The Queen of the Field Mice (The Wizard of Oz (Full Cast))

01Chapter IX.

02The Queen of the Field Mice.

03We cannot be far from the road of yellow brick now, remarked the scarecrow as he stood beside the girl, for we have come nearly as far as the river carried us away.

04The Tin Woodman was about to reply when he heard a low growl, and turning his head, which worked beautifully on its hinges, he saw a strange beast come bounding over the grass toward them.

05It was, indeed, a great yellow wildcat, and the woodman thought it must be chasing something, for its ears were lying close to its head, and its mouth was wide open, showing two rows of ugly teeth, while its red eyes glowed like balls of fire.

06As it came nearer, the Tin Woodman saw that running before the beast was a little gray field mouse, and although he had no heart, he knew it was wrong for the wildcat to try to kill such a pretty, harmless creature.

07So the Woodman raised his axe, and as the wildcat, he gave it a quick blow that cut the beast's head clean off from its body, and it rolled over at his feet in two pieces.

08The field mouse, now that it was freed from its enemy, stopped short, and coming slowly up to the Woodman, it said in a squeaky little voice, Oh, thank you!

09Thank you ever so much for saving my life!

10Don't speak of it, I beg of you, replied the Woodman.

11I have no heart, you know, so I am careful to help all those who may need a friend, even if it happens to be only a mouse.

12Only a mouse!

13cried the little animal indignantly.

14Why, I am a queen, a queen, a fool, a few of the mice.

15Oh, indeed!

16said the Woodman, making a bow.

17Therefore you have done a great deed, as well as a brave one, in saving my life, added the queen.

18At that moment several mice were seen running up as fast as their little legs would carry them, and when they saw their queen they exclaimed, Oh, you're mad, indeed!

19We thought you were going to be killed!

20How did you manage to escape the great wildcat?

21They all bowed so low to the little queen that they almost stood upon their heads.

22This funny tin man, she answered, killed the wildcat and saved my life!

23So hereafter you must all serve him and obey his slightest wish!

24We will!

25cried all the mice in a shrill chorus, and then they scampered in all directions, for Toto had awakened from his sleep, and seeing all these mice around him, he gave one bark of delight and jumped right into the middle of the group.

26Toto always loved to chase mice when he lived in Kansas, and he saw no harm in it.

27But the tin man caught the dog in his arms and held him tight, while he called to the mice, Come back, come back!

28Toto shall not hurt you!

29At this the queen of the mice stuck her head out from underneath a clump of grass, and asked in a timid voice, Are you sure he will not bite us?

30I will not let him, said the woodman.

31So do not be afraid.

32One by one the mice came creeping back, and Toto did not bark again, although he tried to get out of the woodman's arms, and would have bitten him, had he not known very well he was made of tin.

33Finally, one of the biggest mice spoke.

34Is there anything we can do?

35it asked.

36To repay you for saving the life of our queen?

37Nothing that I know of, answered the woodman.

38But the scarecrow, who had been trying to think, but could not, because his head was stuffed with straw, said quickly, Oh, yes, you can save our friend the cowardly lion who is asleep in the poppy bed.

39A lion!

40cried the little queen.

41Why, he would eat us all up!

42Oh, no!

43declared the scarecrow.

44This lion is a coward.

45Really?

46asked the mouse.

47He says so himself, answered the scarecrow.

48And he would never hurt anyone who is our friend.

49If you will help us to save him, I promise that he shall treat you all with kindness.

50Very well, said the queen.

51We trust you.

52But what shall we do?

53Are there many of these mice which call you queen and are willing to obey you?

54Oh, yes.

55There are thousands, she replied.

56Then send for them all to come here as soon as possible, and let each one bring a long piece of string.

57The queen turned to the mice that attended her, and told them to go at once and get all her people.

58As soon as they heard her orders, they ran away in every direction as fast as possible.

59Now, said the scarecrow to the tin woodman, you must go to those trees by the riverside and make a truck that will carry the lion.

60So the woodman went at once to the trees and began to work, and he soon made a truck out of the limbs of trees, from which he chopped away all the leaves and branches.

61He fastened it together with wooden pegs and made the four wheels out of short pieces of a big tree trunk.

62So fast and so well did he work, that by the time the mice began to arrive, the truck was all ready for them.

63They came from all directions, and there were thousands of them, big mice and little mice and middle-sized mice, and each one brought a piece of string in his mouth.

64It was about this time that Dorothy woke from her long sleep, and opened her eyes.

65She was greatly astonished to find herself lying upon the grass, with thousands of mice standing around and looking at her timidly.

66But the scarecrow told her about everything, and turning to the dignified little mouse, he said, Permit me to introduce to you Her Majesty the Queen.

67Dorothy nodded gravely, and the Queen made a curtsy, after which she became quite friendly with the little girl.

68The scarecrow and the woodman now began to fasten the mice to the truck, using the strings they had brought.

69One end of a string was tied around the neck of each mouse, and the other end to the truck.

70Of course, the truck was a thousand times bigger than any of the mice who were to draw it.

71But when all the mice had been harnessed, they were able to pull it quite easily.

72Even the scarecrow and the tin woodman could sit on it, and were drawn swiftly by their queer little horses to the place where the lion lay asleep.

73After a great deal of hard work, for the lion was heavy, they managed to get him up on the truck.

74Then the Queen hurriedly gave her people the order to start, for she feared if the mice stayed among the poppies too long, they also would fall asleep.

75At first the little creatures, many though they were, could hardly stir the heavily loaded truck.

76But the woodman and the scarecrow both pushed from behind, and they got along better.

77Soon they rolled the lion out of the poppy bed to the green fields, where he could breathe the sweet, fresh air again, instead of the poisonous scent of the flowers.

78Dorothy came to meet them, and thanked the little mice warmly, for saving her companion from death.

79She had grown so fond of the big lion, she was glad he had been rescued.

80Then the mice were unharnessed from the truck, and scampered away through the grass to their homes.

81The Queen of the mice was the last to leave.

82If ever you need us again, she said, come out into the field and call, and we shall hear you, and come to your assistance.

83Goodbye.

84Goodbye, they all answered, and away the Queen ran, while Dorothy held Toto tightly, lest he should run after her, and frighten her.

85After this, they sat down beside the lion, until he should awaken, and the scarecrow brought Dorothy some fruit from a tree nearby, which she ate for her dinner.

86End of chapter 9 Recording by Jenny Lundack, South Padre Island, Texas