Read "Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz" by Ruth Plumly Thompson online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
With a gusty sigh, the red baron looked from one to another and then, / fixing his eyes sadly on Peter, he began to speak. Since the extremely / sensible suggestion of Jack Pumpkinhead, his beard no longer poured / round his ankles but, sweeping over his shoulder, disappeared in a red / streak between the trees. Every little while he would cut it off, and / the steady snip-snip of the shears ran like a sharp punctuation all / through the strange story of his misfortune.
"This morning," confided Belfaygor in a mournful voice, "this / morning I was the happiest Lord in the Land, for my marriage with / Shirley Sunshine, whose father lives on the next hillside, had been / satisfactorily arranged. My palace had been redecorated to please / the Princess and all my retainers newly outfitted for the wedding. / Everything, in fact, was in readiness to receive her, and I myself / was about to start for her father's castle, when I became suddenly / dissatisfied with my appearance. " Overcome by his feelings the baron / paused for a full moment, and Peter stood up on Snif's back to see how / far the red beard had grown since the last clip. With a little gasp he / saw it shoot through the branches of a tall tulip tree, and as he sat / down Belfaygor tearfully continued his recital.