Chapter 14

Then he drew back and looked around the room, and the sight of the assembled company quite amazed him.

Aside from the marble statues of Unc Nunkie and Margolotte, the Glass Cat was there, curled up on a rug; and the Woozy was there, sitting on its square hind legs and looking on the scene with solemn interest; and there was the Shaggy Man, in a suit of shaggy pea-green satin, and at a table sat the little Wizard, looking quite important and as if he knew much more than he cared to tell.

Last of all, Dr. Pipt was there, and the Crooked Magician sat humped up in a chair, seeming very dejected but keeping his eyes fixed on the lifeless form of his wife Margolotte, whom he fondly loved but whom he now feared was lost to him forever.

Ozma took a chair which Jellia Jamb wheeled forward for the Ruler, and back of her stood the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and Dorothy, as well as the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger. The Wizard now arose and made a low bow to Ozma and another less deferent bow to the assembled company.

"Ladies and gentlemen and beasts," he said, "I beg to announce that our Gracious Ruler has permitted me to obey the commands of the great Sorceress, Glinda the Good, whose humble Assistant I am proud to be. We have discovered that the Crooked Magician has been indulging in his magical arts contrary to Law, and therefore, by Royal Edict, I hereby deprive him of all power to work magic in the future. He is no longer a crooked magician, but a simple Munchkin; he is no longer even crooked, but a man like other men."

As he pronounced these words the Wizard waved his hand toward Dr. Pipt and instantly every crooked limb straightened out and became perfect. The former magician, with a cry of joy, sprang to his feet, looked at himself in wonder, and then fell back in his chair and watched the Wizard with fascinated interest.

"The Glass Cat, which Dr. Pipt lawlessly made," continued the Wizard, "is a pretty cat, but its pink brains made it so conceited that it was a disagreeable companion to everyone. So the other day I took away the pink brains and replaced them with transparent ones, and now the Glass Cat is so modest and well behaved that Ozma has decided to keep her in the palace as a pet."

"I thank you," said the cat, in a soft voice.

"The Woozy has proved himself a good Woozy and a faithful friend," the Wizard went on, "so we will send him to the Royal Menagerie, where he will have good care and plenty to eat all his life."

"Much obliged," said the Woozy. "That beats being fenced up in a lonely forest and starved."

"As for the Patchwork Girl," resumed the Wizard, "she is so remarkable in appearance, and so clever and good tempered, that our Gracious Ruler intends to preserve her carefully, as one of the curiosities of the curious Land of Oz. Scraps may live in the palace, or wherever she pleases, and be nobody's servant but her own."

"That's all right," said Scraps.

"We have all been interested in Ojo," the little Wizard continued, "because his love for his unfortunate uncle has led him bravely to face all sorts of dangers, in order that he might rescue him. The Munchkin boy has a loyal and generous heart and has done his best to restore Unc Nunkie to life. He has failed, but there are others more powerful than the Crooked Magician, and there are more ways than Dr. Pipt knew of to destroy the charm of the Liquid of Petrifaction. Glinda the Good has told me of one way, and you shall now learn how great is the knowledge and power of our peerless Sorceress."

As he said this the Wizard advanced to the statue of Margolotte and made a magic pass, at the same time muttering a magic word that none could hear distinctly. At once the woman moved, turned her head wonderingly this way and that, to note all who stood before her, and seeing Dr. Pipt, ran forward and threw herself into her husband's outstretched arms.

Then the Wizard made the magic pass and spoke the magic word before the statue of Unc Nunkie. The old Munchkin immediately came to life and with a low bow to the Wizard said: "Thanks."

But now Ojo rushed up and threw his arms joyfully about his uncle, and the old man hugged his little nephew tenderly and stroked his hair and wiped away the boy's tears with a handkerchief, for Ojo was crying from pure happiness.

Ozma came forward to congratulate them.

"I have given to you, my dear Ojo and Unc Nunkie, a nice house just outside the walls of the Emerald City," she said, "and there you shall make your future home and be under my protection."

"Didn't I say you were Ojo the Lucky?" asked the Tin Woodman, as everyone crowded around to shake Ojo's hand.

"Yes; and it is true!" replied Ojo, gratefully.

THE END

The Land of Oz

The title page of this book says that it is "an account of the further adventures of the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, and also the experiences of the Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug, Jack Pumpkinhead, the Animated Saw-Horse and the Gump." Also in this book Mr. Baum first presents Princess Ozma of Oz, Mombi, the witch; General Jinjur, and Dr. Nikidik, inventor of the famous wishing pills.

In the country of the Gillikins lives a boy named Tip, who has been bewitched by old Mombi. Tip makes Jack Pumpkinhead from a pumpkin, a frame of sticks and some old clothes; Jack is brought to life through one of the witch's mysterious possessions, and then Tip and Jack run away. Soon they meet the Animated Saw-Horse, on whom they ride, and then the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman. Thereafter one adventure follows fast upon another until the travelers, by the aid of the wonderful Gump, reach the palace of Glinda the Good, who lifts from Tip the spell of the old witch--with a most astonishing result.

