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！
it's dangerous。〃
〃Wild with joy； I mean；〃 explained the
phonograph。 〃Listen。 This song will prove a
rare treat to you； I know。 It made the author
richfor an author。 It is called 'My Lulu。'〃
Then the phonograph began to play。 A strain
of odd； jerky sounds was followed by these
words； sung by a man through his nose with
great vigor of expression：
〃Ah wants mah Lulu； mah coal…black Lulu；
Ah wants mah loo…loo； loo…loo； loo…loo； Lu！
Ah loves mah Lulu； mah coal…black Lulu；
There ain't nobody else loves loo…loo； Lu！〃
〃Here…shut that off！〃 cried the Shaggy Man；
springing to his feet。 〃What do you mean by
such impertinence？〃
〃It's the latest popular song；〃 declared the
phonograph； speaking in a sulky tone of voice。
〃A popular song？〃
〃Yes。 One that the feeble…minded can remember
the words of and those ignorant of music can
whistle or sing。 That makes a popular song
popular； and the time is coming when it will take
the place of all other songs。〃
〃That time won't come to us； just yet；〃 said
the Shaggy Man； sternly： 〃I'm something of a
singer myself； and I don't intend to be throttled
by any Lulus like your coal…black one。 I shall
take you all apart； Mr。 Phony； and scatter your
pieces far and wide over the country； as a matter
of kindness to the people you might meet if
allowed to run around loose。 Having performed
this painful duty I shall〃
But before he could say more the phonograph
turned and dashed up the road as fast as its four
table…legs could carry it； and soon it had entirely
disappeared from their view。
The Shaggy Man sat down again and seemed
well pleased。 〃Some one else will save me the
trouble of scattering that phonograph；〃 said he；
〃for it is not possible that such a music…maker
can last long in the Land of Oz。 When you are
rested； friends； let us go on our way。〃
During the afternoon the travelers found
themselves in a lonely and uninhabited part of the
country。 Even the fields were no longer cultivated
and the country began to resemble a wilderness。
The road of yellow bricks seemed to have been
neglected and became uneven and more difficult to
walk upon。 Scrubby under…brush grew on either side
of the way。 while huge rocks were scattered around
in abundance。
But this did not deter Ojo and his friends from
trudging on； and they beguiled the journey with
jokes and cheerful conversation。 Toward evening
they reached a crystal spring which gushed from a
tall rock by the roadside and near this spring
stood a deserted cabin。 Said the Shaggy Man；
halting here：
〃We may as well pass the night here； where
there is shelter for our heads and good water to
drink。 Road beyond here is pretty bad； worst
we shall have to travel； so let's wait until
morning before we tackle it。〃
They agreed to this and Ojo found some brushwood
in the cabin and made a fire on the hearth。 The
fire delighted Scraps； who danced before it until
Ojo warned her she might set fire to herself and
burn up。 After that the Patchwork Girl kept at a
respectful distance from the darting flames； but
the Woozy lay down before the fire like a big dog
and seemed to enjoy its warmth。
For supper the Shaggy Man ate one of his
tablets； but Ojo stuck to his bread and cheese as
the most satisfying food。 He also gave a portion
to the Woozy。
When darkness came on and they sat in a circle
on the cabin floor； facing the firelightthere
being no furniture of any sort in the placeOjo
said to the Shaggy Man：
〃Won't you tell us a story？〃
〃I'm not good at stories；〃 was the reply； 〃but
I sing like a bird。〃
〃Raven； or crow？〃 asked the Glass Cat。
〃Like a song bird。 I'll prove it。 I'll sing a song
I composed myself。 Don't tell anyone I'm a poet；
they might want me to write a book。 Don't tell
'em I can sing； or they'd want me to make
records for that awful phonograph。 Haven't
time to be a public benefactor； so I'll just sing
you this little song for your own amusement。〃
They were glad enough to be entertained；
and listened with interest while the Shaggy Man
chanted the following verses to a tune that was
not unpleasant：
〃I'll sing a song of Ozland； where wondrous creatures dwell
And fruits and flowers and shady bowers abound in every dell；
Where magic is a science and where no one shows surprise
If some amazing thing takes place before his very eyes。
Our Ruler's a bewitching girl whom fairies love to please；
She's always kept her magic sceptre to enforce decrees
To make her people happy； for her heart is kind and true
And to aid the needy and distressed is what she longs to do。
And then there's Princess Dorothy； as sweet as any rose；
A lass from Kansas； where they don't grow fairies； I Suppose；
And there's the brainy Scarecrow； with a body stuffed with straw；
Who utters words of wisdom rare that fill us all with awe。
I'll not forget Nick Chopper； the Woodman made of Tin；
Whose tender heart thinks killing time is quite a dreadful sin；
Nor old Professor Woggle…Bug； who's highly magnified
And looks so big to everyone that he is filled with pride。
Jack Pumpkinhead's a dear old chum who might be called a chump；
But won renown by riding round upon a magic Gump；
The Sawhorse is a splendid steed and though he's made of wood
He does as many thrilling stunts as any meat horse could。
And now I'll introduce a beast that ev'ryone adores
The Cowardly Lion shakes with fear 'most ev'ry time he roars；
And yet he does the bravest things that any lion might；
Because he knows that cowardice is not considered right。
There's Tik…tok…he's a clockwork man and quite a funny sight
He talks and walks mechanically； when he's wound up tight；
And we've a Hungry Tiger who would babies love to eat
But never does because we feed him other kinds of meat。
It's hard to name all of the freaks this noble Land's acquired；
'Twould make my song so very long that you would soon be tired；
But give attention while I mention one wise Yellow Hen
And Nine fine Tiny Piglets living in a golden pen。
Just search the whole world oversail the seas from coast to coast
No other nation in creation queerer folk can boast；
And now our rare museum will include a Cat of Glass；
A Woozy； andlast but not leasta crazy Patchwork Lass。〃
Ojo was so pleased with this song that he
applauded the singer by clapping his hands； and
Scraps followed suit by clapping her padded
fingers together。 although they made no noise。
The cat pounded on the floor with her glass
pawsgently； so as not to break themand the
Woozy。 which had been asleep； woke up to ask
what the row was about。
〃I seldom sing in public； for fear they might
want me to start an opera company；〃 remarked
the Shaggy Man； who was pleased to know his
effort was appreciated。 〃Voice； just now is a
little out of training； rusty； perhaps。〃
〃Tell me；〃 said the Patchwork Girl earnestly；
〃do all those queer people you mention really
live in the Land of Oz？〃
〃Every one of 'em。 I even forgot one thing：
Dorothy's Pink Kitten。〃
〃For goodness sake！〃 exclaimed Bungle； sitting
up and looking i