Oz 07: The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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for another just as shaggy but not so dusty from travel . he selected a costume of pea- green and pink satin and velvet, with embroidered shags on all the edges and iridescent pearls for ornaments . then he bathed in an alabaster pool and brushed his shaggy hair and whiskers the wrong way to_make them still more shaggy . this accomplished, and arrayed in_his splendid shaggy garments, he went to Ozma's banquet hall and found the Scarecrow, the wizard and Dorothy already assembled there . the Scarecrow had made a quick trip and returned to_the emerald city with_his left ear freshly painted .

a moment later, while they all stood in waiting, a servant threw open a door, the orchestra struck up a tune and Ozma of Oz entered .

much has_been told and written concerning the beauty of person and character of_this sweet girl ruler of_the land of Oz-- the richest, the happiest and most delightful fairyland of_which we_have any knowledge . yet with all her queenly qualities Ozma was a real girl and enjoyed the things in life that other real girls enjoy . when she sat on her splendid emerald throne in_the great throne room of her palace and made laws and settled disputes and tried to_keep all her subjects happy and contented, she was as dignified and demure as any queen might_be; but when she had thrown aside her jeweled robe of state and her sceptre, and had retired to her private apartments, the girl-- joyous, light-hearted and free-- replaced the sedate ruler .

in_the banquet hall to- night were gathered only old and trusted friends, so here Ozma was herself--a mere girl . she greeted Dorothy with a kiss, the shaggy man with a smile, the little old wizard with a friendly handshake and then she pressed the Scarecrow's stuffed arm and cried merrily:

" what a lovely left ear ! why, it's a hundred times better than_the old one ."

"I'm glad you like it," replied the Scarecrow, well pleased ."Jinjur did a neat job, didn't she ? and my hearing is now perfect .Isn't it wonderful what a little paint will do, if_it's properly applied ? "

" it really is wonderful," she agreed, as_they all took their seats; " but the sawhorse must_have made his legs twinkle to_have carried you so_far in one day .I didn't expect you back before to- morrow, at_the earliest ."

" well," said the Scarecrow, "I met acharming girl on_the road and wanted to_see more of her, so I hurried back ."

Ozma laughed .

" I_know," she returned; " it's the patchwork girl . she_is certainly bewildering, if_not strictly beautiful ."

" have_you seen her, then ? " the straw man eagerly asked .

" only in my magic picture, which shows me all scenes of interest in_the land of Oz ."

" I_fear the picture didn't do her justice," said the Scarecrow .

" it seemed to_me that nothing could_be more gorgeous," declared Ozma ." whoever made that patchwork quilt, from_which Scraps was formed, must_have selected the gayest and brightest bits of cloth that ever were woven ."

" I_am_glad you like her," said the Scarecrow in a satisfied tone . although the straw man did_not eat, not being made so he_could, he often dined with Ozma and her companions, merely for_the pleasure of talking with_them . he sat at_the table and had a napkin and plate, but the servants knew better than to offer him food . after a little while he asked: " where is_the patchwork girl now ? "

" in my room," replied Dorothy ."I've taken a fancy to her; she's so queer and-- and-- uncommon ."

" she's half crazy, i_think," added the shaggy man .

" but she_is so beautiful ! " exclaimed the Scarecrow, as if_that fact disarmed all criticism . they all laughed at his enthusiasm, but the Scarecrow was quite serious .Seeing that he_was interested in Scraps they forbore to_say anything against her . the little band of friends Ozma had gathered around her was so quaintly assorted that much care must_be exercised to avoid hurting their feelings or making any_one_of_them unhappy . it was_this considerate kindness that held them close friends and enabled them to enjoy one another's society .

another thing they avoided was conversing on unpleasant subjects, and for_that reason Ojo and_his troubles were_not mentioned during the dinner . the shaggy man, however, related his adventures with_the monstrous plants which had seized and enfolded the travelers, and told how he had robbed Chiss, the giant porcupine, of_the quills which it_was accustomed to throw at people . both Dorothy and Ozma were pleased with_this exploit and thought it served Chiss right .

then they talked of_the woozy, which_was the most remarkable animal any of_them had ever before seen-- except, perhaps, the live sawhorse .Ozma had never known that her dominions contained such a thing as a woozy, there being but one in existence and this being confined in_his forest for many years . Dorothy said she believed the woozy was a good beast, honest and faithful; but she added that she did_not care much for_the glass Cat .

