Oz 19: The Lost King of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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the lost king of Oz

by ruth Plumly Thompson

list of Chapters
1 in jolly Kimbaloo
2 snip's great adventure
3 king Kinda jolly is sad
4 in_the purple forest
5 the Rolling Hoopers
6 in Catty Corners
7 the magic Pudding
8 the mysterious message
9 in_the castle of morrow
10 Dorothy and_the dummy
11 ARealOzAdventure
12 the playful Scooters
13 snip Meets the Blanks
14 the old tailor's story
15 Kabumpo to_the rescue
16 Humpy hailed as king
17 Mombi's magic
18 Ozma's odd home-Coming
19 the wizard Takes a hand
20 the lost king is found
21 the grand procession

chapter 1

in jolly Kimbabo

the king of KIMBALOO was kind'a jolly, and Kinda jolly was_the king of Kimbaloo . and no wonder he_was kind'a jolly ! he had made a great fortune in buttons, and had one_of_the coziest castles in Oz . it_was set in_the very center of a thick button wood in_the Gilliken country, and had more chimneys and windows than any dozen castles I_can think of .

the castle owed much of_its coziness to Rosa merry, the quaint little queen of Kimbaloo, who kept it spick and spandy and simply blooming with flowers . this she_could easily do, for in_the castle garden grew a simply enormous bouquet bush, where old and new fashioned bouquets blossomed in bewildering profusion . there were violets and rosebuds edged with lace paper, lovely red roses tied with satin bows, daisies and daffodils, pinks and larkspur, and every_other sort of delightful nosegay you_could ever imagine . no matter how_many were gathered, others immediately blossomed, so_that Rosa merry had made almost as_much of a fortune in bouquets as Kinda had in buttons, and could_have jelly- roll every lunch- time if she cared to .

there were some who thought the castle, built as it_was of dark purple button wood, studded with rows and rows of bright buttons; extremely odd, but it suited Kinda jolly and Rosa merry right down to_the cellar and_the five hundred inhabitants of Kimbaloo thought it extremely magnificent . no_doubt they were right . however that_may_be, anyone who had seen Kinda jolly and Rosa merry walking in_the gardens on pleasant summer evenings would_have had to admit they were the most lovable little couple in_the land .Kinda was short and fat and Rosa was short and merry . they both dressed in_the purple costumes of_the Gillikens, but their robes were trimmed all over with buttons that chinked delightfully when_they walked and almost dazzled one by_the brilliance of_their colors .

king Kinda's crown was_made of silver buttons to match his whiskers and Rosa's was of gold to match her curls . both had cheerful dispositions to match their crowns, so_that life in Kimbaloo was cheerful for everyone . the Kimbles themselves lived in tiny cottages scattered about under the trees, and as_they were all girls and boys, they were all happy and light hearted as birds in_the button wood . half of_them worked for_the king and half for_the queen . yes, every morning, the two hundred and fifty merry little maids would run into_the castle garden, where Rosa merry would fill their arms with bouquets from_the bouquet bush . then away down the queen's highway, that led through_the wood into_the Winkie country, they_would hurry- and so charming and quaint were the queen's little flower girls no one could help buying their posies . so by noon time they_would come back with empty arms and heavy pockets and nothing to_do for_the rest of_the day but swing in_the hammocks or dance in_the gardens .

the boys' work was almost as delightful . every morning they_would scamper into_the button wood with Kinda jolly and shake down a good crop of buttons . then each button boy would fill his button box with a gay assortment and set off down the king's highway to_sell them to_the good dames in_the Gilliken country . there_are no stores in Oz, so they never had any trouble in disposing of_their wares, especially the collar buttons . the men of_the Gilliken country are as good at losing collar buttons as men in your own town, so by noon time the button boxes would_be full of coins and button boys would come racing back to_the castle with nothing more to_do for_the rest of_the day but play quoits or " button- button- who's- got- the- button ? "

altogether, life in Kimbabo was as jolly as possible . indeed, there_was so_much laughing to_be_done that king Kinda had a town Laugher to help out on particularly funny days and to_keep him from busting all the buttons from_his purple vest . yes sir, everybody in Kimbaloo was laughing and happy-excepting one and_that person was_the king's cook .Mombi never laughed at all, and how she came to_be cook i_will tell you at once . she was not a native of Kimbabo and, though no one in_the kingdom knew it, Mombi was really an old Gilliken witch . long_ago, for her wicked transformations, she had_been deprived of her magic powers by Glinda, the good sorceress, and given enough to live on honestly and comfortably .

