Christmas Gold: The Greatest Holiday Novels, Tales & Poems (Illustrated Edition). Гарриет Бичер-Стоу

are the greatest, and alone have power to grant my request,” answered the Lion.

      The Ball of Fire burned fiercely for a time, and the voice said, “Bring me proof that the Wicked Witch is dead, and that moment I will give you courage. But as long as the Witch lives, you must remain a coward.”

      The Lion was angry at this speech, but could say nothing in reply, and while he stood silently gazing at the Ball of Fire it became so furiously hot that he turned tail and rushed from the room. He was glad to find his friends waiting for him, and told them of his terrible interview with the Wizard.

      “What shall we do now?” asked Dorothy sadly.

      “There is only one thing we can do,” returned the Lion, “and that is to go to the land of the Winkies, seek out the Wicked Witch, and destroy her.”

      “But suppose we cannot?” said the girl.

      “Then I shall never have courage,” declared the Lion.

      “And I shall never have brains,” added the Scarecrow.

      “And I shall never have a heart,” spoke the Tin Woodman.

      “And I shall never see Aunt Em and Uncle Henry,” said Dorothy, beginning to cry.

      “Be careful!” cried the green girl. “The tears will fall on your green silk gown and spot it.”

      So Dorothy dried her eyes and said, “I suppose we must try it; but I am sure I do not want to kill anybody, even to see Aunt Em again.”

      “I will go with you; but I’m too much of a coward to kill the Witch,” said the Lion.

      “I will go too,” declared the Scarecrow; “but I shall not be of much help to you, I am such a fool.”

      “I haven’t the heart to harm even a Witch,” remarked the Tin Woodman; “but if you go I certainly shall go with you.”

      Therefore it was decided to start upon their journey the next morning, and the Woodman sharpened his axe on a green grindstone and had all his joints properly oiled. The Scarecrow stuffed himself with fresh straw and Dorothy put new paint on his eyes that he might see better. The green girl, who was very kind to them, filled Dorothy’s basket with good things to eat, and fastened a little bell around Toto’s neck with a green ribbon.

      They went to bed quite early and slept soundly until daylight, when they were awakened by the crowing of a green cock that lived in the back yard of the Palace, and the cackling of a hen that had laid a green egg.