Bedtime Anytime Classic Stories for Children - The Marvelous Land of Oz - Pt 8

Bedtime Anytime Classic Stories for Children – The Marvelous Land of Oz, Pt 8  

Hello from the Classic Children’s Story podcast. We bring you narrations of classic children's stories of all kinds to keep your young ones entertained, read by a professional voice actress. The themes range from animal stories to stories that teach, to classic favourites like Tom Thumb, Red Riding Hood and more.

  We continue with – The Marvelous Land of Oz. This is L. Frank Baum’s sequel to The Wonderful Wizard of OZ. Our 8th story/chapter is “Gen. Jinjur's Army of Revolt”. You’ll have to have a listen to find out what Tip has gotten up to this time!!  So, cuddle up to your little ones, settle in, have a listen and enjoy.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, everyone is Stefania. Welcome to the classic children's story
podcast Stories for Bedtime, Playtime, any time to keep your
little ones entertained and happy. We've been an international collection
of stories, stories that teach stories to entertain and more.

(00:20):
Our story this time is General Ginger's Army of Revolt.

(00:41):
Tip was so anxious to rejoin his man Jack and
the sawhorse that he walked a full half the distance
to the Emerald city without stopping to rest. Then he
discovered that he was hungry, and the crackers and cheese
he had provided for the journey had all been eaten.
While wondering what he should do at this emergency, he

(01:03):
came upon a girl sitting by the roadside. She wore
a costume that struck the boy as being remarkably brilliant,
her silken waist being of emerald green, and her skirt
of four distinct colors blue in front, yellow at the

(01:23):
left side, red at the back, and purple at the
right side. Fastening the waist in front were four buttons,
the top one blue, the next yellow, a third red,
and the last purple. The splendor of this dress was

(01:44):
almost barbaric, so Tip was fully justified in staring at
the gown for some moments before his eyes were attracted
by the pretty face above it. Yes, the face was
pretty enough, he decided, but it wore an expression of
discontent coupled to a shade of defiance or audacity. While

(02:13):
the boy stared, the girl looked upon him calmly. A
lunch basket stood beside her, and she held a dainty
sandwich in one hand and a hard boiled egg in
the other, eating with an evident appetite that aroused TIFF's sympathy.
He was just about to ask a share of the

(02:33):
luncheon when the girl stood up and brushed the crumbs
from her lap. There, said she, it is time for
me to go carry that basket for me, and help
yourself to his contents if you are hungry. Tip seized
the basket eagerly and began to eat, following for a
time the strange girl, without bothering to ask questions. She

(02:57):
walked along before him with swift strides, and there was
about her an air of decision and importance that led
him to suspect she was some great personage. Finally, when
he had satisfied his hunger, he ran up beside her,
and tried to keep pace with her swift footsteps, a

(03:19):
very difficult feat, for she was much taller than he,
and evidently in a hurry. Thank you very much for
the sandwiches, said Tip as he trotted along. May I
ask your name? I am General Ginger, was the beef reply. Oh,
said the boy, surprised. What sort of a general I

(03:43):
command the army of revolt in this war? Answered the
general with unnecessary sharpness. Oh, he again, exclaimed, I didn't
know there was a war. You are not supposed to
know it, she returned, For we have kept it a secret,
considering that our army is composed endirely of girls. She

(04:04):
added with some pride, it is surely a remarkable thing
that our revolt is not yet discovered. It is indeed acknowledged, Tip,
But where is your army? About a mile from here,
said General Ginger. The forces have assembled from all parts
of the land of Oz at my express command. For

(04:28):
this is the day we are to conquer his Majesty,
the Scarecrow, and arrest him from the throne. The army
of Revolt only awaits my coming to march upon the
Emerald city, well, declared Tip, drawing a long breath. This
is certainly a surprising thing. May I ask why you

(04:51):
wish to conquer His Majesty the Scarecrow. Because the Emerald
City has been ruled by men long enough for one reason,
said the girl. Moreover, city glitters with beautiful gems which
might far better be used for rings and bracelets and necklaces.
And there is enough money in the King's treasury to

(05:13):
buy every girl in our army a dozen new gallons.
So we intend to conquer the city and run the
government to suit ourselves. Ginger spoke these words with an
eagerness and decision that proved she was in earnest. But
war is a terrible thing, said Tip thoughtfully. This war

(05:37):
will be pleasant, replied the girl, cheerfully. Many of you
will be slain, continued the boy in an odd voice.
Oh no, said Ginger. What man would oppose a girl
or dare to harm her? And there is not an
ugly face in my entire army, Tip laughed. Perhaps you

(06:01):
are right, said he, But the guardian of the gate
is considered a faithful guardian, and the King's army will
not let the city be conquered without a struggle. The
army is old and feeble, replied General Ginger scornfully. His
strength has all been used to grow whiskers, and his

(06:22):
wife has such a temper that she has already pulled
more than half of them out by the roods. When
the wonderful Wizard reigned, the soldier with the green whiskers
was a very good royal army, for people feared the Wizard.
But no one is afraid of the scarecrow, so his

(06:42):
royal army doesn't count for much in time of war.
After this conversation, they proceeded some distance in silence, and
before long reached a large clearing in the forest where
fully four hundred young women were assembled. These were laughing

(07:03):
and talking together as gaily as if they had gathered
for a picnic instead of a war of conquest. They
were divided into four companies, and Tip noticed that all
were dressed in costumes similar to that worn by General Ginger.