but after you_have_been a witch all of your life, it_is dreadfully hard to settle down to being just an ugly old woman .Mombi had stood it as long as she_could, and then one day she had closed up her little hut at_the foot of_the Gilliken mountains, taken her crooked stick, and set out to seek a position as cook in one_of_the castles of Oz- for she felt that only among a great_many kettles and cauldrons could she ever be contented or at home . besides being cross and crooked, Mombi was so ugly and ill- tempered that most of_the castle doors were slammed in her face, but one day she had come to Kimbaloo .Hobbling through_the button wood she found king Kinda jolly under a shoe button tree .Falling upon her knees Mombi begged him so hard to let her remain as cook that_the gentle old monarch finally consented, though much against the advice of Hah Hoh, the town Laugher . but Kinda, thinking her a poor and needy old woman, had kept her nevertheless, and as Mombi, like many another old witch, was an excellent cook, he had never regretted his bargain . in_spite of her wonderful cooking no one had ever grown really fond of her, but she was treated with consideration and respect and allowed to_do pretty much as she pleased in_the castle kitchen .

so while everyone else in_the kingdom was being useful and happy, Mombi went muttering and sputtering about among_the pots and kettles and every_minute when she was not cooking she was trying to remember her magic formulas, mixing pepper with onions, onions with cinders, and cinders with suspender buttons . but stir as she_would, nothing ever came of it, for Mombi had forgotten every witch word she had ever known . she knew a good many_other words, however, and said very nearly all of_them when her magic failed to work, flinging her stick into_the air and hopping up and down with rage and disappointment . but as she never allowed anyone in_the kitchen but herself, there_was no one to witness her shocking behavior, until snip, one_of_the king's button boys, climbing through_the window one afternoon to steal acooky, caught her right in_the midst of a frightful incantation .

" salt- vinegar- mustard- mutton !

the king shall be a collar button ! "

that was what snip heard Mombi mumble, bending over a peppery mixture on_the fire . so dreadful was her expression as she scowled into_the frying pan that snip tumbled from_the window sill into a rose bush .Picking himself up, he rushed down the garden path convinced that_the king was_done for . but there_was Kinda jolly, with_his silver crown, walking calmly under the button trees . snip looked again to_be_sure Kinda was not turning to a collar button and then, a little ashamed of being so easily frightened, he crept back to_the ledge to_see what Mombi would do next . he_was just in_time to_see her fling the frying pan down the cellar steps and kick over a basket of potatoes . then, grumbling and snarling and rubbing her shins, she limped into_the garden to fetch the goose Kinda jolly had bought for dinner- for magic or no magic the cooking had to_be attended to . the goose had come straight from aneighboring farm and was still in_the flimsy wooden crate .Scowling and scolding, Mombi slammed the crate on_the table and ripped off the top slats .

as_soon_as_the slats were removed, the goose thrust its head out_of_the crate and peered about_the kitchen . as he looked at_the big white bird, snip had afeeling that there_was something human about him . the old witch-cook made a grab at_the bobbing white head .

" help ! " squawked the luckless bird, as Mombi seized it roughly by_the feathers . then, catching a really good look at Mombi, it reared up its neck till its eyes were on a level with her own ." you ! " cried the goose, so shrilly that snip's hair rose up and waved to and fro under his stiff little hat . he_was not surprised to hear the goose talk, for all beasts and birds in_the land of Oz converse, but its next words were so strange and mysterious the little button boy nearly lost his balance again .

" woman ! " hissed the goose, thrusting its bill under Mombi's long nose, " woman, what have_you done with_the king ? "

chapter 2

snip's great adventure

the king ! poor snip, crouched uncomfortably on_the narrow sill, trembled with terror, for this_time he_was sure Mombi's incantation had taken effect and had turned king Kinda to a collar button .Mombi herself seemed as astonished as he .Dropping her hands at her sides, she peered sharply at_the great white goose .

