The Road To Oz
3.5/5
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About this ebook
With celebrations underway for Ozma of Oz’s birthday, Dorothy and Toto again venture to the magical land of Oz. Meeting Shaggy Man, Button Bright, and Polychrome along the way to the Emerald City of Oz, Dorothy and her companions must out-fox the mayor of Foxville and safely cross the Deadly Desert in time for Ozma’s birthday party.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its thirteen sequels have enchanted audiences since their publication in the early twentieth century. The Road to Oz is the fifth novel in the Oz series, and features guest appearances by non-Oz characters—like Santa Claus and Jack Frost—from other L. Frank Baum works.
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L. Frank Baum
Lyman Frank Baum (1856–1919) was an American children’s book author, best known for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He wrote thirteen novel sequels, nine other fantasy novels, and several other works (55 novels in total, plus four "lost" novels, 83 short stories, over 200 poems, an unknown number of scripts, and many miscellaneous writings).
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Reviews for The Road To Oz
22 ratings23 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This was my favorite Oz book as a child...I particularly loved the grand and lushly illustrated birthday party at the end, and Polychrome. This edition, like all the Book of Wonder editions, reprints the original in all its illustrations and whimsical typesetting, in the original size. This particular volume, with its rainbow themes, also has pages of different colors as you progress through it. A beautiful edition of a whimsical, adventurous classic.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5As I continue to read these books as an adult I am shocked by what Baum has gotten away with as an author. Some of the spark that I had for this series as a child is quickly leaving as I realize some of the mechanics that he uses as an author that I simply am not fond of or even okay with. He often calls people or things stupid in his books. He belittles frequently and he continues to do that in this book. He also doesn't seem to be that respectful for the most part to his actual fans. It becomes more apparent as you continue to read that has is increasingly becoming annoyed with having to write about Oz all the time, even though he keeps saying at the beginning of the books that he is doing this for the children.
This book has several introductions of characters to Oz. Polychrome, the Rainbow's daughter, happens to be one of the more interesting ones introduced. The Shaggy Man also seems to be a rather interesting character as well and I hope that he is continued to be used throughout the series.
Baum again makes the majority of the book next take place in oz proper and then suddenly we are in oz. Baum found a formula that he likes to use because he wanted to tell other stories. In this book he even makes a point to almost advertise all these other books that he created by who attends the party at the end. These other stories he created show up and to me that was not needed because of how many characters already inhabit the land of oz itself.
Maybe as a grown up individual I can no longer appreciate these books the same way I could as a child. Sometimes we have to recognize that we have outgrown something that we once loved. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5By this time, Baum was desperately trying to get out of the job of Royal Historian of Oz. This volume phones it in, checking the boxes readers expected. Even so, there are some delightful inventions, and traces of Baum's characteristic quiet satire.NOTES: p. 24 Shaggy Man tells a story about the nature of bears (and lies about how he got the Love Magnet); p55 the Fox King disputes Aesop's depiction of them in the fables (a start on PC, as they others do not dispute him "because he ought to know the nature of foxes better than men did"; p. 110 the Scoodlers do love the Shaggy Man - in soup; p 165 The Tin Woodman affirms that they have no use for money in OZ, "for what one wishes the others all try to give him, in order to hake him happy, and no one in all Oz cares to have more than he can use." -- a celestial ideal impossible in the world. p. 168 one of his punning jokes "the Rainbow's daughter missed her mist-cakes, by a mistake Miss Polly's mist-cakes were mislaid and not missed until now."p. 170 on Tik-tok (surely one of the earliest depictions of robots?) and that one can be respected without being loved: "Perhaps it is better to be a machine that does its duty than a flesh-and-blood person who will not, for a dead truth is better than a live falsehood."p 180: unknown word: "It's a very slimpsy affair altogether, that bear rug (brought to life)";p. 185 Hungry Tiger asking Dorothy not to reveal that he doesn't eat fat babies: "you'll