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the Crooked Magician and his wife。 They live
high up on the mountain； and the good Munchkin
Country； where the fruits and flowers grow； is
just the other side。 It's funny you and I should
live here all alone； in the middle of the forest；
Isn't it？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Unc。
〃Then let's go away and visit the Munchkin
Country and its jolly； good…natured people。 I'd
love to get a sight of something besides woods；
Unc Nunkie。〃
〃Too little；〃 said Unc。
〃Why； I'm not so little as I used to be；〃
answered the boy earnestly。 〃I think I can walk
as far and as fast through the woods as you
can； Unc。 And now that nothing grows in our
back yard that is good to eat； we must go where
there is food。〃
Unc Nunkie made no reply for a time。 Then
he shut down the window and turned his chair
to face the room； for the sun was sinking behind
the tree…tops and it was growing cool。
By and by Ojo lighted the fire and the logs
blazed freely in the broad fireplace。 The two sat
in the firelight a long timethe old； white…
bearded Munchkin and the little boy。 Both were
thinking。 When it grew quite dark out…side； Ojo
said：
〃Eat your bread； Unc； and then we will go to
bed。〃
But Unc Nunkie did not eat the bread； neither
did he go directly to bed。 Long after his little
nephew was sound asleep in the corner of the room
the old man sat by the fire； thinking。
Chapter Two
The Crooked Magician
Just at dawn next morning Unc Nunkie laid his hand
tenderly on Ojo's head and awakened him。
〃Come；〃 he said。
Ojo dressed。 He wore blue silk stockings； blue
knee pants with gold buckles； a blue ruffled
waist and a jacket of bright blue braided with
gold。 His shoes were of blue leather and turned up
at the toes； which were pointed。 His hat had a
peaked crown and a flat brim； and around the brim
was a row of tiny golden bells that tinkled when
he moved。 This was the native costume of those
who inhabited the Munchkin Country of the Land of
Oz； so Unc Nunkie's dress was much like that of
his nephew。 Instead of shoes； the old man wore
boots with turnover tops and his blue coat had
wide cuffs of gold braid。
The boy noticed that his uncle had not eaten
the bread； and supposed the old man had not
been hungry。 Ojo was hungry； though； so he
divided the piece of bread upon the table and
ate his half for breakfast； washing it down with
fresh； cool water from the brook。 Unc put the
other piece of bread in his jacket pocket； after
which he again said； as he walked out through
the doorway： 〃Come。〃
Ojo was well pleased。 He was dreadfully
tired of living all alone in the woods and wanted
to travel and see people。 For a long time he had
wished to explore the beautiful Land of Oz
in which they lived。 When they were outside；
Unc simply latched the door and started up the
path。 No one would disturb their little house；
even if anyone came so far into the thick forest
while they were gone。
At the foot of the mountain that separated the
Country of the Munchkins from the Country of the
Gillikins； the path divided。 One way led to the
left and the other to the rightstraight up the
mountain。 Unc Nunkie took this righthand path and
Ojo followed without asking why。 He knew it would
take them to the house of the Crooked Magician；
whom he had never seen but who was their nearest
neighbor。
All the morning they trudged up the mountain path
and at noon Unc and Ojo sat on a fallen tree…trunk
and ate the last of the bread which the old
Munchkin had placed in his pocket。 Then they
started on again and two hours later came in sight
of the house of Dr。 Pipt。
It was a big house； round； as were all the
Munchkin houses； and painted blue； which is the
distinctive color of the Munchkin Country of Oz。
There was a pretty garden around the house； where
blue trees and blue flowers grew in abundance and
in one place were beds of blue cabbages； blue
carrots and blue lettuce； all of which were
delicious to eat。 In Dr。 Pipt's garden grew bun…
trees； cake…trees； cream…puff bushes； blue
buttercups which yielded excellent blue butter and
a row of chocolate…caramel plants。 Paths of blue
gravel divided the vegetable and flower beds and a
wider path led up to the front door。 The place was
in a clearing on the mountain； but a little way
off was the grim forest； which completely
surrounded it。
Unc knocked at the door of the house and
a chubby； pleasant…faced woman； dressed all in
blue； opened it and greeted the visitors with a
smile。
〃Ah；〃 said Ojo； 〃you must be Dame Margolotte；
the good wife of Dr。 Pipt。〃
〃I am； my dear； and all strangers are welcome
to my home。〃
〃May we see the famous Magician； Madam？〃
〃He is very busy just now；〃 she said； shaking
her head doubtfully。 〃But come in and let me
give you something to eat； for you must have
traveled far in order to get our lonely place。〃
〃We have；〃 replied Ojo； as he and Unc entered
the house。 〃We have come from a far lonelier place
than this。〃
〃A lonelier place！ And in the Munchkin Country？〃
she exclaimed。 〃Then it must be somewhere in the
Blue Forest。〃
〃It is； good Dame Margolotte。〃
〃Dear me！〃 she said； looking at the man； 〃you
must be Unc Nunkie； known as the Silent One。〃 Then
she looked at the boy。 〃And you must be Ojo the
Unlucky；〃 she added。
〃Yes；〃 said Unc。
〃I never knew I was called the Unlucky；〃
said Ojo； soberly； 〃but it is really a good name
for me。〃
〃Well；〃 remarked the woman； as she bustled
around the room and set the table and brought food
from the cupboard； 〃you were unlucky to live all
alone in that dismal forest； which is much worse
than the forest around here； but perhaps your luck
will change； now you are away from it。 If； during
your travels； you can manage to lose that 'Un' at
the beginning of your name Unlucky；' you will
then become Ojo the Lucky； which will be a great
improvement。〃
〃How can I lose that 'Un；' Dame Margolotte？〃
〃I do not know how； but you must keep the
matter in mind and perhaps the chance will
come to you；〃 she replied。
Ojo had never eaten such a fine meal in all
his life。 There was a savory stew； smoking hot；
a dish of blue peas； a bowl of sweet milk of a
delicate blue tint and a blue pudding with blue
plums in it。 When the visitors had eaten heartily
of this fare the woman said to them：
〃Do you wish to see Dr。 Pipt on business or
for pleasure？〃
Unc shook his head。
〃We are traveling；〃 replied Ojo； 〃and we
stopped at your house just to rest and refresh
ourselves。 I do not think Unc Nunkie cares
very much to see the famous Crooked Magician；
but for my part I am curious to look at such
a great man。
The woman seemed thoughtful。
〃I remember that Unc Nunkie and my husband used
to be friends； many years ago；〃 she said； 〃so
perhaps they will be glad to meet again。 The
Magician is very busy； as I said； but if you will
promise not to disturb him you may come into his
workshop and watch him prepare a wonderful charm。〃