L.Frank Baum. The marvelous land of Oz -
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small head, was jauntily set a tall silk hat.
Standing upright before our amazed friends the Woggle-Bug appeared to
be fully as tall as the Tin Woodman; and surely no bug in all the Land of
Oz had ever before attained so enormous a size.
"I confess," said the Scarecrow, "that your abrupt appearance has
caused me surprise, and no doubt has startled my companions. I hope,
however, that this circumstance will not distress you. We shall probably
get used to you in time."
"Do not apologize, I beg of you!" returned the Woggle-Bug, earnestly.
"It affords me great pleasure to surprise people; for surely I cannot be
classed with ordinary insects and am entitled to both curiosity and
admiration from those I meet."
"You are, indeed," agreed his Majesty.
"If you will permit me to seat myself in your august company,"
continued the stranger, "I will gladly relate my history, so that you will
be better able to comprehend my unusual - may I say remarkable? -
appearance."
"You may say what you please," answered the Tin Woodman, briefly.
So the Woggle-Bug sat down upon the grass, facing the little group of
wanderers, and told them the following story:
"It is but honest that I should acknowledge at the beginning of my
recital that I was born an ordinary Woggle-Bug," began the creature, in a
frank and friendly tone. "Knowing no better, I used my arms as well as my
legs for walking, and crawled under the edges of stones or hid among the
roots of grasses with no thought beyond finding a few insects smaller than
myself to feed upon.
"The chill nights rendered me stiff and motionless, for I wore no
clothing, but each morning the warm rays of the sun gave me new life and