ruin my reputation if you are not more discreet. It is n't what we are, but what folks think we are, that counts in this world." (but they don't have money!)p. 195 despite Baum's populism every republican is at heart an aristocrat-enabler: "it was easy to see that Polychrome was used to splendid palaces and was therefore entitled to special attention" (same in Freckles and George MacDonald's books).p. 208 Shaggy Man's true story of stealing the Love Magnet from a girl who was being quarreled over by the young men but when she lost it only her true love remained.p. 217 the Scarecrow points out that the ignorant child Button-Bright isn't necessarily named for a polished button, but perhaps one covered in dull cloth.p. 250 the Winkie band plays "There's No Plate like Tin" at the birthday party for Ozma.p. 265 in the Aferward, Peter Glassman draws attention to the place in the book where the fox-captain commends Button-Bright for asking questions Because if you don't ask questions you will learn nothing." and calls him very clever indeed (although BB doesn'r ever seem to learn from the answers.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5When a shaggy traveler asks Dorothy Gale the way to Butterfield, the helpful young Kansas girl sets out to show him the way, only to find herself caught up in another magical adventure when the road inexplicably shifts, leading her and her companion into fairyland. Soon meeting Button Bright, a beautiful but not-so-clever toddler, as well as Polychrome, the lost daughter of the rainbow, the companions slowly make their way closer and closer to Oz, hoping to attend Ozma's upcoming birthday celebration. On their way they encounter a kingdom of foxes, a society of donkeys, and a group of sinister Scoodlers. With the help of magical jack-of-all-trades Jonny Dooit, they manage to cross the great desert surrounding Oz, and are soon on their way to the Emerald City, there to witness the pomp and ceremony of Ozma's great celebration...Originally published in 1909, this fifth Oz book from L. Frank Baum is quite interesting for the author's fans (more on that anon), although not one of the stronger Oz stories, judged on its own merits. Despite his 'love magnet,' I have always had troubling taking the Shaggy Man as much to heart as I wanted to - he always seems as if he should be more endearing than he is - and have always found Button Bright distinctly annoying. Polychrome is an appealing character, but as is often the case with Baum, she is underdeveloped. The story is somewhat disjointed, and its eventual object - getting the travelers to the Emerald City for Ozma's birthday - never feels particularly compelling. That said, I was charmed by the multicolored paper used for this facsimile edition of the book - a tribute to Polychrome, perhaps? - and enjoyed picking out all the references to Baum's other works, in the attendees at Ozma's party. There are figures from other Oz stories, from the Royal family of Ev (Ozma of Oz) to the Braided Man (Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz), as well as characters from non-Oz fantasies, like Queen Zixi of Ix, Dot and Tot in Merryland, John Dough and the Cherub, and The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. Despite the pleasure of identifying these characters, The Road to Oz is only a low three-star read for me, and would probably only merit two, were I not sentimentally attached to it, after reading it in childhood.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5As I continue to read these books as an adult I am shocked by what Baum has gotten away with as an author. Some of the spark that I had for this series as a child is quickly leaving as I realize some of the mechanics that he uses as an author that I simply am not fond of or even okay with. He often calls people or things stupid in his books. He belittles frequently and he continues to do that in this book. He also doesn't seem to be that respectful for the most part to his actual fans. It becomes more apparent as you continue to read that has is increasingly becoming annoyed with having to write about Oz all the time, even though he keeps saying at the beginning of the books that he is doing this for the children.
This book has several introductions of characters to Oz. Polychrome, the Rainbow's daughter, happens to be one of the more interesting ones introduced. The Shaggy Man also seems to be a rather interesting character as well and I hope that he is continued to be used throughout the series.
Baum again makes the majority of the book next take place in oz proper and then suddenly we are in oz. Baum found a formula that he likes to use because he wanted to tell other stories. In this book he even makes a point to almost advertise all these other books that he created by who attends the party at the end. These other stories he created show up and to me that was not needed because of how many characters already inhabit the land of oz itself.
