Oz 18: Grandpa in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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it, my dear ? "

the little flower fairy shook her head solemnly ." my name is Urtha," she insisted softly ."Isn't it, Tatters ? "

" she's bewitched," groaned the king .

" she's bewitching," corrected Grampa .

" stop ! stop ! " said Dorothy ." we'll never get things straightened out this_way . everybody sit down and quick quick- catch that prophet ! " Abrog had_been slyly edging toward the door, but the forgetful poet, with a quick bound, brought him back .

" now then," said Dorothy, when_they were all seated, "I believe Abrog is at_the bottom of_the whole business . let's make him tell . did you bewitch this princess ? " she demanded sternly .

Abrog only mumbled and scowled and refused to_speak a word ." better answer this young lady," puffed peer Haps warningly ." she_is a princess of Oz, and can have_you well punished ."

" speak up, you old villain ! " shouted Grampa, waving his sword over the prophet's head . but Abrog stood still and stubbornly refused to_say a word, until the old soldier suddenly bethought himself of_the wizard's medicine ." maybe there's a cure for_the tongue tied on_this," muttered Grampa .Taking out the bottle, he began to scan the green label . at_the first sight of_the medicine, a dreadful change came over the prophet . he turned a sickly green and began to tremble violently .

" give_me that bottle ! give_me that bottle, and_I_will tell all," he panted, trying desperately to snatch it from Grampa .

"Don't you_do it," cried the prince of Ragbad ." why, Grampa, I believe-I believe this_is_the wizard himself ."

" but it says 'Gorba,' " muttered the old soldier, holding the bottle high above his head ."Don't you remember ? "

"Gorba ! " exclaimed Dorothy, writing the word with her finger in_the air ." why G-o-r-b-a is A-b-r-o-g spelled backwards ! "

"Abrog and Gorba ! " shrieked Percy Vere, bounding to_his feet . the poet instantly broke into verse in_his customary style:

"Abrog and Gorba are one and_the same-A prophet and wizard wrapped up in one- one-- one ? "

" name ! " finished peer Haps, almost tumbling from_his throne .

" this_is_the most exciting story I ever was in," wheezed the head of Fumbo, from its place on_the table . the prophet had fairly crumpled up at Dorothy's discovery and, seeing that further resistance was useless, he whined out the whole of_his story . determined to save pretty good from_the monster and marry her himself, he had decided to_change her to mud . for a princess as ugly as mud, even a monster would_not marry, explained the old villain tearfully . so for_this purpose he had carried her to_the hidden garden, where all his magic appliances were kept . but so sweet, lovely and good was_the little princess of perhaps city, that_the evil spell of_the wizard, instead of changing her to a muddy image as Abrog intended, had turned her into a bewitch-ing little flower fairy .Disappointed at_the way his magic had worked, Abrog had nevertheless resolved to_keep her under the spell until after_the day of_the prophecy and then change her back to her own self and marry her at once . but when he returned to_the garden he_found her gone and he had hurried as fast as he_could back to perhaps city . how he had_been robbed of_his magic medicine on_the first day he bewitched Urtha, and how Urtha herself had_been released by Tatters and Grampa, we_know .

" but what about_this monster ? " panted the old soldier, as Abrog finished speaking and began uncomfortably shuffling his feet on_the golden floor .

" let me see that prophecy," demanded Dorothy . the unwilling prophet drew the crumpled parchment from_his sleeve .

"A youth, wrapped in_the skin of an old bear-a youth with two heads upon his shoul-ders and carrying a red umbrella- will marry the princess of perhaps city," read Dorothy in some surprise .

" why, that's Tatters ! " cried the little girl in delight .

" of_course_it_is," declared Grampa ." why, there isn't any monster at all . whoever said there_was ? " he stared around triumphantly and peer Haps pointed angrily at_the old prophet, who was hopping about in a vain attempt to escape .

" what shall we_do to him ? " asked the forgetful poet, seizing Abrog by_the collar and holding him, kicking and struggling, in_the air .- some said this and some said that, but it_was Grampa, running his finger quickly down the trusty green label, who finally decided the matter . for listed under sorcery he_found a sure cure for Abrog .

