L.Frank Baum. The marvelous land of Oz -
67 >
either."
"Could seeds be considered in the light of brains?" enquired the
Pumpkinhead, abruptly.
"Keep quiet!" commanded Tip, sternly.
"Very well, dear father," answered the obedient Jack.
The Woggle-Bug listened patiently - even respectfully - to these
remarks, and then resumed his story.
"I must have lived fully three years in that secluded school-house
hearth," said he, "drinking thirstily of the ever-flowing fount of limpid
knowledge before me."
"Quite poetical," commented the Scarecrow, nodding his head
approvingly.
"But one, day" continued the Bug, "a marvelous circumstance occurred
that altered my very existence and brought me to my present pinnacle of
greatness. The Professor discovered me in the act of crawling across the
hearth, and before I could escape he had caught me between his thumb and
forefinger.
"'My dear children,' said he, 'I have captured a Woggle-Bug - a very
rare and interesting specimen. Do any of you know what a Woggle-Bug is?'
"'No!' yelled the scholars, in chorus.
"'Then,' said the Professor, 'I will get out my famous
magnifying-glass and throw the insect upon a screen in a highly-magnified
condition, that you may all study carefully its peculiar construction and
become acquainted with its habits and manner of life.'
"He then brought from a cupboard a most curious instrument, and
before I could realize what had happened I found myself thrown upon a
screen in a highly-magnified state - even as you now behold me.
"The students stood up on their stools and craned their heads forward
to get a better view of me, and two little girls jumped upon the sill of
an open window where they could see more plainly.
"'Behold!' cried the Professor, in a loud voice, 'this