L.Frank Baum. The marvelous land of Oz -
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he fed the pigs and milked the four-horned cow that was Mombi's especial
pride.
But you must not suppose he worked all the time, for he felt that
would be bad for him. When sent to the forest Tip often climbed trees for
birds' eggs or amused himself chasing the fleet white rabbits or fishing
in the brooks with bent pins. Then he would hastily gather his armful of
wood and carry it home. And when he was supposed to be working in the
corn-fields, and the tall stalks hid him from Mombi's view, Tip would
often dig in the gopher holes, or if the mood seized himlie upon his back
between the rows of corn and take a nap. So, by taking care not to exhaust
his strength, he grew as strong and rugged as a boy may be.
Mombi's curious magic often frightened her neighbors, and they
treated her shyly, yet respectfully, because of her weird powers. But Tip
frankly hated her, and took no pains to hide his feelings. Indeed, he
sometimes showed less respect for the old woman than he should have done,
considering she was his guardian.
There were pumpkins in Mombi's corn-fields, lying golden red among
the rows of green stalks; and these had been planted and carefully tended
that the four-horned cow might eat of them in the winter time. But one
day, after the corn had all been cut and stacked, and Tip was carrying the
pumpkins to the stable, he took a notion to make a "Jack Lantern" and try
to give the old woman a fright with it.
So he selected a fine, big pumpkin - one with a lustrous, orange-red
color - and began carving it. With the point of his knife he made two
round eyes, a three-cornered nose, and a mouth shaped like a new moon. The
face, when completed, could not have been considered strictly beautiful;
but it wore a smile so big and broad, and was so Jolly in expression, that