" well ! " wheezed the old witch, blinking her eyes rapidly, " well, if_it isn't Pajuka, and simple as ever he_was ! "

" whose fault is_that ? " complained the goose bitterly ." who took away my elegant figure and gave_me this ridiculous shape ? "

" you always were a goose," sniffed Mombi ." all you needed was a bill and feathers . you're one_of_the_best transformations I ever did," she added proudly ." what_are you fussing about anyway ? "

" would you like to_be a goose ? " asked the bird indignantly ." i_should think you'd be ashamed of yourself, you old Scundermutch ! "

"I don't care a waffle what you_think," retorted Mombi, " but if_you care to_think anything more, be quick about_it, for your time has_come ."

" time ? " puffed the goose ." what time ? "

" dinner time," said Moinbi unfeelingly ." you_are tired of being a goose . well then, you shall be a dinner and I trust you_will pan out well ! "

" dinner ! " screamed the goose, fluttering all of_his feathers ." you wouldn't dare serve me for dinner .I'm a prime minister and you_know it ."

" prime goose, you mean," snickered Mombi, reaching behind the table for_the ax .

now all this, as_you_may well imagine, was frightfully interesting to snip .Raising himself on_his elbow he_saw the two glaring furiously at one another .

"Don't sass me woman ! " hissed Pajuka, flapping his wings .

"I'll apple sass you," sneered Momhi ." the sooner you_are roasted the better . you_know far too_much ." she made a snatch at_the goose, but Pajuka, with a quick flounce, freed himself from_the crate and soared into_the air .

" help ! help ! this woman is a witch," he honked loudly ." help . help ! "

" hush ! " raged the old woman, dropping the ax and running to slam the door ." do_you_want to rouse the castle ? " it_was her turn to_be alarmed now, for in Kimbabo Mombi enjoyed more privileges than she_would anywhere else, and she was not anxious to_have it known that she was a witch and so be turned out_of_the kingdom ." be quiet I tell you," she wheezed angrily ." what_are you making such a racket about ? "

"Mombi a witch ! " snip could hardly believe his ears, but frightened as he_was he_could_not help chuckling ." who wouldn't make a fuss at roasting," thought snip, peering around the edge of_the sill to_see what Pajuka would do . the goose had settled on a cupboard high above Mombi's head .

" very_well," he breathed heavily ." i_will_be quiet, but now you_will listen to_me .I demand that you instantly restore my proper shape or-" he_gave a loud squawk that made Mombi leap a foot into_the air .

" how can I ? how can I ? " chattered the witch, wringing her hands ."I've forgotten all my witchcraft . do_you suppose I'd be here as acook if I had my magic powers, you ridiculous old bird ! " snip could_see Pajuka's eyes grow round as buttons at_this dismal news .

" what ? " wailed the unhappy goose ." must I continue forever to lead this simple life ? must I associate with ducks and farmers to_the end of_my days ? "

" you ought_to_be glad you're alive at all," mumbled Mombi uncomfortably . these words had astartling effect on Pajuka .

"Ah ! " groaned the goose remorsefully ." here I've been thinking of myself when it_is_the king who matters ." and stretching his long neck he repeated the question that had so alarmed snip in_the first place ." woman ! " rasped Pajuka hoarsely, " woman, what have_you done with_the king ? "

" not so loud," begged Mombi, raising her stick and glancing uneasily over her shoulder, as_if she half suspected someone were listening . then, seeing Pajuka was going to honk again, she added defiantly, "I don't remember what I_did with_him ! "

now snip, who loved king Kinda jolly with all his heart, was stunned at_this dreadful news . undecided whether to run for help or stay and listen, he finally decided to stay and crept close to_the inner edge of_the sill .

Pajuka seemed stunned too ." how frightful," choked the goose dolefully, " how careless of you to mislay the king . how dare you forget ? "

" well, there's no use quarreling about_it," grumbled Mombi ." who cares anyway ? Ozma is queen now and nobody even remembers there_was a king of Oz ! "

" of Oz ! " snip, between relief at finding nothing had happened to king Kinda jolly and shock at_the old witch's words, lost his hold on_the window bars and fell straight into Mombi's arms .

"A spy ! " shrieked Mombi, beginning to shake

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