Oz 07: The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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said the Scarecrow, regarding the woozy with much wonder, for he had never seen such a queer animal before .

" the sawhorse is_the favorite steed of princess Ozma, the ruler of_the land of Oz, and he lives in a stable decorated with pearls and emeralds, at_the rear of_the royal palace . he_is swift as_the wind, untiring, and_is kind to_his friends . all the people of Oz respect the sawhorse highly, and when I visit Ozma she sometimes allows me to ride him-- as I_am doing to- day . now you_know what an important personage the sawhorse is, and if some one-- perhaps yourself-- will tell me your_name, your rank and station, and your history, it_will give_me pleasure to relate them to_the sawhorse . this_will lead to mutual respect and friendship ."

the woozy was somewhat abashed by_this speech and did_not know how to reply . but Ojo said:

" this square beast is called the woozy, and he isn't of much importance except that he has three hairs growing on_the tip of_his tail ."

the Scarecrow looked and saw that_this was true .

" but," said he, in a puzzled way, " what makes those three hairs important ? the shaggy man has thousands of hairs, but no one has ever accused him of being important ."

so Ojo related the sad story of Unc Nunkie's transformation into a marble statue, and told how he had set out to_find the things the crooked magician wanted, in_order to_make a charm that_would restore his uncle to life . one_of_the requirements was three hairs from a woozy's tail, but not being able to pull out the hairs they had_been obliged to take_the woozy with_them .

the Scarecrow looked grave as he listened and he shook his head several_times, as_if in disapproval .

" we_must see Ozma about this_matter," he_said ." that crooked magician is breaking the law by practicing magic without a license, and I'm not sure Ozma will allow him to restore your uncle to life ."

" already I_have warned the boy of_that," declared the shaggy man .

at_this Ojo began to cry ." i_want my Unc Nunkie ! " he exclaimed ." I_know how he_can_be restored to life, and I'm going to_do_it--Ozma or no Ozma ! what right has_this girl ruler to_keep my Unc Nunkie a statue forever ? "

"Don't worry about_that just now," advised the Scarecrow ." go on to_the emerald city, and when_you reach it have the shaggy man take you to_see Dorothy . tell her your story and I'm sure she will help_you . Dorothy is Ozma's best friend, and if_you_can win her to your side your uncle is pretty safe to live again ." then he turned to_the woozy and said: "I'm afraid you_are_not important enough to_be introduced to_the sawhorse, after all ."

"I'm a better beast than he_is," retorted the woozy, indignantly ." my eyes can flash fire, and_his can't ."

" is_this true ? " inquired the Scarecrow, turning to_the Munchkin boy .

" yes," said Ojo, and told how the woozy had set fire to_the fence .

" have_you any_other accomplishments ? " asked the Scarecrow .

" I_have a most terrible growl-- that_is, sometimes," said the woozy, as Scraps laughed merrily and_the shaggy man smiled . but the patchwork girl's laugh made the Scarecrow forget all about_the woozy . he_said to her:

" what an admirable young lady you_are, and what jolly good company ! we_must_be better acquainted, for never before have I met a girl with_such exquisite coloring or such natural, artless manners ."

" no wonder they call you the wise Scarecrow," replied Scraps .

" when_you arrive at_the emerald city i_will_see you again," continued the Scarecrow ." just now I_am going to_call upon an old friend-- an ordinary young lady named Jinjur-- who has promised to repaint my left ear for_me . you_may_have noticed that_the paint on my left ear has peeled off and faded, which affects my hearing on_that side .Jinjur always fixes me up when I get weather- worn ."

" when do_you expect to return to_the emerald city ? " asked the shaggy man .

"I'll be there this evening, for I'm anxious to_have a long talk with miss Scraps . how is_it, sawhorse; are_you equal to a swift run ? "

" anything that suits you suits me," returned the wooden horse .

so the Scarecrow mounted to_the jeweled saddle and waved his hat, when_the sawhorse darted away so swiftly that_they were out of sight in an instant .

chapter Fourteen

Ojo Breaks the law

" what a queer man," remarked the Munchkin boy, when_the party had resumed its journey .