Maybe as a grown up individual I can no longer appreciate these books the same way I could as a child. Sometimes we have to recognize that we have outgrown something that we once loved. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5By some odd chance I can't explain, when I was really young the only Oz book I had was The Road to Oz. I had seen the Wizard of Oz movie, but I did not read the book until later, so Road was my introduction to Oz, and I am still very fond of its characters like the Shaggy Man and Johnny Doit.-though I now think Baum's statement that pretty little girls are never harmed by shaggy tramps could be dangerous. Even Allegro da Capo, the human musicmaker, still amuses me. The culminating birthday party may seem trivial compared to the climaxes of some of the stories, but it introduced me to Baum's non-Oz characters Who apper as guests, and I later hunted up those books too and enjoyed them.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is probably my favorite of the OZ books.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I was a fan with the Oz series growing up, and it's great to know I'm still a fan as an adult! I love revisiting these books, they truly are timeless!
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5I really need to stop expecting these to have a plot, rather than a series of adventures culminating in someone going home again, but this one seemed even slighter than usual and I'm afraid just didn't do it for me. I didn't connect to the new characters (though delighted a little when old friends showed up), and nothing really happened. At least there were cannibals. (Well, I suppose they weren't technically cannibals. People-eaters, then.)
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The fifth Oz book by Frank L. Baum! I have to say I'm enjoying these - I find them very relaxing to read after a stressful day at the office! They are full of delightful whimsy, randomness and the childish magic of nursery rhymes and fairy tales. I love the illustrations (the editions I have been reading are illustrated by John R. Neill.) That all being said, they are pretty weird. This book starts off with any parents worst nightmare - Dorothy meets a dirty homeless transient who then lures her away from her uncle's farm under the pretense of wanting directions to Butterfield. Okay, yes, the "Shaggy Man" is a good guy (well . . . . sort of, I mean people only like him because they have to - seriously, he has a magic "love magnet" . . which . . . this is just getting creepier.) But whether the Shaggy Man is a good guy or not, the implication is that it's okay for children to wander away from home with the first homeless guy who asks them to go on a walk, because good children NEVER come to harm. The book even says this, explicitly. How could any parents read this to their child? Why would Baum write it that way? Did they not have crime in 1909? Anyway . . . Dorothy, Toto and the Shaggy Man wander into fairy land. On the way they meet a mentally challenged little boy called Button-Bright. I felt so sorry Button-Bright. He is a sweet little boy, delighted by the mechanical people and the animals they meet, yet the other characters are always making fun of him. At one point the Scarecrow launches into this long-winded and incredibly cruel speech: ". . . there are many kinds of buttons, you see. There are silver and gold buttons, which are highly polished and glitter brightly. There are pearl and rubber buttons, and other kinds, with surfaces more or less bright. But there is still another sort of button which is covered with dull cloth, and that must be the sort your papa meant when he said you were bright as a button. Don't you think so?" (p.210)This is being said to a LITTLE KID who is lost, in a strange place and can't even defend himself. What the Hell, Scarecrow?! They are also joined by Polychrome, the beautiful Daughter of the Rainbow, who spends all her time dancing around in her colourful gauze gown. Dorothy, Toto, the Shaggy Man, Button Bright and Polychrome wander from the Fox Village, to the Donkey Village and cross the deadly Waste, to make it to Oz in time to celebrate Princess Ozma's birthday. It's a grand celebration involving all the magical creatures of Fairy Land - even Santa Clause! There's an interesting bit where it's stated that the citizens of Oz don't use money. "Money! Money in Oz!" cried the Tin Woodman. "What a queer idea! Did you suppose we are so vulgar as to use money here? . . . If we used money to buy things with, instead of love and kindness and the desire to please one another, then we should be no better than the rest of the world . . . Fortunately, money is not known in the Land of Oz at all. We have no rich, and we have no poor; for what one wishes the others all try to give him, in order to make him happy, and no one in all Oz cares to have more than he can use." (p.155-156)Now this in itself doesn't bother me, I find it interesting and it kind of tickles me how polar opposite it is to modern day American politics, BUT it's just so hypocritical. First