" still," said the shaggy man, " the glass Cat is very pretty and if she were_not so conceited over her pink brains no one would object to her as a companion ."

the wizard had_been eating silently until now, when he looked up and remarked:

" that powder of life which_is made by_the crooked magician is really a wonderful thing . but Dr .Pipt does_not know its true value and he uses it in_the most foolish ways ."

" I_must see about_that," said Ozma, gravely . then she smiled again and continued in a lighter tone: " it_was Dr .Pipt's famous powder of life that enabled me to_become the ruler of Oz ."

"I've never heard that story," said the shaggy man, looking at Ozma questioningly .

" well, when i_was a baby girl i_was stolen by an old witch named Mombi and transformed into a boy," began the girl ruler ." I_did_not know who i_was and when I grew big enough to work, the witch made me wait upon her and carry wood for_the fire and hoe in_the garden . one day she came back from a journey bringing some_of_the powder of life, which Dr .Pipt had given her .I had made a pumpkin- headed man and set it up in her path to frighten her, for i_was fond of fun and hated the witch . but she knew what the figure was and to test her powder of life she sprinkled some of it on_the man I had made . it came to life and_is now our dear friend jack Pumpkinhead . that night I ran away with jack to escape punishment, and i_took old Mombi's powder of life with me . during our journey we came upon a wooden sawhorse standing by_the road and I used the magic powder to bring it to life . the sawhorse has_been with me ever_since . when I got to_the emerald city the good sorceress, Glinda, knew who i_was and restored me to my proper person, when I became the rightful ruler of_this land . so you_see had_not old Mombi brought home the powder of life I_might never have run away from her and become Ozma of Oz, nor would we_have_had jack Pumpkinhead and_the sawhorse to comfort and amuse us ."

that story interested the shaggy man very_much, as_well as_the others, who had often heard it before . the dinner being now concluded, they all went to Ozma's drawing- room, where they passed a pleasant evening before it came time to retire .

chapter Eighteen

Ojo is forgiven

the next morning the soldier with_the green Whiskers went to_the prison and took Ojo away to_the royal palace, where he_was summoned to appear before_the girl ruler for judgment . again the soldier put upon_the boy the jeweled handcuffs and white prisoner's robe with_the peaked top and holes for_the eyes .Ojo was so ashamed, both of_his disgrace and_the fault he had committed, that he_was glad to_be covered up in_this_way, so_that people could_not_see him or know who he_was . he followed the soldier with_the green Whiskers very willingly, anxious that his fate might_be decided as_soon_as_possible .

the inhabitants of_the emerald city were polite people and never jeered at_the unfortunate; but it_was so_long since they had seen a prisoner that_they cast many curious looks toward the boy and many_of_them hurried away to_the royal palace to_be present during the trial .

when Ojo was escorted into_the great throne room of_the palace he_found hundreds of people assembled there . in_the magnificent emerald throne, which sparkled with countless jewels, sat Ozma of Oz in her robe of state, which_was embroidered with emeralds and pearls . on her right, but a little lower, was Dorothy, and on her left the Scarecrow . still lower, but nearly in front of Ozma, sat the wonderful wizard of Oz and on a small table beside him was_the golden vase from Dorothy's room, into which Scraps had dropped the stolen clover .

