Oz 02: The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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not a girl ! "

Glinda smiled, and going to tip she took his small brown hand within her dainty white one .

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MOMBI pointed her long, bony finger at_the boy

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" you_are_not a girl just now" said she, gently, " because Mombi transformed you into a boy . but you were born a girl, and also a princess; so you_must resume your proper form, that you_may become queen of_the emerald city ."

"Oh, let Jinjur be the queen ! " exclaimed tip, ready to cry ." i_want to stay a boy, and travel with_the Scarecrow and_the tin woodman, and_the Woggle- bug, and jack -- yes ! and my friend the saw- horse -- and_the Gump ! I don't want to_be a girl ! "

" never mind, old chap," said the tin woodman, soothingly; " it don't hurt to_be a girl, I'm told; and we_will all remain your faithful friends just the same . and, to_be honest with_you, I've always considered girls nicer than boys ."

" they're just as nice, anyway," added the Scarecrow, patting tip affectionately upon_the head .

" and_they are equally good students," proclaimed the Woggle- bug ." i_should like to_become your tutor, when_you_are transformed into a girl again ."

" but -- see here ! " said jack Pumpkinhead, with a gasp: " if_you become a girl, you_can't be my dear father any more ! "

" no," answered tip, laughing in_spite of_his anxiety ." and I_shall_not_be sorry to escape the relationship ." then he added, hesitatingly, as he turned to

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Glinda: " I_might try it for awhile,- just to_see how it seems, you_know . but if I don't like being a girl you_must promise to_change me into a boy again ."

" really," said the sorceress, " that_is beyond my magic .I never deal in transformations, for they_are_not honest, and no respectable sorceress likes to_make things appear to_be what they_are_not . only unscrupulous witches use the art, and therefore I_must ask Mombi to effect your release from her charm, and restore you to your proper form . it_will_be the last opportunity she will_have to practice magic ."

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now that_the truth about princes Ozma had_been discovered, Mombi did_not care what became of tip; but she feared Glinda's anger, and_the boy generously promised to_provide for Mombi in her old age if he became the ruler of_the emerald city . so the witch consented to effect the transformation, and preparations for_the event were at once made .

Glinda ordered her own royal couch to_be placed in_the center of_the tent . it_was piled high with cushions covered with rose- colored silk, and from a golden railing above hung many folds of pink gossamer, completely concealing the interior of_the couch .

the first act of_the witch was to make_the boy drink a potion which quickly sent him into a deep and dreamless sleep . then the tin woodman and_the Woggle- bug bore him gently to_the couch, placed him upon_the soft cushions, and drew the gossamer hangings to shut him from all earthly view .

the witch squatted upon_the ground and kindled a tiny fire of dried herbs, which she drew from her bosom . when_the blaze shot up and burned clearly old Mombi scattered a handful of magical powder over the fire, which straightway gave off a rich violet vapor, filling all the tent with its fragrance and forcing the saw- horse to sneeze -- although he had_been warned to_keep quiet .

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MOMBI at her magical INCANTATIONS .

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then, while the others watched her curiously, the hag chanted a rhythmical verse in words which no one understood, and bent her lean body seven times back and forth over the fire . and now the incantation seemed complete, for_the witch stood upright and cried the one word "Yeowa ! " in a loud voice .

the vapor floated away; the atmosphere became, clear again; a whiff of fresh air filled the tent, and_the pink curtains of_the couch trembled slightly, as_if stirred from within .

