the　tree…tops　and　it　was　growing　cool。
  By　and　by　Ojo　lighted　the　fire　and　the　logs
  blazed　freely　in　the　broad　fireplace。　The　two　sat
  in　the　firelight　a　long　timethe　old；　white…
  bearded　Munchkin　and　the　little　boy。　Both　were
  thinking。　When　it　grew　quite　dark　out…side；　Ojo
  said：
  〃Eat　your　bread；　Unc；　and　then　we　will　go　to
  bed。〃
  But　Unc　Nunkie　did　not　eat　the　bread；　neither
  did　he　go　directly　to　bed。　Long　after　his　little
  nephew　was　sound　asleep　in　the　corner　of　the　room
  the　old　man　sat　by　the　fire；　thinking。
  Chapter　Two
  The　Crooked　Magician
  Just　at　dawn　next　morning　Unc　Nunkie　laid　his　hand
  tenderly　on　Ojo's　head　and　awakened　him。
  〃Come；〃　he　said。
  Ojo　dressed。　He　wore　blue　silk　stockings；　blue
  knee　pants　with　gold　buckles；　a　blue　ruffled
  waist　and　a　jacket　of　bright　blue　braided　with
  gold。　His　shoes　were　of　blue　leather　and　turned　up
  at　the　toes；　which　were　pointed。　His　hat　had　a
  peaked　crown　and　a　flat　brim；　and　around　the　brim
  was　a　row　of　tiny　golden　bells　that　tinkled　when
  he　moved。　This　was　the　native　costume　of　those
  who　inhabited　the　Munchkin　Country　of　the　Land　of
  Oz；　so　Unc　Nunkie's　dress　was　much　like　that　of
  his　nephew。　Instead　of　shoes；　the　old　man　wore
  boots　with　turnover　tops　and　his　blue　coat　had
  wide　cuffs　of　gold　braid。
  The　boy　noticed　that　his　uncle　had　not　eaten
  the　bread；　and　supposed　the　old　man　had　not
  been　hungry。　Ojo　was　hungry；　though；　so　he
  divided　the　piece　of　bread　upon　the　table　and
  ate　his　half　for　breakfast；　washing　it　down　with
  fresh；　cool　water　from　the　brook。　Unc　put　the
  other　piece　of　bread　in　his　jacket　pocket；　after
  which　he　again　said；　as　he　walked　out　through
  the　doorway：　〃Come。〃
  Ojo　was　well　pleased。　He　was　dreadfully
  tired　of　living　all　alone　in　the　woods　and　wanted
  to　travel　and　see　people。　For　a　long　time　he　had
  wished　to　explore　the　beautiful　Land　of　Oz
  in　which　they　lived。　When　they　were　outside；
  Unc　simply　latched　the　door　and　started　up　the
  path。　No　one　would　disturb　their　little　house；
  even　if　anyone　came　so　far　into　the　thick　forest
  while　they　were　gone。
  At　the　foot　of　the　mountain　that　separated　the
  Country　of　the　Munchkins　from　the　Country　of　the
  Gillikins；　the　path　divided。　One　way　led　to　the
  left　and　the　other　to　the　rightstraight　up　the
  mountain。　Unc　Nunkie　took　this　righthand　path　and
  Ojo　followed　without　asking　why。　He　knew　it　would
  take　them　to　the　house　of　the　Crooked　Magician；
  whom　he　had　never　seen　but　who　was　their　nearest
  neighbor。
  All　the　morning　they　trudged　up　the　mountain　path
  and　at　noon　Unc　and　Ojo　sat　on　a　fallen　tree…trunk
  and　ate　the　last　of　the　bread　which　the　old
  Munchkin　had　placed　in　his　pocket。　Then　they
  started　on　again　and　two　hours　later　came　in　sight
  of　the　house　of　Dr。　Pipt。
  It　was　a　big　house；　round；　as　were　all　the
  Munchkin　houses；　and　painted　blue；　which　is　the
  distinctive　color　of　the　Munchkin　Country　of　Oz。
  There　was　a　pretty　garden　around　the　house；　where
  blue　trees　and　blue　flowers　grew　in　abundance　and
  in　one　place　were　beds　of　blue　cabbages；　blue
  carrots　and　blue　lettuce；　all　of　which　were
  delicious　to　eat。　In　Dr。　Pipt's　garden　grew　bun…
  trees；　cake…trees；　cream…puff　bushes；　blue
  buttercups　which　yielded　excellent　blue　butter　and
  a　row　of　chocolate…caramel　plants。　Paths　of　blue
  gravel　divided　the　vegetable　and　flower　beds　and　a
  wider　path　led　up　to　the　front　door。　The　place　was
  in　a　clearing　on　the　mountain；　but　a　little　way
  off　was　the　grim　forest；　which　completely
  surrounded　it。
  Unc　knocked　at　the　door　of　the　house　and
  a　chubby；　pleasant…faced　woman；　dressed　all　in
  blue；　opened　it　and　greeted　the　visitors　with　a
  smile。
  〃Ah；〃　said　Ojo；　〃you　must　be　Dame　Margolotte；
  the　good　wife　of　Dr。　Pipt。〃
  〃I　am；　my　dear；　and　all　strangers　are　welcome
  to　my　home。〃
  〃May　we　see　the　famous　Magician；　Madam？〃
  〃He　is　very　busy　just　now；〃　she　said；　shaking
  her　head　doubtfully。　〃But　come　in　and　let　me
