L.Frank Baum. The marvelous land of Oz -
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home, Tip went down into the valley below the farm-house and began to
gather nuts from the trees that grew there.
However, old Mombi returned earlier than usual. She had met a crooked
wizard who resided in a lonely cave in the mountains, and had traded
several important secrets of magic with him. Having in this way secured
three new recipes, four magical powders and a selection of herbs of
wonderful power and potency, she hobbled home as fast as she could, in
order to test her new sorceries.
So intent was Mombi on the treasures she had gained that when she
turned the bend in the road and caught a glimpse of the man, she merely
nodded and said:
"Good evening, sir."
But, a moment after, noting that the person did not move or reply,
she cast a shrewd glance into his face and discovered his pumpkin head
elaborately carved by Tip's jack-knife.
"Heh!" ejaculated Mombi, giving a sort of grunt; "that rascally boy
has been playing tricks again! Very good! ve - ry good! I'll beat him
blackand-blue for trying to scare me in this fashion!"
Angrily she raised her stick to smash in the grinning pumpkin head of
the dummy; but a sudden thought made her pause, the uplifted stick left
motionless in the air.
"Why, here is a good chance to try my new powder!" said she, eagerly.
"And then I can tell whether that crooked wizard has fairly traded
secrets, or whether he has fooled me as wickedly as I fooled him."
So she set down her basket and began fumbling in it for one of the
precious powders she had obtained.
While Mombi was thus occupied Tip strolled back, with his pockets
full of nuts, and discovered the old woman standing beside his man and
apparently not the least bit frightened by it.