" and so nice and polite," added Scraps, bobbing her head ." i_think he is_the handsomest man I've seen since I_came to life ."

" handsome is as handsome does," quoted the shaggy man; " but we_must admit that no living scarecrow is handsomer . the chief merit of_my friend is_that he_is a great thinker, and in Oz it_is considered good policy to_follow his advice ."

"I didn't notice any brains in_his head," observed the glass Cat .

" you_can't see 'em work, but they're there, all right," declared the shaggy man ."I hadn't much confidence in_his brains myself, when first I_came to Oz, for a humbug wizard gave them to him; but i_was soon convinced that_the Scarecrow is really wise; and, unless his brains make him so, such wisdom is unaccountable ."

" is_the wizard of Oz a humbug ? " asked Ojo .

" not now . he_was once, but he has reformed and now assists Glinda the good, who is_the royal sorceress of Oz and_the only_one licensed to practice magic or sorcery .Glinda has taught our old wizard a good_many clever things, so he_is no longer a humbug ."

they walked a little while in silence and then Ojo said:

" if Ozma forbids the crooked magician to restore Unc Nunkie to life, what shall I_do ? "

the shaggy man shook his head .

" in_that case you_can't do anything," he_said ." but don't be discouraged yet . we_will go to princess Dorothy and tell her your troubles, and then we_will let her talk to Ozma . Dorothy has_the kindest little heart in_the_world, and she has_been through so_many troubles herself that she_is sure to sympathize with_you ."

" is Dorothy the little girl who came here from Kansas ? " asked the boy .

" yes . in Kansas she was Dorothy gale .I used to_know her there, and she brought me to_the land of Oz . but now Ozma has_made her a princess, and Dorothy's aunt Em and uncle Henry are here, too ." here the shaggy man uttered a long sigh, and then he continued: " it's a queer country, this land of Oz; but I like it, nevertheless ."

" what_is queer about_it ? " asked Scraps .

" you, for instance," said he .

" did you_see no girls as beautiful as I_am in your own country ? " she inquired .

" none with_the same gorgeous, variegated beauty," he confessed ." in America a girl stuffed with cotton wouldn't be alive, nor would anyone think of making a girl out of a patchwork quilt ."

" what a queer country America must_be ! " she exclaimed in great surprise ." the Scarecrow, whom you say is wise, told me I_am the most beautiful creature he has ever seen ."

" I_know; and perhaps you_are-- from ascarecrow point of view," replied the shaggy man; but why he smiled as he_said it Scraps could_not imagine .

as_they drew nearer to_the emerald city the travelers were filled with admiration for_the splendid scenery they beheld . handsome houses stood on both sides of_the road and each had a green lawn before it as_well as a pretty flower garden .

" in another hour," said the shaggy man, " we_shall come in sight of_the walls of_the royal city ."

he_was walking ahead, with Scraps, and behind them came the woozy and_the glass Cat .Ojo had lagged behind, for in_spite of_the warnings he had received the boy's eyes were fastened on_the clover that bordered the road of yellow bricks and he_was eager to discover if such a thing as asix-leaved clover really existed .

suddenly he stopped short and bent over to examine the ground more closely . yes; here at last was a clover with six spreading leaves . he counted them carefully, to_make sure . in an instant his heart leaped with joy, for_this was one_of_the important things he had come for-- one_of_the things that_would restore dear Unc Nunkie to life .

he glanced ahead and saw that none of_his companions was looking back . neither were any_other people about, for it_was midway between two houses . the temptation was too strong to_be resisted .