Glinda walked to_the canopy and parted the silken hangings . then she bent over the cushions, reached out her hand, and from_the couch arose the form of a young girl, fresh and beautiful as a may morning . her eyes sparkled as two diamonds, and her lips were tinted like a tourmaline . all adown her back floated tresses of ruddy gold, with a slender jeweled circlet confining them at_the brow . her robes of silken gauze floated around her like a cloud, and dainty satin slippers shod her feet .

at_this exquisite vision tip's old comrades stared in wonder for_the space of a full minute, and then every head bent low in honest admiration of_the lovely princess Ozma . the girl herself cast one look into Glinda's bright face, which glowed with pleasure and satisfaction, and then turned upon_the

276 others .Speaking the words with sweet diffidence, she said:

" I_hope none of you_will care less for_me than you_did before .I'm just the same tip, you_know; only -- only -- "

" only you're different ! " said the Pumpkinhead; and everyone thought it was_the wisest speech he had ever made .

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278 the riches of content

when_the wonderful tidings reached the ears of queen Jinjur -- how Mombi the witch had_been captured; how she had confessed her crime to Glinda; and how the long- lost princess Ozma had_been discovered in no less a personage than_the boy tip -- she wept real tears of grief and despair .

" to_think," she moaned, " that after having ruled as queen, and lived in a palace, I_must go back to scrubbing floors and churning butter again ! it_is too horrible to_think of ! i_will never consent ! "

so when her soldiers, who spent most of_their time making fudge in_the palace kitchens, counseled Jinjur to resist, she listened to_their foolish prattle and sent a sharp Defiance to Glinda the good and_the princess Ozma . the result was a declaration of war, and_the very next_day Glinda marched upon_the emerald city with pennants flying and bands playing,

279 and a forest of shining spears, sparkling brightly beneath the sun's rays .

but when it came to_the walls this brave assembly made a sudden halt; for Jinjur had closed and barred every gateway, and_the walls of_the emerald city were builded high and thick with many blocks of green marble .Finding her advance thus baffled, Glinda bent her brows in deep thought, while the Woggle- bug said, in_his most positive tone:

" we_must lay siege to_the city, and starve it into submission . it_is the_only_thing we_can do ."

" not so," answered the Scarecrow ." we still have the Gump, and_the Gump can still fly"

the sorceress turned quickly at_this speech, and her face now wore a bright smile .

" you_are right," she exclaimed, " and certainly have reason to_be proud of your brains . let_us go to_the Gump at once ! "

so they passed through_the ranks of_the army until they came to_the place, near the Scarecrow's tent, where the Gump lay .Glinda and princess Ozma mounted first, and sat upon_the sofas . then the Scarecrow and_his friends climbed aboard, and still there_was room for a captain and three soldiers, which Glinda considered sufficient for a guard .

now, at a word from_the princess, the queer

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thing they had called the Gump flopped its palm- leaf wings and rose into_the air, carrying the party of adventurers high above the walls . they hovered over the palace, and soon perceived Jinjur reclining in a hammock in_the courtyard, where she was comfortably reading a novel with a green cover and eating green chocolates, confident that_the walls would protect her from her enemies .Obeying a quick command, the Gump alighted safely in_this very courtyard, and before Jinjur had time to_do more than scream, the captain and three soldiers

281 leaped out and made the former queen a prisoner, locking strong chains upon both her wrists .

that act really ended the war; for_the army of revolt submitted as_soon_as they knew Jinjur to_be a captive, and_the captain marched in safety through_the streets and up_to_the gates of_the city, which she threw wide open . then the bands played their most stirring music while Glinda's army marched into_the city, and heralds proclaimed the conquest of_the audacious Jinjur and_the accession of_the beautiful princess Ozma to_the throne of her royal ancestors .

at once the men of_the emerald city cast off their aprons . and it_is said that_the women were so tired eating of_their husbands' cooking that_they

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282 all hailed the conquest of Jinjur with joy . certain it is_that, rushing one and all to_the kitchens of_their houses, the good wives prepared so delicious a feast for_the weary men that harmony was immediately restored in every family .

Ozma's first act was to oblige the army of revolt to return to her every emerald or other gem stolen from_the public streets and buildings; and so great was_the number of precious stones picked from their settings by_these vain girls, that every_one_of_the royal jewelers worked steadily for more than a month to replace them in their settings .

meanwhile the army of revolt was disbanded and_the girls sent home to_their mothers . on promise of good behavior Jinjur was likewise released .

