but the kind Stork saved me, and if I ever get any brains I shall find
the Stork again and do her some kindness in return.
That s all right, said the Stork, who was flying along beside them.
I always like to help anyone in trouble. But I must go now, for my
babies are waiting in the nest for me. I hope you will find the Emerald
City and that Oz will help you.
Thank you, replied Dorothy, and then the kind Stork flew into the air
and was soon out of sight.
They walked along listening to the singing of the brightly colored
birds and looking at the lovely flowers which now became so thick that
the ground was carpeted with them. There were big yellow and white and
blue and purple blossoms, besides great clusters of scarlet poppies,
which were so brilliant in color they almost dazzled Dorothy s eyes.
Aren t they beautiful? the girl asked, as she breathed in the spicy
scent of the bright flowers.
I suppose so, answered the Scarecrow. When I have brains, I shall
probably like them better.
If I only had a heart, I should love them, added the Tin Woodman.
I always did like flowers, said the Lion. They seem so helpless and
frail. But there are none in the forest so bright as these.
They now came upon more and more of the big scarlet poppies, and fewer
and fewer of the other flowers; and soon they found themselves in the
midst of a great meadow of poppies. Now it is well known that when
there are many of these flowers together their odor is so powerful that
anyone who breathes it falls asleep, and if the sleeper is not carried
away from the scent of the flowers, he sleeps on and on forever. But
Dorothy did not know this, nor could she get away from the bright red
flowers that were everywhere about; so presently her eyes grew heavy
and she felt she must sit down to rest and to sleep.
But the Tin Woodman would not let her do this.
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