The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-12-04
kH1hSNE 3. !! s.; St9 2,s S,t&3{QZK
The Vegetable Kingdom

you came from, on the outside OF the
earth?"
Not that I ever hear Of"
How strange! But If you will come
with me to one of our folk gardens !
will show you the way we grow in the
Land of the Mangaboos
1t appeared that these odd people,
while they were able to walk through
the air with ease usually moved upon
the ground in the ordinary way. There
were no stairs in their houses, because
they did not need them, but on level
surface thay generally walked just as
: we do.
The little party Of strangers now
| followed the Prince across a few more
Of the glass bridges and along several
paths until they came to garden en-
closed by high hedFe, Jim had re-
| fused to leave the field OF grass, where
he was engaged in busily eating; so
| the Wizard got out of the buggy and
| Joined Zeb and Dorothy, and the kitten
| followed demurely at their heels.
Inside the hedge they came upon row
after row of large and handsome plants
| with broad leaves gracefully curving
until their points nearly reached the
| ground. In the center of each plant
grew a daintily dressed Mangaboo, for
the clothing of all these creatures grew
upon them and was attached to their
bodies
The growing Mangaboos we're Of all
sizes, from the blossom that had just
turned into wee baby to the full
| grown and almost ripe man or woman
On some of the bushes might be seen
a bud, blossom, baby, a half-growr
person and a ripe one; but even those
ready to pluck were motionless and ST.
lent. as il devoid of life. This sight
explained to Dorothy why she had seer
no children among the Mangaboos, a
thing she had until now been unable tc
account for.
"Our people do not acquire real life
until they leave their bushes" said the
Prince. you will notice they are al
attached to the plants by the soles o.
their feet, and when they are quite ripe
they are easily separated from thu
stems and at once attain the powers o
motion and speech SO while they grow
they cannot be said to really live, anc
they must be picked before they car
become good citizens"
How long do You live, after yo,
are picked?" asked Dorothy
THAT depends upon the care we TAX,
Of ourselves" he replied IF We keel
cool and moist, and meet with no acct
dents, we often live for five years Fv'
been picked over six years. but ou'
family is known to be especially loni
lived"
DO you cat?" asked the boy
| Eat NO, indeed, We are quite SOLE
inside our bodies, and have no need Il
eat, any more than does a potato"
But the potatoes sometimes sprout,
said Zeb,
And sometimes we do. answered tn,
Prince, but that is considered grea
misfortune, for then We must be plant
ed at once
Where did you grow" asked tn
, Wizard.
~ will show Won" was the renly
step this way, please"
, He led them within another but small
er circle Of hedge, where grew one larg
and beautiful bush.
This said he, lis the Royal Busl
of the Mangaboos. All Of our Prince
and Rulers have grown upon this on
| bush from time immemorial
Editors Note--Dor't fail to read III
next chapter, DOROTHY Picks the Prln
/ cess" in which the hard hearted Primo
threatens TO kin our friends, but Doro
! thy makes this impossible. 1t is eX
Citirg,
, Copyright, 1919, by Frank l.. Baum 70
the George Matthew Adams Service