" break a saucer of_the mixture over the sorcerer's head," directed the bottle severely . so a saucer was quickly brought and, paying no attention to_the squalls and screams of_the scheming old prophet, Grampa broke it over his head . at_the first crack of_the china, Abrog disappeared and, as every_one jumped with surprise, a little brown mouse scurried across the room .

" well, he won't do much harm in_that shape," sighed Grampa, as Toto went sniffing all around the throne under which the mouse had disappeared .

" but my daughter ! " cried peer Haps sud denly ." who_will unbewitch the princess now ? " the company exchanged dismayed glances, realizing too late that_they should_have forced Abrog to disenchant Urtha before_they punished him .

chapter 21

Urtha is transformed

you_are probably wondering why Urtha herself had stood so silently during all the commotion in_the castle . well, in_the first place the little flower fairy was so frightened by her experiences with_the play Fellows that her only thought had_been of escape . with_the prophet's spell had gone all memory of her former existence as princess of perhaps city and when peer Haps had found her on maybe mountain and hurried her back to_the castle she was more frightened still . not knowing where she was, nor what to_do, the confused little fairy had done nothing at all .Trembling under the big cloak, she had stood and waited for something terrible to happen and when at last she did hear the familiar voices of Tatters and Grampa and thought they were angry at her, she trembled more than ever and was afraid to_speak or move at all . but now that_the mystery was about cleared up, Urtha was so happy just to_be with_the prince of Ragbad again that she paid small attention to_the excitement about her enchantment . neither did Tatters, for_the lovely little flower fairy suited him exactly as she was . while they were whispering cozily about Ragbad and other terribly important matters, Dorothy and Grampa got their heads together and solved the last of_the adventurers' problems . for Dorothy, bending excitedly over Grampa's shoulder, discovered a cure for enchantment on_the wizard's bottle ." three drops on_the head," advised the green label .Grampa squinted anxiously into_the bottle, for he had poured nearly the whole contents over Abrog .

" is_there enough ? " whispered Dorothy .Grampa, shaking his head doubtfully, tip- toed over to Urtha and, while Percy Vere, peer Haps and Dorothy watched with breathless interest, he shook the bottle over her head . one drop ! two drops ! and- after a violent shake- three fell upon_the soft fern hair of_the littler fairy . as_the third drop fell the little flower girl melted away before their eyes into a rainbow mist of lovely colors . out_of_the mist stepped a no less lovely princess-a princess so like Urtha that Grampa blinked and Tatters could hardly believe his senses . though no longer a little lady of flowers, Urtha still carried the flowers' lovely colors and_the flowers' lovely fragrance in her exquisite little person .Violets were no bluer than Urtha's eyes; roses never pinker than Urtha's cheeks; apple blossoms no fairer than Urtha's skin .

Trembling with relief and happiness, peer Haps clasped her in_his arms and, with_the little princess on_his knee, insisted on hearing every word of_the long, strange story . and about time it was_that he_did, for all this while he had_been trying to explain to himself the presence of Fumbo's head . but when Grampa had told their adventures from beginning to end, peer Haps welcomed the king of Ragbad as heartily as_if his whole body were present, and_they all sat down to_talk things over .

just as Grampa was telling again exactly how they had discovered Urtha, there_was a loud screech in_the corridor, and in flew the brave weather cock, whom no one had missed in_the terrible commotion .

" here I come by_the name of bill," crowed the excited bird and flying over to Grampa, he proudly dropped Grampa's lost leg into his lap . for while the others had hurried up the mountain bill had flown back to_the playground and snatched Grampa's leg away from king Capers and two of_the mischievous Pierrettes who were deeply engrossed in_the game of scrum . it had taken bill some_time but here at last he_was and, joyfully buckling on_his leg, Gramps danced a jig on_the spot . for now his happiness was complete- peer Haps having already given him a pipe . everyone made such a fuss over bill that he_felt fully repaid for_his trouble .

indeed, it_was hard to_tell who, of all that merry company, was_the merriest- the forget-ful poet at finding himself safely home, peer Haps at finding his daughter, Grampa at_the recovery of_his leg, Urtha and Tatters or Dorothy and Toto at_the splendid way the adventure had turned out .

