Magic Faraway Tree Read Free

think somebody ought to stop Dame
Washalot pouring her water away like that. How disgusting!"
"Oh, you'll soon get used to it, and dodge the water easily," said Jo.
On they all went up the tree again, and at last came almost to the top. There
they saw a door in the trunk of the tree, and from behind the door came the sound
of voices.
     
   
"That's Moon-Face and the old Saucepan Man," said Jo, and he banged
on the door. It flew open and Moon-Face looked out. His big round face beamed
with smiles when he saw who his visitors were.
     
   
"Hallo, hallo, hallo," he said. "Come along in. The Saucepan Man
is here."
Everyone went into Moon-Face's curious round room. There was a large hole in the
middle of it, which was the beginning of the slippery-slip, the wonderful slide
that went round and round down the inside of the tree, right to the bottom. Moon-Face's
furniture was arranged round the inside of
the tree trunk, and it was all curved to fit the curve of the tree. His bed was
curved, the chairs were curved, the sofa and the stove. It was very queer.
     
   
Dick stared at it all in the greatest surprise. He really felt as if he must be
in a dream. He saw somebody very queer sitting on the sofa.
     
   
It was the old Saucepan Man. He really was a very curious sight. He was hung all
round with saucepans and kettles, and he wore a saucepan for a hat. You could
hardly see anything of him except his face, hands and feet, because he was so
hung about with saucepans and things. He made a tremendous clatter whenever he
moved.
     
   
"Who's that?" he said, looking at Dick.
     
   
"This is Dick," said Jo, and Dick went forward to shake hands.
     
   
The Saucepan Man was very deaf, though he did sometimes hear quite well. But he
nearly always heard everything wrong, and sometimes he was very funny.
     
   
"Chick?" he said. "Well, that's a funny name for a boy."
"Not Chick, but DICK!" shouted Moon-Face.
     
   
"Stick?" said the Saucepan Man, shaking hands. "Good morning, Stick.
I hope you are well."
Dick giggled. Moon-Face got ready to shout again, but Silky quickly handed him
her bag of Pop Biscuits. "Don't get cross with him," she said. "Look
-let's all have some Pop Biscuits. They are fresh made to-day. And, oh, Moon-Face,
do tell us -what land is at the top of the Faraway Tree to-day?"
"The Land of Topsy-Turvy," said Moon-Face. "But I don't advise
you to go there. It's most uncomfortable."
"Oh, do let's," cried Dick. "Can't we just peep at it?"
"We'll see," said Jo, giving him a Pop Biscuit. "Eat this, Dick."
Pop Biscuits were lovely. Dick put one in his mouth and bit it. It went pop! at
once -and he found his mouth full of sweet honey from the middle of the biscuit.
     
   
"Delicious!" he said. "I'll have another. I say, Jo -DO let's take
our lunch up into the land of Topsy-Turvy. Oh, do, do!"
The Land of Topsy-Turvy
"What is Topsy-Turvy Land like?" asked Jo, taking another Pop Biscuit.
     
   
"Never been there," said Moon-Face. "But I should think it's quite
safe, really. It's only just come there, so it should stay for a while. We could
go up and see what it's like and come down again if we don't like it. Silky and
I and Saucepan will come with you, if you like."
Moon-Face turned to the Saucepan Man, who was enjoying his fifth Pop Biscuit.
     
   
"Saucepan, we're going up the ladder," he said. "Are you coming?"
"Humming?" said Saucepan, looking all round as if he thought there might
be bees about, "No, I didn't hear any humming."
"I said, are you COMING?" said Moon-Face.
     
   
"Oh, coming?' said Saucepan. "Of course I'm coming. Are we going to
take our lunch?"
"Yes," said Moon-Face, going to a curved door that opened on to a tiny
larder. "I'll see what I've got. Tomatoes. Plums. Ginger snaps. Ginger beer.
I'll bring them all."
He put them into a basket. Then they all went out of the funny, curved room on
to the big branch outside. Moon-Face shut his