of all, the Tin Woodman says "no one cares to have more than he can use" from his GIANT PALACE with its garden of life size statues of all his friends. Plus, the reader is constantly bombarded with descriptions of the rich silk and satin gowns and jewels and gold and palaces in Oz - talk about sending a mixed message! And furthermore, we know that not everybody in Oz gets all these pretty things because, in the second book, Jinjur's girl army stormed the Emerald City so that they could get to wear the pretty gowns and jewels. We know that there are farmers and craftsmen and soldiers in Oz - not to mention all the servants Princess Ozma has waiting on the royal visitors in her palace. Are the fifty servants who wait on the visiting Fairy Queens REALLY only doing it FOR FUN?Okay, okay, I think I'm thinking about this too hard . . . these books are fun children's fantasy books, after all. Plus, I liked Santa Clause.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Journey with Dorothy and Toto once more to the magical Land of Oz—this time with the Shaggy Man, little Button-Bright and the beautiful Polychrome. Meet such amazing characters as the Scoodlers, the Musicker and Johnny Dooit.No real plot. Dorothy travels on a road meets the Shaggy Man and Button-Bright and more colorful characters. The Donkeys were funny in why they thought they were wise.Then they go to Ozma's birthday party. Every one comes - even Santa Claus.I was disappointed that we never found out who were Button-Brights family.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5As I continue to read these books as an adult I am shocked by what Baum has gotten away with as an author. Some of the spark that I had for this series as a child is quickly leaving as I realize some of the mechanics that he uses as an author that I simply am not fond of or even okay with. He often calls people or things stupid in his books. He belittles frequently and he continues to do that in this book. He also doesn't seem to be that respectful for the most part to his actual fans. It becomes more apparent as you continue to read that has is increasingly becoming annoyed with having to write about Oz all the time, even though he keeps saying at the beginning of the books that he is doing this for the children.
This book has several introductions of characters to Oz. Polychrome, the Rainbow's daughter, happens to be one of the more interesting ones introduced. The Shaggy Man also seems to be a rather interesting character as well and I hope that he is continued to be used throughout the series.
Baum again makes the majority of the book next take place in oz proper and then suddenly we are in oz. Baum found a formula that he likes to use because he wanted to tell other stories. In this book he even makes a point to almost advertise all these other books that he created by who attends the party at the end. These other stories he created show up and to me that was not needed because of how many characters already inhabit the land of oz itself.
Maybe as a grown up individual I can no longer appreciate these books the same way I could as a child. Sometimes we have to recognize that we have outgrown something that we once loved. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I read ebook version. Very cute and creatively written. Fun little excursion from my typical murder mysteries. I have been reading the Oz series in order and I do plan to eventually read all of them, but am in no particular hurry.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This story is about the life of writer L. F. Baum's struggle to provide for his family while taking many business risks. After many years of writing, Baum finally became successful in 1900 with the very popular story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is the 5th book in the OZ series of books by L. Frank Baum. It is loaded with all of the many OZ characters that you know and love as well as many more new people and creatures to meet. Even one famous jolly old elf drops by! What a birthday party we will have for Ozma of OZ. Be sure not to miss this grand adventure.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The second Oz book I've read. All the familiar characters from the first make an appearance and the story is again fun, weird and ...weird? Baum had some imagination and for a kid's book, Oz is something else. I don't think it's a problem for kids to read, it's not quite as Disney-fied as the movie based on one of the other Oz books was, but that makes it better I think.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This is a difficult book to review. It is, after all, a children's story and set to different standards, but I wasn't as enamoured with Oz and its characters as I was in the other tales.The new characters we meet seem rather one dimensional and...weird. Which is saying something as it's freaking OZ we're talking about.By the time I was half-way through Dorothy's adventure I was bored out of my skull and skipped to the resolution. Would children's short attention spans really like this book?