Chuckling with delight, peer Haps ran off to fetch his yellow hen, for he_was determined that Tatters should_have the fortune-a reward of a thousand gold bricks .

" is that_the fortune ? " asked bill indignantly, as he placed the yellow hen in Tatters' arms ." why, it's nothing but a bunch of feathers ! "

"Don't you crow over me," screeched the yellow hen and, flying up, she laid a gold brick upon_the table, much to_the astonishment of bill and_the delight of_the others .

while they still were laughing there_was ablinding flash, and_the yellow hen, bill, Toto, peer Haps and every_other single person in_the throne room disappeared . yes, sir, they were gone as gone as a box of last year's Christmas candy .

chapter 22

Rejoicing in Ragbad

gone, you say . but where ? I_might as_well tell you at once that_they were gone from perhaps city because they already were in Ragbad standing in a surprised group in_the shabby ballroom of_the red castle . for Ozma, looking that morning in_the magic picture to_see why Dorothy had_not returned to_the emerald city, had seen the little girl and her companions and all day had_been following their adventures .

with_the aid of a powerful radio belonging to_the wizard of Oz, she had heard the whole story Grampa had just related and determined, by her magic belt, to send_them all safely home .

" they've had enough adventures," smiled this wise little ruler, and because she knew Dorothy, the forgetful poet and peer Haps would want to meet Mrs sew- and- sew and_the rest of Tatters' friends, she had sent them along too . but, best of all, she had, aided by_the wizard's magic, wished Fumbo's head firmly and permanently back upon his body . when Pudge and Mrs sew- and- sew, aroused by all the confusion, came running to_see what_was the matter, imagine their surprise to_find Fumbo in full possession of_his head, welcoming peer Haps, Dorothy and_the forgetful poet to Ragbad .

and now what a flurry of introductions and explanations, what hugs, kisses and congratu-lations all ' round ! Mrs sew- and- sew could hardly believe her good fortune and had to kiss Tatters every few_minutes to_see if he really were there and Urtha every few_minutes to_see if she really were true . after she had heard the whole story from beginning to end, she sent Pudge off to summon the twenty-four rustic laborers and rushed off to_prepare such a feast as_the old red castle had_not known since her own wedding day-a feast with six kinds of ice cream and seven kinds of cake and two helpings of turkey for everyone . far into_the night the merrymaking lasted, for after_the feast itself the old soldier insisted that_they dance the Ragbad quadrille .

"Oh, let's ! " cried the princess, remembering how she and Tatters had danced upon_the iceberg . so lines were quickly formed on each side of_the ballroom .

" come along, monster ! " cried Urtha, leading off merrily with_the prince, as Grampa burst into_the spirited music of_the dance .Mrs sew- and- sew and peer Haps came next, then the forgetful poet and Dorothy, then Fumbo and Pudge, the twenty-four rustic laborers filling in as_they were needed . not until the loud crows of bill announced the rising of_the sun did the party break up, and only then after a hundred rousing cheers had_been given for_the prince and princess of Ragbad . after luncheon next_day, Dorothy and Toto, peer Haps and_the forgetful poet were magically transported back home by thoughtful little Ozma but, before she left, Dorothy made them promise to visit her in_the emerald city and I_have no_doubt that they_will .

when Dorothy reached home the first person to greet her was her old friend, the tin woodman, smiling as he always smiles .

from_that day on, let me say, Ragbad was a changed kingdom for, as_the twenty-four rustic laborers sold the gold bricks as fast as_they were laid by_the yellow hen, there_was plenty of money to_buy supplies and care for_the linens and lawns .Grampa and Tatters had record crops and soon everything was so prosperous that Mrs sew- and- sew took off her thimble, put on her crown and became queen of Ragbad again .

as for Tatters and Urtha, the last I heard of_them, they were happy as_the days were long- as happy as only the dear folk in Oz know how to_be . so_that is all of_the story of_the princess who was once a fairy, the poet who forgot his words, the old soldier who was always a hero and_the prince who went in search of_his father's head .

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