  give　you　something　to　eat；　for　you　must　have
  traveled　far　in　order　to　get　our　lonely　place。〃
  〃We　have；〃　replied　Ojo；　as　he　and　Unc　entered
  the　house。　〃We　have　come　from　a　far　lonelier　place
  than　this。〃
  〃A　lonelier　place！　And　in　the　Munchkin　Country？〃
  she　exclaimed。　〃Then　it　must　be　somewhere　in　the
  Blue　Forest。〃
  〃It　is；　good　Dame　Margolotte。〃
  〃Dear　me！〃　she　said；　looking　at　the　man；　〃you
  must　be　Unc　Nunkie；　known　as　the　Silent　One。〃　Then
  she　looked　at　the　boy。　〃And　you　must　be　Ojo　the
  Unlucky；〃　she　added。
  〃Yes；〃　said　Unc。
  〃I　never　knew　I　was　called　the　Unlucky；〃
  said　Ojo；　soberly；　〃but　it　is　really　a　good　name
  for　me。〃
  〃Well；〃　remarked　the　woman；　as　she　bustled
  around　the　room　and　set　the　table　and　brought　food
  from　the　cupboard；　〃you　were　unlucky　to　live　all
  alone　in　that　dismal　forest；　which　is　much　worse
  than　the　forest　around　here；　but　perhaps　your　luck
  will　change；　now　you　are　away　from　it。　If；　during
  your　travels；　you　can　manage　to　lose　that　'Un'　at
  the　beginning　of　your　name　　Unlucky；'　you　will
  then　become　Ojo　the　Lucky；　which　will　be　a　great
  improvement。〃
  〃How　can　I　lose　that　'Un；'　Dame　Margolotte？〃
  〃I　do　not　know　how；　but　you　must　keep　the
  matter　in　mind　and　perhaps　the　chance　will
  come　to　you；〃　she　replied。
  Ojo　had　never　eaten　such　a　fine　meal　in　all
  his　life。　There　was　a　savory　stew；　smoking　hot；
  a　dish　of　blue　peas；　a　bowl　of　sweet　milk　of　a
  delicate　blue　tint　and　a　blue　pudding　with　blue
  plums　in　it。　When　the　visitors　had　eaten　heartily
  of　this　fare　the　woman　said　to　them：
  〃Do　you　wish　to　see　Dr。　Pipt　on　business　or
  for　pleasure？〃
  Unc　shook　his　head。
  〃We　are　traveling；〃　replied　Ojo；　〃and　we
  stopped　at　your　house　just　to　rest　and　refresh
  ourselves。　I　do　not　think　Unc　Nunkie　cares
  very　much　to　see　the　famous　Crooked　Magician；
  but　for　my　part　I　am　curious　to　look　at　such
  a　great　man。
  The　woman　seemed　thoughtful。
  〃I　remember　that　Unc　Nunkie　and　my　husband　used
  to　be　friends；　many　years　ago；〃　she　said；　〃so
  perhaps　they　will　be　glad　to　meet　again。　The
  Magician　is　very　busy；　as　I　said；　but　if　you　will
  promise　not　to　disturb　him　you　may　come　into　his
  workshop　and　watch　him　prepare　a　wonderful　charm。〃
  〃Thank　you；〃　replied　the　boy；　much　pleased。
  〃I　would　like　to　do　that。〃
  She　led　the　way　to　a　great　domed　hall　at　the
  back　of　the　house；　which　was　the　Magician's
  workshop。　There　was　a　row　of　windows　extending
  nearly　around　the　sides　of　the　circular　room；
  which　rendered　the　place　very　light；　and　there　was
  a　back　door　in　addition　to　the　one　leading　to　the
  front　part　of　the　house。　Before　the　row　of　windows
  a　broad　seat　was　built　and　there　were　some　chairs
  and　benches　in　the　room　besides。　At　one　end　stood
  a　great　fireplace；　in　which　a　blue　log　was　blazing
  with　a　blue　flame；　and　over　the　fire　hung　four
  kettles　in　a　row；　all　bubbling　and　steaming　at　a
  great　rate。　The　Magician　was　stirring　all　four　of
  these　kettles　at　the　same　time；　two　with　his
  hands　and　two　with　his　feet；　to　the　latter；　wooden
  ladles　being　strapped；　for　this　man　was　so　very
  crooked　that　his　legs　were　as　handy　as　his　arms。
  Unc　Nunkie　came　forward　to　greet　his　old
  friend；　but　not　being　able　to　shake　either　his
  hands　or　his　feet；　which　were　all　occupied　in
  stirring；　he　patted　the　Magician's　bald　head　and
  asked：　〃What？〃
  〃Ah；　it's　the　Silent　One；〃　remarked　Dr。　Pipt；
  without　looking　up；　〃and　he　wants　to　know
  what　I'm　making。　Well；　when　it　is　quite　finished
  this　compound　will　be　the　wonderful　Powder
  of　Life；　which　no　one　knows　how　to　make　but
  myself。　Whenever　it　is　sprinkled　on　anything；
  that　thing　will　at　once　come　to　life；　no　matter
  what　it　is。　It　takes　me　several　years　to　make　this
  magic　Powder；　but　at　this　moment　I　am　pleased
  to　say　it　is　nearly　done。　You　see；　I　am　making　it
  for　my　good　wife　Margolotte；　who　wants　to　use
  some　of　it　for　a　purpose　of　her　own。　Sit　down
  and　make　yourself　comfortable；　Unc　Nunkie；
  and　after　I've　finished　my　task　I　will　talk　to