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5I'm torn on how to write a review of this particular Oz book. Although I do love the series dearly (up until this point), this book fell sadly flat for me. Normally I find myself loving each and every character, but at this point I'm wondering if there is just too much of a good thing.Even the new characters were lacking in charm for me. Button Bright just seemed like a little brat, The Shaggy Man (and this is NOT Baum's fault) kept putting Shaggy from Scooby-Doo in my minds eye and Polly gave me several urges to smack her.Of course, there were still some funny moments and I did enjoy portions of the book - so I am hoping that the next one will bring back a little of the love for me and perhaps provide me with characters that are a bit more like-able than this latest set.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A shaggy man asks Dorothy for directions and soon they find themselves (and Toto too) on an adventure. Along the way they meet a dense boy named Button-Bright and Polychrome, the daughter of the rainbow king. They travel to the land of foxes, where Button-Bright's head is replaced by fox's head. Then the same thing happens to the shaggy man in the land of donkeys. The shaggy man's love magnet gets them out of a few scraps, but not all of them. Their misadventures eventually lead them to the Land of Oz, where Ozma is celebrating her birthday. I love how Baum tends to find a way to let us revisit all of the characters we met in previous books. I'm slowly making my way through all of the Oz books (this is book 5 of 15), and this one is a sweet story. "Why didn't you want to go to Butterfield?" she asked."Because a man lives there who owes me fifteen cents, and if I went to Butterfield and he saw me he'd want to pay me the money. I don't want money, my dear.""Why not?" she inquired."Money," declared the shaggy man, "makes people proud and haughty. I don't want to be proud and haughty. All I want is to have people love me."
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I read many, many of the Oz books in my childhood and the characters in The Road to Oz were some of my favorites -- after the characters in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz of course. Even now as an adult often think of the Shaggy Man and his Love Magnet (Love Magnet meant something rather different in 1909 than it does today.) And Button Bright became a term of endearment in my family. The plot isn't as interesting as some of the other Oz books -- Rinkitink in Oz for example. But the escape from the altogether repellent Scoodlers provides great entertainment. Not the best of the Oz sequels, but still a lot of fun.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5One of the more entertaining Oz books, but still very meandering. The plot is mostly an excuse to introduce the reader to more strange and wonderful characters living in and around Oz.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5The Shaggy Man is sort of a great character, if totally a cipher. Same with Button Bright, what the hells did Santa tell Shaggy Man about Button Bright and where he was from at Ozma's B-day party?Four-stars, if only because I was so freaking relieved that it did not grate as badly as the previous books.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is my second favorite of the Oz series, right after Ozma of Oz. I love the new characters, the Shaggy Man and Polly especially. I really like that, while there are some challenges in the book, the main goal is a happy one. They're not on the run from anyone, they're all on their way to Ozma's birthday party, where they meet the greatest assortment of colorful individuals. Unlike some of the other books in the series, this one really stays true to the spirit of Oz, with unique but awesome characters like Johnny Dooit and Baum's version of Santa Claus, who is of course close friends with Ozma :) I suppose the only complaint I have is that the chapter titles give away way too much of what's going to happen, but that's the same in all of the Oz books. Again, loved seeing the reunions between many of the characters, even though they have been reuinted in the series already, it's always awesome seeing the original cast of Oz characters together and having fun.
Book preview
The Road To Oz - L. Frank Baum
The Road to Oz
L. Frank Baum
HarperPerennialClassicsLogo.jpgCONTENTS
To My Readers
Chapter 1—The Way to Butterfield
Chapter 2—Dorothy Meets Button-Bright
Chapter 3—A Queer Village
Chapter 4—King Dox
Chapter 5—The Rainbow’s Daughter
Chapter 6—The City of Beasts
Chapter 7—The Shaggy Man’s Transformation
Chapter 8—The Musicker
Chapter 9—Facing the Scoodlers
Chapter 10—Escaping the Soup Kettle
Chapter 11—Johnny Dooit Does It
Chapter 12—The Deadly Desert Crossed
Chapter 13—The Truth Pond
Chapter 14—Tik-Tok and Billina
Chapter 15—The Emperor’s Tin Castle
Chapter 16—Visiting the Pumpkin Field
Chapter 17—The Royal Chariot Arrives
Chapter 18—The Emerald City
Chapter 19—The Shaggy Man’s Welcome
Chapter 20—Princess Ozma of Oz
Chapter 21—Dorothy Receives the Guests
Chapter 22—Important Arrivals
Chapter 23—The Grand Banquet
Chapter 24—The Birthday Celebration
Other Books in the Oz Series
About the Author
About the Series
Copyright
About the Publisher
To My Readers
Well, my dears, here is what you have asked for: another Oz Book
about Dorothy’s strange adventures. Toto is in this story, because you wanted him to be there, and many other characters which you will recognize are in the story, too. Indeed, the wishes of my little correspondents have been considered as carefully as possible, and if the story is not exactly as you would have written it yourselves, you must remember that a story has to be a story before it can be written down, and the writer cannot change it much without spoiling it.
