The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Page 4

mistake. There
were only four witches in all the Land of Oz, and two of them, those
who live in the North and the South, are good witches. I know this is
true, for I am one of them myself, and cannot be mistaken. Those who
dwelt in the East and the West were, indeed, wicked witches; but now
that you have killed one of them, there is but one Wicked Witch in all
the Land of Oz--the one who lives in the West."
"But," said Dorothy, after a moment's thought, "Aunt Em has told me
that the witches were all dead--years and years ago."
"Who is Aunt Em?" inquired the little old woman.
"She is my aunt who lives in Kansas, where I came from."
The Witch of the North seemed to think for a time, with her head
bowed and her eyes upon the ground. Then she looked up and said, "I
do not know where Kansas is, for I have never heard that country
mentioned before. But tell me, is it a civilized country?"
"Oh, yes," replied Dorothy.
"Then that accounts for it. In the civilized countries I believe there are
no witches left, nor wizards, nor sorceresses, nor magicians. But, you
see, the Land of Oz has never been civilized, for we are cut off from all
the rest of the world. Therefore we still have witches and wizards
amongst us."
"Who are the wizards?" asked Dorothy.
"Oz himself is the Great Wizard," answered the Witch, sinking her
voice to a whisper. "He is more powerful than all the rest of us together.
He lives in the City of Emeralds."
Dorothy was going to ask another question, but just then the
Munchkins, who had been standing silently by, gave a loud shout and
pointed to the corner of the house where the Wicked Witch had been

lying.
"What is it?" asked the little old woman, and looked, and began to
laugh. The feet of the dead Witch had disappeared entirely, and nothing
was left but the silver shoes.
"She was so old," explained the Witch of the North, "that she dried up
quickly in the sun. That is the end of her. But the silver shoes are yours,
and you shall have them to wear." She reached down and picked up the
shoes, and after shaking the dust out of them handed them to Dorothy.
"The Witch of the East was proud of those silver shoes," said one of the
Munchkins, "and there is some charm connected with them; but what it
is we never knew."
Dorothy carried the shoes into the house and placed them on the table.
Then she came out again to the Munchkins and said:
"I am anxious to get back to my aunt and uncle, for I am sure they will
worry about me. Can you help me find my way?"
The Munchkins and the Witch first looked at one another, and then at
Dorothy, and then shook their heads.
"At the East, not far from here," said one, "there is a great desert, and
none could live to cross it."
"It is the same at the South," said another, "for I have been there and
seen it. The South is the country of the Quadlings."
"I am told," said the third man, "that it is the same at the West. And that
country, where the Winkies live, is ruled by the Wicked Witch of the
West, who would make you her slave if you passed her way."
"The North is my home," said the old lady, "and at its edge is the same
great desert that surrounds this Land of Oz. I'm afraid, my dear, you
will have to live with us."
Dorothy began to sob at this, for she felt lonely among all these strange

people. Her tears seemed to grieve the kind-hearted Munchkins, for
they immediately took out their handkerchiefs and began to weep also.
As for the little old woman, she took off her cap and balanced the point
on the end of her nose, while she counted "One, two, three" in a solemn
voice. At once the cap changed to a slate, on which was written in big,
white chalk marks:
"LET DOROTHY GO TO THE CITY OF EMERALDS"
The little old woman took the slate from her nose, and having read the
words on it, asked, "Is your name Dorothy, my dear?"
"Yes," answered the child, looking up and drying her tears.
"Then you must go to the City of Emeralds. Perhaps Oz will help you."
"Where is this city?" asked Dorothy.
"It is exactly in the center of the country, and is ruled by Oz, the Great
Wizard I told you of."
"Is he a good man?" inquired the girl anxiously.
"He is a good Wizard.