Oz 19: The Lost King of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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and when she found Mombi's magic too strong for her, had bestowed upon him his remarkable flying ears .

"I'm going to miss those ears," sighed the king, touching his tight- on ones regretfully, " but it's fine to_be back just the same and to_find my own dear little girl again ! "

" there_are still two things I don't understand," mused Dorothy, as Pastoria finished speaking ." why did I change size in California, and how was_it you_could_not get away from Blankenburg till snip helped you ? "

" both very easy to account for," explained the wizard of Oz, who was glad_to_have some part in clearing up the mysteries ." if_you had lived in America as long as_you_have lived in Oz, you_would_be quite a young lady by now, so of_course, when_you reached California, you resumed your proper age .

" then I'm never going back," decided Dorothy, recalling her strange experience with a shudder, " for I'm never going to grow up at all ."

" the king was released by snip," continued the wizard, paying no attention to Dorothy's remarks, " because kindness and generosity always dull green magic, and, while snip could_not entirely restore the king, he broke part of_the enchantment ."

there_was still so_much to wonder and exclaim about and_they were all by_this_time so famished with hunger that Ozma ordered up a splendid feast and in all the annals of Oz there has never been a more delightful nor a merrier one .

the king and Ozma sat at_the head of_the long table, snip and Pajuka at_the foot, while ranged between were all of_the adventurers and all the dear celebrities of Oz .Mombi had_been securely locked up in_the cellar with a supper of bread and milk and Kabumpo, free from_his troublesome charge, had three bales of hay, nicely mixed with peanuts .

snip, looking sideways at Pajuka, marveled to_think how he had once carried the huge prime minister through_the forest . there_was still something in Pajuka's walk and expression that reminded snip of_the white goose, for all during the evening he_was at some pains to conceal his yawns .

well, with one dainty coming after_the other, and one story following the next, the dinner proceeded gaily enough, till no one, not even the hungry tiger, could eat another bite . and then it was_that Pastoria rose and, turning to Ozma, furnished the last surprise of_that exceedingly surprising day .

" I_am rejoiced," began the king in_his deep, pleasant voice, " to_find this beautiful castle and city, built during my absence by our clever wizard, and to_see that_the prosperity and greatness of Oz have increased during my exile .Feeling that_this_is largely due to_the wise rule of_my lovely little daughter, I now and hereby abdicate in her favor ! "

Removing the emerald crown the Scarecrow had hastily brought from_the treasury, the king placed it solemnly on Ozma's dark curls .

" but you're not going away ! " cried Ozma, catching hold of_his arm in great distress .

" has your majesty considered this enough ? " protested Pajuka, jumping up in a hurry ." what_are you- what_are we- going to_do ? "

" open a tailor shop," smiled the king, " right here in_the emerald city- the finest tailoring shop in Oz . you_see," continued his majesty, looking a trifle embarrassed, "I've grown awfully fond of tailoring and i_think on_the whole I'm a better tailor than a king ! "

there_was a moment's silence after_this singular announcement . then, realizing the geneosity and wisdom of_the decision, the whole company burst into thunderous applause .

" then everything will_be the same .Oh, goody goody ! " exulted Betsy bobbin, squeezing trot's hand under the table ."Isn't he a perfect dear ? "

" instead of a king's double, I'm a tailor's dummy," sighed Humpy resignedly ."Oh well, I don't care, but you'll have to_make me another suit ."

"I'll make you a tailored suit .I'll make you all suits," promised the king enthusiastically .

" put plenty of pockets in mine ! " puffed Pajuka sinking into his seat with another yawn .

"I'll need a boy in my shop, too," smiled the king, looking down the long table ." how about_it, snip ? will_you stay ? "

"A good place for a button boy," giggled Scraps, while snip himself blushed with pleasure and excitement .

"Oh, I'd love to ! " cried snip ." but may I go back to Kimbaloo first and tell Kinda jolly where I_am ? "

" of_course, of_course," promised the royal tailor, beaming upon everyone ." and now, as_we_are all tired and sleepy" ( the king winked at Pajuka who was trying to hide another monstrous yawn) "I move that we all retire ."

" that_will_be the second time you've retired today," laughed snip, pushing back his chair and running to open the door for_his majesty . for in_spite of_his abdication they all felt that Pastoria was a real king .