In the preface to Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz I said I would like to write some stories that were not Oz
stories, because I thought I had written about Oz long enough; but since that volume was published I have been fairly deluged with letters from children imploring me to write more about Dorothy,
and more about Oz,
and since I write only to please the children I shall try to respect their wishes.
There are some new characters in this book that ought to win your live. I’m very fond of the shaggy man myself, and I think you will like him, too. As for Polychrome—the Rainbow’s Daughter—and stupid little Button-Bright, they seem to have brought a new element of fun into these Oz stories, and I am glad I discovered them. Yet I am anxious to have you write and tell me how you like them.
Since this book was written I have received some very remarkable News from The Land of Oz, which has greatly astonished me. I believe it will astonish you, too, my dears, when you hear it. But it is such a long and exciting story that it must be saved for another book—and perhaps that book will be the last story that will ever be told about the Land of Oz.
L. Frank Baum
Coronado, 1909.
Chapter 1
The Way to Butterfield
Please, miss,
said the shaggy man, can you tell me the road to Butterfield?
Dorothy looked him over. Yes, he was shaggy, all right, but there was a twinkle in his eye that seemed pleasant.
Oh yes,
she replied; I can tell you. But it isn’t this road at all.
No?
You cross the ten-acre lot, follow the lane to the highway, go north to the five branches, and take—let me see—
To be sure, miss; see as far as Butterfield, if you like,
said the shaggy man.
You take the branch next the willow stump, I b’lieve; or else the branch by the gopher holes; or else—
Won’t any of ’em do, miss?
‘Course not, Shaggy Man. You must take the right road to get to Butterfield.
And is that the one by the gopher stump, or—
Dear me!
cried Dorothy. I shall have to show you the way, you’re so stupid. Wait a minute till I run in the house and get my sunbonnet.
The shaggy man waited. He had an oat straw in his mouth, which he chewed slowly as if it tasted good; but it didn’t. There was an apple tree beside the house, and some apples had fallen to the ground. The shaggy man thought they would taste better than the oat straw, so he walked over to get some. A little black dog with bright brown eyes dashed out of the farmhouse and ran madly toward the shaggy man, who had already picked up three apples and put them in one of the big wide pockets of his shaggy coat. The little dog barked and made a dive for the shaggy man’s leg; but he grabbed the dog by the neck and put it in his big pocket along with the apples. He took more apples, afterward, for many were on the ground; and each one that he tossed into his pocket hit the little dog somewhere upon the head or back, and made him growl. The little dog’s name was Toto, and he was sorry he had been put in the shaggy man’s pocket.
Pretty soon Dorothy came out of the house with her sunbonnet, and she called out:
Come on, Shaggy Man, if you want me to show you the road to Butterfield.
She climbed the fence into the ten-acre lot and he followed her, walking slowly and stumbling over the little hillocks in the pasture as if he was thinking of something else and did not notice them.
My, but you’re clumsy!
said the little girl. Are your feet tired?
No, miss; it’s my whiskers; they tire very easily in this warm weather,
said he. I wish it would snow, don’t you?
‘Course not, Shaggy Man,
replied Dorothy, giving him a severe look. If it snowed in August it would spoil the corn and the oats and the wheat; and then Uncle Henry wouldn’t have any crops; and that would make him poor; and—
Never mind,
said the shaggy man. It won’t snow, I guess. Is this the lane?
Yes,
replied Dorothy, climbing another fence; I’ll go as far as the highway with you.
Thankee, miss; you’re very kind for your size, I’m sure,
said he gratefully.
It isn’t everyone who knows the road to Butterfield,
Dorothy remarked as she tripped along the lane; but I’ve driven there many a time with Uncle Henry, and so I b’lieve I could find it blindfolded.
Don’t do that, miss,
said the shaggy man earnestly; you might make a mistake.
I won’t,
she answered, laughing. Here’s the highway. Now it’s the second—no, the third turn to the left—or else it’s the fourth. Let’s see. The first one is by the elm tree, and the second is by the gopher holes; and then—
Then what?
he inquired, putting his hands in his coat pockets. Toto grabbed a finger and bit it; the shaggy man took his hand out of that pocket quickly, and said Oh!
