Dot and Tot of MerrylandBaum, L. Frank (Lyman Frank)
Science
Dot and Tot of Merryland
Baum, L. Frank (Lyman Frank)
Fantasy fiction
"Mr. Split's name suits him very well," said Dot, who was enjoying
the fruit.
"Yes, it would be hard to call him anything else," replied the Queen.
"I suppose your own name fits you in the same way," ventured the
girl.
"Certainly it does," answered the Queen.
Dot's heart now began to beat rapidly, for she thought she would at
last discover what the Queen's name was. Tot also looked interested,
and forgot his slice of melon as he listened.
"You haven't told us yet what it is," said the girl.
The little Queen laughed merrily. "Isn't it funny," she exclaimed,
"that I always forget to tell you? There is no reason in the world
why you should not know my name."
"Then," said Tot, sharply, "tell it!"
"Well," she said, "it's--"
Just then they heard a great crash, a whirling of wheels and the
scream of a whistle. Springing to their feet they saw the tin train
lying upside down near the track, with its wheels whirling around
like the wind, and near by was a wooden goat and cart, completely
wrecked and splintered into many pieces.
They all ran down to the place, and the brave little Queen picked up
the tin train and set it upon its track. It started to run again in
its usual rushing way, but Dot noticed that the cow-catcher was badly
bent and that some of the paint had been knocked off.
"There has been a collision," said her Majesty, calmly. "I was afraid
that goat-cart would get into trouble if it ran so near to the
engine. But it is wrecked now, beyond repair, so there is nothing
more to worry about."
As she spoke the Police Patrol and the Fire Engine both dashed up to
the spot, and one of the officers asked: "What's the trouble?"
"You are too late," said the Queen; "the trouble is all over."
"Then we may as well go back," said the officer, grumpily. "The
trouble usually is over when we get anywhere; that's why we take our
time about coming."
"Well," said the Queen, when the Patrol and the Fire Engine had gone
back to their stables, "it is time for us to go."
They looked around for Mr. Split, but not seeing him they walked
across the opening to the path that led through the forest to the
river. They each squeaked the Alligator when they came to him, and
left him feeling joyful and contented.
The boat was lying where they had left it, and they at once stepped
in and seated themselves.
"I'm sorry not to say good-bye to Mr. Split," said Dot, as the boat
glided out into the river.
"He is so busy he won't mind it," answered the Queen. "I suppose he
was in the forest winding up the animals there when we came away. I
do not think there is another man in the whole world that does so
much work as Mr. Split, and he seems to enjoy it, too."
The boat was rushing swiftly through the water, now, and soon the
forest of trees was passed and our voyagers entered a deep archway
that led to the Seventh and last Valley of Merryland.
CHAPTER 18
The Valley of Lost Things
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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