" I_might search for weeks and weeks, and never find another six-leaved clover," he_told himself, and quickly plucking the stem from_the plant he placed the prized clover in_his basket, covering it with_the other things he carried there . then, trying to look as_if nothing had happened, he hurried forward and overtook his comrades .

the emerald city, which_is the most splendid as_well as_the most beautiful city in any fairyland, is surrounded by a high, thick wall of green marble, polished smooth and set with glistening emeralds . there_are four gates, one facing the Munchkin country, one facing the country of_the Winkies, one facing the country of_the Quadlings and one facing the country of_the Gillikins . the emerald city lies directly in_the center of_these four important countries of Oz . the gates had bars of pure gold, and on either side of each gateway were built high towers, from_which floated gay banners . other towers were set at distances along the walls, which were broad enough for four people to walk abreast upon .

this enclosure, all green and gold and glittering with precious gems, was indeed a wonderful sight to greet our travelers, who first observed it from_the top of a little hill; but beyond the wall was_the vast city it surrounded, and hundreds of jeweled spires, domes and minarets, flaunting flags and banners, reared their crests far above the towers of_the gateways . in_the center of_the city our friends could_see the tops of many magnificent trees, some nearly as tall as_the spires of_the buildings, and_the shaggy man told them that_these trees were in_the royal gardens of princess Ozma .

they stood a long_time on_the hilltop, feasting their eyes on_the splendor of_the emerald city .

"Whee ! " exclaimed Scraps, clasping her padded hands in ecstacy, " that'll do for_me to live in, all right . no more of_the Munchkin country for_these patches-- and no more of_the crooked magician ! "

" why, you belong to Dr .Pipt," replied Ojo, looking at her in amazement ." you were made for a servant, Scraps, so you_are personal property and not your own mistress ."

" bother Dr .Pipt ! if he_wants me, let him come here and get me .I'll not go back to_his den of_my own accord; that's certain . only_one place in_the land of Oz is fit to live in, and_that's the emerald city . it's lovely ! it's almost as beautiful as I_am, Ojo ."

" in_this country," remarked the shaggy man, " people live wherever our ruler tells them to . it wouldn't do to_have everyone live in_the emerald city, you_know, for some must plow the land and raise grains and fruits and vegetables, while others chop wood in_the forests, or fish in_the rivers, or herd the sheep and_the cattle ."

" poor things ! " said Scraps .

"I'm not sure they_are_not happier than_the city people," replied the shaggy man ." there's a freedom and independence in country life that not even the emerald city can give one . I_know that lots of_the city people would like to_get back to_the land . the Scarecrow lives in_the country, and so do_the tin woodman and jack Pumpkinhead; yet all three would_be welcome to live in Ozma's palace if_they cared to . too_much splendor becomes tiresome, you_know . but, if_we're to reach the emerald city before sundown, we_must hurry, for_it is yet a long way off ."

the entrancing sight of_the city had put new energy into them all and_they hurried forward with lighter steps than before . there_was much to interest them along the roadway, for_the houses were now set more closely together and_they met a good_many people who were coming or going from one place or another . all these seemed happy- faced, pleasant people, who nodded graciously to_the strangers as_they passed, and exchanged words of greeting .

at last they reached the great gateway, just as_the sun was setting and adding its red glow to_the glitter of_the emeralds on_the green walls and spires . somewhere inside the city a band could_be heard playing sweet music; a soft, subdued hum, as of many voices, reached their ears; from_the neighboring yards came the low mooing of cows waiting to_be milked .

they were almost at_the gate when_the golden bars slid back and a tall soldier stepped out and faced them .Ojo thought he had never seen so tall a man before . the soldier wore a handsome green and gold uniform, with a tall hat in which_was awaving plume, and he had a belt thickly encrusted with jewels . but the most peculiar thing about him was his long green beard, which fell far below his waist and perhaps made him seem taller than he really was .

" halt ! " said the soldier with_the green Whiskers, not in a stern voice but rather in a friendly tone .

they halted before he spoke and stood looking at him .

" good evening, colonel," said the shaggy man ." what's the news since I left ? anything important ? "

"Billina has hatched out thirteen new chickens," replied the soldier with_the green Whiskers, " and_they're the cutest little fluffy yellow balls you ever saw . the yellow Hen is mighty proud of_those children, I_can tell you ."

" she has a right to_be," agreed the shaggy man ." let me see; that's about seven thousand chicks she has hatched out; isn't it, general ? "

" that, at_least," was_the reply ." you_will_have to visit Billina and congratulate her ."

" it_will give_me pleasure

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