Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-20


ers they were, because the colors
were constantly changing under the
shifting lights of the six suns. 4
floWer would be pink one second,
white the next, then blue or yellow,
ana 1t was the same way when they
came to the plants, which had
broad leaves and grew close to the
ground
When they passed over a field of
grass Jim Immediately stretched
down his head and began to nibble.
"A nice country this is, he grum-
bled, where a respectable horse
has to eat pink grass"
IT'S violet" said the Wizard,
who was IN the buggy.
Now it's blue" complained the
horse. "As a matter OF fact, I'm
eating rainbow grass
How does it taste?" asked the
Wizard.
Not bad at ALL" said jim. "If
they give me plenty of it I'll not
complain about it's color"
BY this time the party had
reached a freshly plowed field, and
the Prince said to Dorothy:
This is our Playground
Several Mangaboos came forward
with glass spades and dug hole in
the ground. Then they put the two
halves of the Sorcerer into it and
covered it up. After that other
people brought water from a brook
and sprinkled the earth.
He will sprout very soon." said
the Prince, ard grow into a large
bush, from which we shall in time
be able TO pick several very good
Sorcerers."
do all your people grow on
bushes" asked the boy.
Certainly" was the reply. DO
not all people grow upon bushes
where YOU came from, on the out
side of the earth"
Not that [ ever heard Of"
How strange, But If YOU will
come with me to one of our folk
garden l will show you the way we
grow in the Land of the Manga
boos."
1t appeared that these odd peo-
pie, while they were able to walk
through the air with ease, usually
moved upon the ground II the ordi-
, nary way. There were no stairs
in their houses, because they did
not reed them, but on level sur
face they generally walked just as
we do.
The little party of strangers now
followed the Prince across Il few
more of the glass bridges and along
several paths until they came to Il
garden enclosed by Il high hedge.
Jim had refused 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 de-
murely at their heels.
Inside the hedge they came upor:
, row after row of large and hand
some plants with broad leaves
gracefully curving until their points
nearly reached the ground. In the
center of each plant grew u daintily
dressed Mangaboo, for the clothing
of all these creatures grew upon
them and was attached to their
bodies.
The growing Mangaboos were
of all sizes, from the blossom that
had just turEcd into a wee baby to
the full-grown and almost ripe man
or woman. On some of the bushes
might be seen Il bud, q blossom, II
. baby, a halfgrown person and a
ripe one, but even those ready to
pluck were motionless and silent, as
if devoid of life. This sight explained
TO Dorothy why she had seen no
children among the Margaboos, II
thing she had until now been un-
able to account for.
Our people do not acquire real
life until they leave their bushes"
said the Prince. You will notice
they are all attached TO the plants
by the soles of their feet, and when
they are quite ripe they are easily
separated from the stems and at
once attain the powers of motion
ard speech. SO, while they grow.
they cannot be said to really live.
and they must be picked before they
can become good citizens"
How long do you live, after you
are picked?'' asked Dorothy.
That depends upon the care we
take of ourselves" he replied. IF
we keep cool and moist, and meet
with no accidents, we often live for
five years. I've been picked over six
years. but our family is known to
be especially long lived"
DO you eat?" asked the boy.
Eat. No. indeed. We are quite
soma lISlue our DOulSS, ara nave no
need to eat, any more than does u
potato"
"But the potatoes sometimes
sprout," said Zeb.
And sometimes we do" an
swered the Prince, but that is con-
sidered a great misfortune, for then
we must be planted at once"
where did you grow" asked the
Wizard.
II will show YOU" was the reply
step this way, please"
He led them within another but
smaller circle of hedge, where grew
one large and beautiful bush.
This" said he, lis the Royal
Bush of the Mangaboos. All of our
| Princes and Rulers have grown
upon this one bush from time imme-
! mortal"
Editors Note--Don't fail to read
the next chapter, Dorothy Picks
the Princess" in which the hard
hearted Prince threatens TO kill our
friends, but Dorothy makes this
impossible. IT is exciting.
Copyright, 1919. by Frank L.
Baum for the George Matthew
Adams Service.
Operation Was the
Cauca nf naoAb