Finding Oz page 7

 Finding Oz page 7 by ric gustafson

By her second year at Cornell, Maud Gage was quiet and pretty much a loner. The other girls were busy socially. Especially the ones in Kappa Alpha Theta. Few young men came calling on Maud. She was smart, attractive yet deemed undesireable. 

Maud went back home for Thanksgiving weekend. L Frank Baum decided to go to his sister Hattie's home for Christmas Eve. Josephine Baum came up with a plan to introduce Maud to L Frank. As L Frank traveled on the old Plank Road, an image of a woodchopper came into Baum's head. That image of a tin woodman would appear in the Wizard of Oz. Baum's sister Hattie lived in a fine neighborhood. When he arrived, Baum was welcomed by his sister Hattie. 

Aunt Josephine was prepared and ready to play matchmaker. As Christmas Eve went on, Maud and Baum talked and got to know each other a little bit. Baum was impressed with Maud's beauty and intelligence. Maud found Baum to be handsome and attractive. It wasn't until March of 1882 that Baum was able to see Maud again.

research help: ' Finding Oz' by Evan I Schwartz

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric