This book tells the story of shopkeepers Ginger, a tom-cat, and Pickles, a Terrier. They allow their customers credit and are unable to collect enough to pay the bills and subsequently go out of business. Their competition, Tabitha Twitchit, raises her prices once customers are forced to shop there and a few try to compensate by selling some specialized goods with limited success. Eventually, Henny Penny, a hen, reopens the shop.
Carol accompanies Kennicott on a hunting trip, admiring the natural landscape of Gopher Prairie. Carol is introduced to the like minded Vida Sherwin and Guy Pollock. Carol's home refurnishing is met with disdain by a miserly and religious neighbor. Carol hosts a party of her own, hoping it will have some influence on the townspeople of Gopher Prairie.
The Chorus recites a sonnet for the audience.
The author poses several questions to the reader.
"Ah, Douglass, we have fall’n on evil days,"
Why didst thou promise such a beauteous day
"G’way an’ quit dat noise, Miss Lucy—"
That thou hast her it is not all my grief
The Hare boasted of never being beaten in a race. The Tortoise accepted this challenge. The Hare stopped during the race for a nap and woke to find the Tortise about to cross the finish line.
Buck struggles, but continues to prevail. Spitz and Buck nearly come to blows. The sled team continues down the trail, where an undeclared war comes to a dramatic end.
Dorothy cries at the departure of the balloon. The next morning, she and her friends try to find a way to get Dorothy back to Kansas. They agree that they will go visit Glinda, the good witch of the South, and ask her for help.
"De way t’ings come, hit seems to me,"
"W’en de clouds is hangin’ heavy in de sky,"
An old mariner stops a group on their way to a wedding. The leader of the group listens to the mariner's story. The mariner's tale starts out with calm seas and a happy crew, but a sudden storm and strange weather change the mood. The mariner's actions upset the crew.
On their way home from school, Curly and Flop come upon a girl mouse whose tail is stuck under a rock. The piggie boys help her and she promises to help them someday. When the alligator comes by to eat them, the mouse girl helps out after all.
A proposition is offered to Marilla by Mrs. Spencer.
Friendly ghosts cheer the narrator with their nocturnal visits.
"Little brown baby wif spa’klin’ eyes,"
WHILE an intrinsic ardor prompts to write,
With the arrival of winter, Carol attempts to create some distraction for herself and the townspeople. Carol's treatment of her maid is a source of tension with the members of the Jolly Seventeen.
Dorothy and the others call the flying monkeys to take them beyond the Hammer-Heads to the land of the Quadlings. They reach Glinda’s castle and are admitted at once.
The author explains the three kinds of propositions that will be used in the game.
Still affected by her conversation with Vida, Carol begins to observe the judging glances of the townspeople. Carol and Will pay a visit to his mother.
The conditions at sea improve, causing the crew to change their opinion of the mariner. When the conditions change for the worse the crew force the mariner to wear the dead albatross as a sign of guilt.
After several days, the wizard called for Dorothy and concocted a plan on how to get her home. They built a hot air balloon and three days later both prepared to leave. The wizard informed the city that the Scarecrow would rule in his absence. Unfortunately, before Dorothy could get to the balloon, it sailed off without her.