countless emeralds。
Before them stood a little man about the same size as the
Munchkins。 He was clothed all in green； from his head to his
feet； and even his skin was of a greenish tint。 At his side was a
large green box。
When he saw Dorothy and her companions the man asked；
〃What do you wish in the Emerald City？〃
〃We came here to see the Great Oz；〃 said Dorothy。
The man was so surprised at this answer that he sat down to
think it over。
〃It has been many years since anyone asked me to see Oz；〃
he said； shaking his head in perplexity。 〃He is powerful and
terrible； and if you come on an idle or foolish errand to bother
the wise reflections of the Great Wizard； he might be angry and
destroy you all in an instant。〃
〃But it is not a foolish errand； nor an idle one；〃 replied the
Scarecrow； 〃it is important。 And we have been told that Oz is a
good Wizard。〃
〃So he is；〃 said the green man； 〃and he rules the Emerald City
wisely and well。 But to those who are not honest； or who approach
him from curiosity； he is most terrible； and few have ever dared
ask to see his face。 I am the Guardian of the Gates； and since
you demand to see the Great Oz I must take you to his Palace。
But first you must put on the spectacles。〃
〃Why？〃 asked Dorothy。
〃Because if you did not wear spectacles the brightness and
glory of the Emerald City would blind you。 Even those who live in
the City must wear spectacles night and day。 They are all locked
on； for Oz so ordered it when the City was first built； and I have
the only key that will unlock them。〃
He opened the big box； and Dorothy saw that it was filled with
spectacles of every size and shape。 All of them had green glasses
in them。 The Guardian of the Gates found a pair that would just
fit Dorothy and put them over her eyes。 There were two golden
bands fastened to them that passed around the back of her head；
where they were locked together by a little key that was at the
end of a chain the Guardian of the Gates wore around his neck。
When they were on； Dorothy could not take them off had she wished；
but of course she did not wish to be blinded by the glare of the
Emerald City； so she said nothing。
Then the green man fitted spectacles for the Scarecrow and the
Tin Woodman and the Lion； and even on little Toto； and all were
locked fast with the key。
Then the Guardian of the Gates put on his own glasses and told
them he was ready to show them to the Palace。 Taking a big golden
key from a peg on the wall； he opened another gate； and they all
followed him through the portal into the streets of the Emerald City。
11。 The Wonderful City of Oz
Even with eyes protected by the green spectacles； Dorothy
and her friends were at first dazzled by the brilliancy of the
wonderful City。 The streets were lined with beautiful houses all
built of green marble and studded everywhere with sparkling
emeralds。 They walked over a pavement of the same green marble；
and where the blocks were joined together were rows of emeralds；
set closely； and glittering in the brightness of the sun。 The
window panes were of green glass； even the sky above the City had
a green tint； and the rays of the sun were green。
There were many peoplemen； women； and childrenwalking about；
and these were all dressed in green clothes and had greenish skins。
They looked at Dorothy and her strangely assorted company with
wondering eyes； and the children all ran away and hid behind
their mothers when they saw the Lion； but no one spoke to them。
Many shops stood in the street； and Dorothy saw that everything
in them was green。 Green candy and green pop corn were offered
for sale； as well as green shoes； green hats； and green clothes
of all sorts。 At one place a man was selling green lemonade；
and when the children bought it Dorothy could see that they paid
for it with green pennies。
There seemed to be no horses nor animals of any kind； the men
carried things around in little green carts； which they pushed
before them。 Everyone seemed happy and contented and prosperous。
The Guardian of the Gates led them through the streets until
they came to a big building； exactly in the middle of the City；
which was the Palace of Oz； the Great Wizard。 There was a soldier
before the door； dressed in a green uniform and wearing a long
green beard。
〃Here are strangers；〃 said the Guardian of the Gates to him；
〃and they demand to see the Great Oz。〃
〃Step inside；〃 answered the soldier； 〃and I will carry your
message to him。〃
So they passed through the Palace Gates and were led into a
big room with a green carpet and lovely green furniture set with
emeralds。 The soldier made them all wipe their feet upon a green
mat before entering this room； and when they were seated he said
politely：
〃Please make yourselves comfortable while I go to the door of
the Throne Room and tell Oz you are here。〃
They had to wait a long time before the soldier returned。
When； at last； he came back； Dorothy asked：
〃Have you seen Oz？〃
〃Oh； no；〃 returned the soldier； 〃I have never seen him。
But I spoke to him as he sat behind his screen and gave him your
message。 He said he will grant you an audience； if you so desire；
but each one of you must enter his presence alone； and he will
admit but one each day。 Therefore； as you must remain in the
Palace for several days； I will have you shown to rooms where you
may rest in comfort after your journey。〃
〃Thank you；〃 replied the girl； 〃that is very kind of Oz。〃
The soldier now blew upon a green whistle； and at once a young girl；
dressed in a pretty green silk gown； entered the room。 She had lovely
green hair and green eyes； and she bowed low before Dorothy as she said；
〃Follow me and I will show you your room。〃
So Dorothy said good…bye to all her friends except Toto； and
taking the dog in her arms followed the green girl through seven
passages and up three flights of stairs until they came to a room
at the front of the Palace。 It was the sweetest little room in
the world； with a soft comfortable bed that had sheets of green
silk and a green velvet counterpane。 There was a tiny fountain in
the middle of the room； that shot a spray of green perfume into
the air； to fall back into a beautifully carved green marble basin。
Beautiful green flowers stood in the windows； and there was a shelf
with a row of little green books。 When Dorothy had time to open
these books she found them full of queer green pictures that made
her laugh； they were so funny。
In a wardrobe were many green dresses； made of silk and satin
and velvet； and all of them fitted Dorothy exactly。
〃Make yourself perfectly at home；〃 said the green girl；
〃and if you wish for anything ring the bell。 Oz will send
for you tomorrow morning。〃
She left Dorothy alone and went back to the others。 These she
also led to rooms； and each one of them found himself lodged in a
very pleasant part of the Palace。 Of course this politeness was
wasted on the Scarecrow； for when he found himself alone in his
room he stood stupidly in one spot； just within the doorway； to
wait till morning。 It would not rest him to lie down； and he
could not close his eyes； so he remained all night staring at a
little spider which was weaving its web in a corner of the room；
just as if it were not one of the most wonderful rooms in the world。
The Tin Woodman lay down on his bed from force of habit； for he
remembered when he was made of flesh； but not being able to sleep；
he passed the night moving his joints up and down to make sure they
kept in good working order。 The Lion would have preferred a bed of
dried leaves in the forest； and did not like being shut up in a room；
but he had too much sense to let this worry him； so he sprang upon
the bed and rolled himself up like a cat and purred himself asleep
in a minute。
The next morning； after breakfast； the green maiden came to
fetch Dorothy； and she dressed her in one of the prettiest gowns；
made of green brocaded satin。 Dorothy put on a green silk apron
and tied a green ribbon around Toto's neck； and they started
for the Throne Room of the Great Oz。
First they came to a great hall in which were many ladies and
gentlemen of the court；