The Wonderful City of Oz

           ThesoldierwiththegreenwhiskersledthemthroughthestreetsoftheEmeraldCityuntiltheyreachedtheroomwheretheGuardianoftheGateslived. Thisofficerunlockedtheirspectaclestoputthembackinhisgreatbox,andthenhepolitelyopenedthegateforourfriends. 

           "WhichroadleadstotheWickedWitchoftheWest?"askedDorothy. 

           "Thereisnoroad,"answeredtheGuardianoftheGates. "Nooneeverwishestogothatway." 

           "How,then,arewetofindher?"inquiredthegirl. 

           "Thatwillbeeasy,"repliedtheman,"forwhensheknowsyouareinthecountryoftheWinkiesshewillfindyou,andmakeyouallherslaves." 

           "Perhapsnot,"saidtheScarecrow,"forwemeantodestroyher." 

           "Oh,thatisdifferent,"saidtheGuardianoftheGates. "Noonehaseverdestroyedherbefore,soInaturallythoughtshewouldmakeslavesofyou,asshehasoftherest. Buttakecare;forsheiswickedandfierce,andmaynotallowyoutodestroyher. KeeptotheWest,wherethesunsets,andyoucannotfailtofindher." 

           Theythankedhimandbadehimgood-bye,andturnedtowardtheWest,walkingoverfieldsofsoftgrassdottedhereandtherewithdaisiesandbuttercups. Dorothystillworetheprettysilkdressshehadputoninthepalace,butnow,tohersurprise,shefounditwasnolongergreen,butpurewhite. TheribbonaroundToto’sneckhadalsolostitsgreencolorandwasaswhiteasDorothy’sdress.