Ozma made the loveliest queen the emerald city had ever known; and, although she was so young and inexperienced, she ruled her people with wisdom and justice . for Glinda gave her good advice on all occasions; and_the Woggle- bug, who was appointed to_the important post of public educator, was quite helpful to Ozma when her royal duties grew perplexing .

the girl, in her gratitude to_the Gump for its services, offered the creature any reward it might name .

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" then," replied the Gump, " please take me to pieces . I_did_not wish to_be brought to life, and I_am greatly ashamed of_my conglomerate personality . once i_was a monarch of_the forest, as my antlers fully prove; but now, in my present upholstered condition of servitude, I_am compelled to fly through_the air -- my legs being of no use to_me whatever . therefore I beg to_be dispersed ."

so Ozma ordered the Gump taken apart . the antlered head was again hung over the mantle- piece in_the hall, and_the sofas were untied and placed in_the reception parlors . the broom tail resumed its accustomed duties in_the kitchen, and finally, the Scarecrow replaced all the clotheslines and ropes on_the pegs from_which he had taken them on_the eventful day when_the thing was constructed .

you_might think that was_the end of_the Gump; and so it_was, as aflying- machine . but the head over the mantle- piece continued to_talk whenever it took a notion to_do_so, and it frequently startled, with its abrupt questions, the people who waited in_the hall for an audience with_the queen .

the saw- horse, being Ozma's personal property, was tenderly cared for; and often she rode the queer creature along the streets of_the emerald city . she had its wooden legs shod with gold, to_keep them

284 from wearing out, and_the tinkle of_these golden shoes upon_the pavement always filled the queen's subjects with awe as_they thought upon_this evidence of her magical powers .

" the wonderful wizard was never so wonderful as queen Ozma," the people said to one another, in whispers; " for he claimed to_do many things he_could_not do; whereas our new queen does many things no one would ever expect her to accomplish ."

jack Pumpkinhead remained with Ozma to_the end of_his days; and he_did_not spoil as_soon_as he had feared, although he always remained as stupid as ever . the Woggle- bug tried to teach him several arts and sciences; but jack was so poor a student that any attempt to educate him was soon abandoned .

after Glinda's army had marched back home, and peace was restored to_the emerald city, the tin woodman announced his intention to return to_his own kingdom of_the Winkies .

" it isn't a very big kingdom," said he to Ozma, " but for_that very reason it_is easier to rule; and I_have called myself an emperor because I_am an absolute monarch, and no one interferes in any_way with my conduct of public or personal affairs . when I get home I_shall_have a new coat of nickel plate; for I_have become somewhat marred and scratched lately;

285 and then I_shall_be_glad to_have_you pay me a visit ."

" thank_you," replied Ozma ." some day I_may accept the invitation . but what_is to_become of_the Scarecrow ? "

" I_shall return with my friend the tin woodman," said the stuffed one, seriously ." we_have decided never to_be parted in_the_future ."

" and I_have_made the Scarecrow my royal treasurer," explained the tin woodman ." for_it has occurred to_me that_it_is a good thing to_have a royal treasurer who_is made of money . what do_you_think ? "

" i_think," said the little queen, smiling, " that your friend must_be the richest man in all the world ."

" I_am," returned the Scarecrow ." but not on account of_my money . for I consider brains far superior to money, in every way . you_may_have noticed that if one has money without brains, he_cannot use it to advantage; but if one has brains without money, they_will enable him to live comfortably to_the end of_his days ."

" at_the same time," declared the tin woodman, " you_must acknowledge that a good heart is a thing that brains can not create, and_that money can not buy . perhaps, after all, it_is I who am the richest man in all the world ."

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" you_are both rich, my friends," said Ozma, gently; " and your riches are the only riches worth having -- the riches of content ! "

the end

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