(07:25):
The only real difference was that while those girls from
the Munchkin country had the blue strip in front of
their skirts, those from the country of the Quadlings had
the red strip in front, and those from the country
of the Winkles had the yellow strip in front, and

(07:48):
the gillicking girls wore the purple strip in front. All
had green weights representing the Emerald city they intended to conquer,
and the button of each waist indicated by its color
which country the wearer came from. The uniforms were jaunty

(08:11):
and becoming, and quite effective when massed together. Tip thought
this strange army bore no weapons whatsoever. But this he
was wrong, for each girl had stuck through the knot
of her back hair two long glittering knitting needles. General

(08:36):
Ginger immediately mounted the stump of a tree and addressed
her army, friends, fellow citizens, and girls. She said, we
are about to begin our great revolte against the men
of Oz. We marched to conquer the Emerald City, to

(08:58):
the throne the scarecrow King, to acquire thousands of gorgeous gems,
to rifle the royal treasury, and to obtain power over
our former oppressors. Rah said those who had listened, But

(09:18):
Tip thought most of the army was too much engaged
in chattering to pay attention to the words of the general.
The command to march was now given, and the girls
formed themselves into four bands, four companies, and set off
with acre strides. Towards the Emerald City. The boy followed

(09:43):
after them, carrying several baskets and wraps and baggages which
various members of the Army of Revolt had placed in
his care. It was not long before they came to
the green granite walls of the city and halted before
the gateway. The guardian of the gate at once came

(10:06):
out and looked at them curiously, as if a circus
had come to town. He carried a bunch of keys
swung round his neck by a golden chain. His hands
were thrust carelessly into his pockets, and he seemed to
have no idea at all that the city was threatened

(10:27):
by rebels. Speaking pleasantly to the girls, he said, good morning,
my DearS. What can I do for you? Surrender instantly,
answered General Ginger, standing before him and frowning as terribly
as her pretty face with a lower do surrender, echoed

(10:48):
the man, astonished, Why it's.

Speaker 2 (10:50):
Impossible, it's against the law. I've never heard of such
a thing in my life. So oh, you must surrender,
exclaimed the general fiercely. We are evaulting. You don't look it,
said the guardian, gazing from one to another. Admiringly. But
we are cried Ginger, stapping her foot impatiently, and we

(11:12):
made to conquer the Emerald city. Good gracious, returned the
surprised guardian of the gates. What a nonsensical idea. Go
home to your mothers, my good girls, and milk the
cowls and.

Speaker 1 (11:26):
Bake the bread. Don't you know it's a dangerous thing
to conquer a city. We are not afraid, responded the General,
as she looked so determined that it made the guardian uneasy.
So he rang the bell for the sojier with the
green whiskers, and the next minute was sorry he had

(11:49):
done so, for immediately he was surrounded by a crowd
of girls who drew the knitting needles from their hair
and began jabbing them at the Guardian with sharp points
dangerously near his fat cheeks and blinking eyes. The poor
man howled loudly for mercy and made no resistance when

(12:11):
Ginger drew the bunch of keys from around his neck.
Followed by her army. The General now rushed to the gateway,
where she was confronted by the Royal Army of Oz,
which was the other name for the soldier with the
green whiskers holt he cried, and pointed his long gun

(12:34):
full in the face of the leader. Some of the
girls screamed and ran back, but General Ginger gravely stood
her ground and said reprochfully, Why how now would you
shoot a poor defenseless girl, No, replied the soldier, for
my gun isn't loaded, not loaded. No, for fear of accidents,

(13:01):
and I've forgotten where I put the powder and shot
to loaded with. But if you wait a short time,
I'll try to hunt them up. Down trouble yourself, said
Ginger cheerfully. Then she turned to her army and cried, girls,
the gun isn't loaded. Hooray, shrieked the rebels delighted at

(13:26):
this good news, and they proceeded to rush upon the
soldier with the green whiskers, in such a crowd that
it was a wonder they didn't stick the knitting needles
into one another. But the Royal Army of Oz was
too much afraid of women to meet the onslaught. He
simply turned about and ran with all his might through

(13:47):
the gate and toward the royal Palace. While General Ginger
and her mob flocked into the unprotected city in this
way was the Emerald City captured without a drop of
blood being spilled. The army of revolt had become an

(14:12):
army of conquerors. And that's the end of our story.
Looks like the Scarecrow's gonna find himself in a bit

(14:36):
of trouble, but who knows. We'll find out when we
read the next part. That's it for now. Be sure
to tell your family, your friends, tell everybody about the podcast.
It's available on all major podcasts, platforms and apps, and

(14:57):
you can also visit our coffee pag h you are
Ellis in the show notes where you can find more
stories and other kinds of entertaining things. I think you
might like it. And that's it for now. Stay good,

(15:18):
stay well, stay happy, waite for now,