"The Land of Oz" was the first of Mr. Baum's books to be illustrated by John R. Neill, now a noted artist. Mr. Neill's wonderful success in picturing the peculiar creations of the author led to a permanent alliance between these two favorites of the children, and all of Mr. Baum's later books have been adorned with Mr. Neill's pictures. In the Land of Oz are about one hundred and fifty black-and-white illustrations and sixteen charming full-page pictures in colors.

Ozma of Oz

As one little girl said, this is a "_real Ozzy_" book. It tells "more about Little Dorothy," and introduces the Yellow Hen, Tiktok, the Hungry Tiger, the Nome King, and many other remarkable personages. Our old friends, the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, play prominent parts.

There is a frightful storm at sea, during which Dorothy and Billina, the Yellow Hen, are cast ashore. Here, after escaping the Wheelers, they come across the mechanical man, Tiktok, and the three proceed through the Land of Ev to the palace of a wicked princess, where they are all imprisoned. They are rescued by Ozma, the Cowardly Lion, the Hungry Tiger, the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman. All then proceed to the realm of the Nome King to effect the release of the Royal Family of Ev, who have been enchanted by that cross old monarch. This done, after many trials and difficulties, the adventurers return to the Emerald City, where at a great feast the Hungry Tiger loses his appetite!

Billina is one of Mr. Baum's most delightful characters. All readers will enjoy her wit and humor, which is backed up with much sound sense. The Hungry Tiger is a worthy companion to our old friend, the Cowardly Lion.

For Ozma of Oz, Mr. Neill made forty-one full page colored pictures, twenty-two half pages in color, and more than fifty text illustrations, besides special end-sheets and other decorations. It is one of the most gorgeous of children's books.

Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz

First thing--bang! And an earthquake drops Dorothy and Zeb, her boy companion, through the earth's crust plumb into the Glass City. Here they soon meet the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, who also has fallen into this remarkable town. In company with Jim, the Cab Horse, Eureka, the Discontented Kitten, and the Nine Tiny Piglets, Dorothy and her friends are condemned to die, but escape into a tunnel through which they pass into the Valley of Voices. In their efforts to reach either the surface of the earth or the Land of Oz, where they would be helped by the powerful Princess Ozma, they meet many dangers and have numerous startling encounters with strange beings. Finally they are rescued by Ozma and are safe in the Emerald City. Here there is a great reunion, attended by the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, the Hungry Tiger and many other of our old friends of Oz.

Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz is embellished with sixteen full-page inserts after paintings by John R. Neill. These pictures are reproduced in full color by the most improved methods and are highly artistic and beautiful. In addition, there are many black-and-white illustrations, chapter headings, tail-pieces and decorations. The cover has an inlay printed in four colors and gold.

The Road to Oz

This is a novelty in bookmaking for children. As the scene shifts from one part to another of Mr. Baum's unique fairyland the tints of the paper used for printing change from color to color in accordance with the hue of the Country described. This color scheme, in connection with Mr. Neill's delightful and characteristic illustrations--over one hundred--make a truly wonderful book.

Among the new characters introduced are Button-Bright, the Shaggy Man, King Dox and Johnny Doit.

The Road to Oz is a marvelous road, along which Dorothy and her companions find many curious and strange inhabitants. They finally reach Oz and visit the Castle of Nick Chopper, the Tin Woodman, now become Emperor of the Winkies, by whom they are escorted to the farm of Jack Pumpkinhead and to the Emerald City.

Here Princess Ozma gives a banquet, at which the guests are beyond doubt the most amazing collection ever assembled under one roof, including Santa Claus, the Queen of Merryland, Para Bruin, the rubber bear; the King of the Quadlings, the Candy Man, the Queen of Ev, Jellia Jamb, General Jinjur, the Soldier with the Green Whiskers; Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter, the Incubator Baby and John Dough.

Transcriber's Note:

The alternative spelling for Tik-tok as "Tiktok" used in the advertisements at the end of the book; and the spelling of "UNK" in the first chapter heading illustration have been retained as they appear in the original publication.

Changes have been made as follows:

Page 68 Hyphen added to "bed-quilt" in "bed-quilt and intended to be".

Page 145 "advise" to "advice" in "Shaggy Man's advice"

Page 245 "solemly" to "solemnly" in "said the Scarecrow solemnly"

Page 260 Closing quotation mark added to "let's go back."

Page 279 Fullstop to comma in "Can't you talk from this side,"

Page 294 "Hoppers" to "Horners" in "and again the Horners laughed"

Page 309 Closing quotation mark added to "... I could swim, or not,"