Dorothy did not notice. She was shading her eyes from the sun with her arm, looking anxiously down the road.
Come on,
she commanded. It’s only a little way farther, so I may as well show you.
After a while, they came to the place where five roads branched in different directions; Dorothy pointed to one, and said:
That’s it, Shaggy Man.
I’m much obliged, miss,
he said, and started along another road.
Not that one!
she cried; you’re going wrong.
He stopped.
I thought you said that other was the road to Butterfield,
said he, running his fingers through his shaggy whiskers in a puzzled way.
So it is.
But I don’t want to go to Butterfield, miss.
You don’t?
Of course not. I wanted you to show me the road, so I shouldn’t go there by mistake.
Oh! Where do you want to go, then?
I’m not particular, miss.
This answer astonished the little girl; and it made her provoked, too, to think she had taken all this trouble for nothing.
There are a good many roads here,
observed the shaggy man, turning slowly around, like a human windmill. Seems to me a person could go ’most anywhere, from this place.
Dorothy turned around too, and gazed in surprise. There were a good many roads; more than she had ever seen before. She tried to count them, knowing there ought to be five, but when she had counted seventeen she grew bewildered and stopped, for the roads were as many as the spokes of a wheel and ran in every direction from the place where they stood; so if she kept on counting she was likely to count some of the roads twice.
Dear me!
she exclaimed. There used to be only five roads, highway and all. And now—why, where’s the highway, Shaggy Man?
Can’t say, miss,
he responded, sitting down upon the ground as if tired with standing. Wasn’t it here a minute ago?
I thought so,
she answered, greatly perplexed. And I saw the gopher holes, too, and the dead stump; but they’re not here now. These roads are all strange—and what a lot of them there are! Where do you suppose they all go to?
Roads,
observed the shaggy man, don’t go anywhere. They stay in one place, so folks can walk on them.
He put his hand in his side-pocket and drew out an apple—quick, before Toto could bite him again. The little dog got his head out this time and said Bow-wow!
so loudly that it made Dorothy jump.
O, Toto!
she cried; where did you come from?
I brought him along,
said the shaggy man.
What for?
she asked.
To guard these apples in my pocket, miss, so no one would steal them.
With one hand the shaggy man held the apple, which he began eating, while with the other hand he pulled Toto out of his pocket and dropped him to the ground. Of course Toto made for Dorothy at once, barking joyfully at his release from the dark pocket. When the child had patted his head lovingly, he sat down before her, his red tongue hanging out one side of his mouth, and looked up into her face with his bright brown eyes, as if asking her what they should do next.
Dorothy didn’t know. She looked around her anxiously for some familiar landmark; but everything was strange. Between the branches of the many roads were green meadows and a few shrubs and trees, but she couldn’t see anywhere the farmhouse from which she had just come, or anything she had ever seen before—except the shaggy man and Toto. Besides this, she had turned around and around so many times trying to find out where she was, that now she couldn’t even tell which direction the farmhouse ought to be in; and this began to worry her and make her feel anxious.
I’m ’fraid, Shaggy Man,
she said, with a sigh, that we’re lost!
That’s nothing to be afraid of,
he replied, throwing away the core of his apple and beginning to eat another one. Each of these roads must lead somewhere, or it wouldn’t be here. So what does it matter?
I want to go home again,
she said.
Well, why don’t you?
said he.
I don’t know which road to take.
That is too bad,
he said, shaking his shaggy head gravely. I wish I could help you; but I can’t. I’m a stranger in these parts.
Seems as if I were, too,
she said, sitting down beside him. It’s funny. A few minutes ago I was home, and I just came to show you the way to Butterfield—
So I shouldn’t make a mistake and go there—
And now I’m lost myself and don’t know how to get home!
Have an apple,
suggested the shaggy man, handing her one with pretty red cheeks.
I’m not hungry,
said Dorothy, pushing it away.
But you may be, tomorrow; then you’ll be sorry you didn’t eat the apple,
said he.
If I am, I’ll eat the apple then,
promised