"Oh, isn't everything turning out splendidly ? " sighed Dorothy, pressing the Scarecrow's arm ." the king will_be alot happier as a tailor and every tailor needs a dummy, so_that takes care of Humpy . and won't it be fun to_have snip in_the emerald city ? "

" i_should say ! " grinned the Scarecrow, and then, because nobody could stay awake another minute, they bade each_other good night and hurried off to bed .

snip and_the prime minister shared a sumptuous apartment in_the east wing and, hearing a strange noise in_the night, snip sat up in alarm .Pajuka's bed was empty, but standing on one leg over by_the window and snoring like agoodfellow ( which indeed he_was) stood the huge prime minister, his head resting peacefully on_his shoulder .

" he thinks he's still a goose," smiled snip, snuggling down under the covers .

chapter 21

the grand procession

the next_day there_was a grand procession through_the streets of_the emerald city, in honor of_the long lost king of Oz . the elegant elephant led off, the king and Humpy dressed exactly alike riding proudly on_his back . next rode Ozma upon_the famous saw horse; then came the cowardly lion, carrying Dorothy and snip; then the hungry tiger with Betsy and trot .

Pajuka, astride the comfortable camel, was a sight worth seeing, for_the huge prime minister was splendidly costumed . besides this, he had a pipe in each hand, taking first a puff from one and then a puff from_the other, so_that he_was almost hidden in clouds of smoke . sir Hokus, upon_the doubtful dromedary, bowed politely to_his many friends and acquaintances .Scraps and_the Scarecrow followed the knight and after them marched Tik Tok, the soldier with_the green Whiskers and all the other famous folk from_the palace, down to_the smallest page . slowly and majestically they circled the city, returning tired out, but well satisfied, to_the cool and fragrant gardens of_the palace .

" now," sighed Ozma, sliding down from_the saw horse, " there_is nothing left to_do but punish Mombi . what shall we_do with Mombi ? "

" turn her to acooky, and then I_can eat her up without my conscience troubling me," purred the hungry tiger, thumping his tail lazily up and down in_the grass .

" she'd make an awfully stale cooky," sniffed Scraps, swinging herself expertly up into a tree ." turn her into a rock and throw her away .

" why_not put her out like I_did the other witches ? " asked Dorothy, fanning herself with her best crown, which she had worn in honor of_the occasion ." water will finish her once and forever ! "

"I believe i_will," mused Ozma ." that_is, if father thinks it_is all right ? " the king, with a huge pair of gold specs on_his nose, was busily measuring snip for a suit, and nodded absently at his royal daughter ." anything you say, my dear," said the royal tailor, writing down the measurements in a little book .

so off ran sir Hokus and_the Scarecrow to carry out the sentence, returning in_a_few_minutes with Mombi's buckled shoes, all that remained of_the old Gilliken witch and her temper . she had_been washed out with water, and would never bother anyone in Oz again .

just as_the royal party was trooping into_the palace for lunch, a page rushed out to announce a visitor . it_was general Whiffenpuff and a loud noise whom he introduced as_the invisible Cook .Travelling night and day, and searching everywhere for Mombi and snip, he had finally reached the emerald city and found the famous cook recommended by_the town Laugher of Kimbaloo . his delight at seeing the little button boy safe and sound was only exceeded by his astonishment at snip's marvelous adventures, but as_the cook, for all her invisibility, had a bad habit of treading on_the general's toes, he_was anxious to return to Kimbaloo and turn her over to Kinda jolly .

"I'll take you back," volunteered Kabumpo carelessly ." it's on my way home anyhow ." the elegant elephant was also anxious to_be off and acquaint the court of Pumperdink with_the important events that had transpired . he_wished to display the emerald head- piece Ozma had given him, and dazzle the courtiers with_the silver robe bestowed upon him by_the kingly tailor of Oz . so after a quick luncheon, a quick exchange of good-byes and good wishes, the pompous old elephant took his departure, carrying on_his back brave general Whiffenpuff, the invisible Cook and_the gallant little button boy of Kimbaloo .

" hurry back ! " called the king, waving his silver shears anxiously at snip ." I_need you ! "

" hurry back," called Pajuka, blinking his eyes to_keep from crying, "I'll miss you ! "

" i_will ! " promised snip, nearly crying himself ." i_will ! " the last thing the little button boy saw was_the prime minister diving fully dressed into_the pond .Pajuka had again forgotten he_was no longer a goose .

* * *

if_you_could peek into_the emerald city this very minute you_would see that a splendid tailoring shop has_been set up next to_the palace-a splendid shop, where the retired king and snip work happily for part of_the day and hold court for_the rest . and wherever you find the royal tailor you'll be pretty sure to_see his cheerful double .

the end

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