at Ozma's feet crouched two enormous beasts, each the largest and most powerful of_its kind . although these beasts were quite free, no one present was alarmed by_them; for_the cowardly lion and_the hungry tiger were well known and respected in_the emerald city and_they always guarded the ruler when she held high court in_the throne room . there_was still another beast present, but this_one Dorothy held in her arms, for it_was her constant companion, the little dog Toto .Toto knew the cowardly lion and_the hungry tiger and often played and romped with_them, for they were good friends .

seated on ivory chairs before Ozma, with a clear space between_them and_the throne, were many_of_the nobility of_the emerald city, lords and ladies in beautiful costumes, and officials of_the kingdom in_the royal uniforms of Oz . behind these courtiers were others of less importance, filling the great hall to_the very doors .

at_the same moment that_the soldier with_the green Whiskers arrived with Ojo, the shaggy man entered from a side door, escorting the patchwork girl, the woozy and_the glass Cat . all these came to_the vacant space before_the throne and stood facing the ruler .

"Hullo, Ojo," said Scraps; " how are_you ? "

" all right," he replied; but the scene awed the boy and_his voice trembled a little with fear . nothing could awe the patchwork girl, and although the woozy was somewhat uneasy in_these splendid surroundings the glass Cat was delighted with_the sumptuousness of_the court and_the impressiveness of_the occasion-- pretty big words but quite expressive .

at a sign from Ozma the soldier removed Ojo's white robe and_the boy stood face_to_face with_the girl who was to decide his punishment . he_saw at a glance how lovely and sweet she was, and_his heart gave a bound of joy, for he hoped she_would be merciful .

Ozma sat looking at_the prisoner a long_time . then she said gently:

" one_of_the Laws of Oz forbids anyone to pick asix-leaved clover . you_are accused of having broken this law, even after you had_been warned not to_do_so ."

Ojo hung his head and while he hesitated how to reply the patchwork girl stepped forward and spoke for him .

" all this fuss is about nothing at all," she said, facing Ozma unabashed ." you_can't prove he picked the six-leaved clover, so you've no right to accuse him of it . search him, if_you like, but you won't find the clover; look in_his basket and you'll find it's not there . he hasn't got it, so I demand that you set this poor Munchkin boy free ."

the people of Oz listened to_this Defiance in amazement and wondered at_the queer patchwork girl who dared talk so boldly to_their ruler . but Ozma sat silent and motionless and it was_the little wizard who answered Scraps .

" so the clover hasn't been picked, eh ? " he_said ." i_think it has . i_think the boy hid it in_his basket, and then gave the basket to_you .I also think you dropped the clover into_this vase, which stood in princess Dorothy's room, hoping to_get rid of it so it would_not prove the boy guilty . you're a stranger here, miss Patches, and so you don't know that nothing can_be hidden from_our powerful ruler's magic picture-- nor from_the watchful eyes of_the humble wizard of Oz . look, all of you ! " with_these words he waved his hands toward the vase on_the table, which Scraps now noticed for_the first time .

from_the mouth of_the vase a plant sprouted, slowly growing before their eyes until it became a beautiful bush, and on_the topmost branch appeared the six-leaved clover which Ojo had unfortunately picked .

the patchwork girl looked at_the clover and said: "Oh, so you've found it . very_well; prove he picked it, if_you_can ."

Ozma turned to Ojo .

" did you pick the six-leaved clover ? " she asked .

" yes," he replied ." I_knew it_was against the law, but i_wanted to save Unc Nunkie and i_was afraid if I asked your consent to pick it you_would refuse me ."

" what caused you to_think that ? " asked the ruler .

" why, it seemed to_me a foolish law, unjust and unreasonable . even now I_can_see no harm in picking asix-leaved clover . and I--I had_not seen the emerald city, then, nor you, and i_thought a girl who_would make such a silly law would_not_be likely to help anyone in trouble ."

Ozma regarded him musingly, her chin resting upon her hand; but she was not angry . on_the contrary she smiled a little at her thoughts and then grew sober again .

"I suppose a good_many laws

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