Oz 07: The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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the patchwork girl of OZ

by L . frank BAUM

affectionately dedicated to my young friend Sumner Hamilton Britton of Chicago

prologue

through_the kindness of Dorothy gale of Kansas, afterward princess Dorothy of Oz, an humble writer in_the United_States_of_America was once appointed royal historian of Oz, with_the privilege of writing the chronicle of_that wonderful fairyland . but after making six books about_the adventures of_those interesting but queer people who live in_the land of Oz, the historian learned with sorrow that by an edict of_the supreme ruler, Ozma of Oz, her country would thereafter be rendered invisible to all who lived outside its borders and_that all communication with Oz would, in_the_future, be cut off .

the children who had learned to look for_the books about Oz and who loved the stories about_the gay and happy people inhabiting that favored country, were as sorry as their historian that there would_be no more books of Oz stories . they wrote many letters asking if_the historian did_not know of some adventures to write about_that had happened before_the land of Oz was shut out from all the rest of_the world . but he_did_not know of any . finally one_of_the children inquired why we couldn't hear from princess Dorothy by wireless telegraph, which would enable her to communicate to_the historian whatever happened in_the far- off land of Oz without his seeing her, or even knowing just where Oz is .

that seemed a good idea; so the historian rigged up a high tower in_his back yard, and took lessons in wireless telegraphy until he understood it, and then began to_call " princess Dorothy of Oz" by sending messages into_the air .

now, it wasn't likely that Dorothy would_be looking for wireless messages or would heed the call; but one_thing the historian was sure of, and_that was_that the powerful sorceress, Glinda, would know what he_was doing and_that he desired to communicate with Dorothy . for Glinda has a big book in_which is recorded every event that takes place anywhere in_the_world, just the moment that_it happens, and so of_course the book would tell her about_the wireless message .

and_that was_the way Dorothy heard that_the historian wanted to_speak with her, and there_was a shaggy man in_the land of Oz who knew how to telegraph a wireless reply . the result was_that the historian begged so hard to_be told the latest news of Oz, so_that he_could write it down for_the children to read, that Dorothy asked permission of Ozma and Ozma graciously consented .

that_is why, after two long years of waiting, another Oz story is now presented to_the children of America . this would_not_have_been possible had_not some clever man invented the " wireless" and an equally clever child suggested the idea of reaching the mysterious land of Oz by its means .

L . frank Baum .

"OZCOT" at Hollywood in California

list of CHAPTERS
1 - Ojo and Unc Nunkie
2 - the crooked magician
3 - the patchwork girl
4 - the glass Cat
5 - a terrible accident
6 - the journey
7 - the troublesome phonograph
8 - the foolish owl and_the wise donkey
9 - they meet the woozy
10 - shaggy man to_the rescue
11 - a good friend
12 - the giant porcupine
13 - Scraps and_the Scarecrow
14 - Ojo Breaks the law
15 - Ozma's prisoner
16 - princess Dorothy
17 - Ozma and her friends
18 - Ojo is forgiven
19 - trouble with_the Tottenhots
20 - the captive Yoop
21 - Hip hopper the champion
22 - the Joking Horners
23 - peace is declared
24 - Ojo Finds the dark well
25 - they bribe the lazy Quadling
26 - the trick river
27 - the tin woodman Objects
28 - the wonderful wizard of Oz

the patchwork girl of Oz

chapter one

Ojo and Unc Nunkie

" where's the butter, Unc Nunkie ? " asked Ojo .

Unc looked out_of_the window and stroked his long beard . then he turned to_the Munchkin boy and shook his head .

"Isn't," said he .

"Isn't any butter ? that's too bad, Unc . where's the jam then ? " inquired Ojo, standing on a stool so he_could look through all the shelves of_the cupboard . but Unc Nunkie shook his head again .

" gone," he_said .

" no jam, either ? and no cake-- no jelly-- no apples-- nothing but bread ? "

" all," said Unc, again stroking his beard as he gazed from_the window .

the little boy brought the stool and sat beside his uncle, munching the dry bread slowly and seeming in deep thought .

" nothing grows in_our yard but the bread tree," he mused, " and there_are only two more loaves on_that tree; and_they're not ripe yet . tell me, Unc; why are we so poor ? "

the old Munchkin turned and looked at Ojo . he had kindly eyes, but he hadn't smiled or laughed in so_long that_the boy had forgotten that Unc Nunkie could look any_other way than solemn . and Unc never spoke any more words than he_was obliged to, so his little nephew, who lived alone with_him, had learned to understand a great deal from one word .

" why are we so poor, Unc ? " repeated the boy .

" not," said the old Munchkin .

" i_think we_are," declared Ojo ." what have we got ? "

" house," said Unc Nunkie .

" I_know; but everyone in_the land of Oz has a place to live . what else, Unc ? "

" bread ."

"I'm eating the last loaf that's ripe . there; I've put aside your share, Unc . it's on_the table, so you_can eat it when_you get hungry . but when_that is gone, what shall we eat, Unc ? "

the old man shifted in_his chair but merely shook his head .

" of_course," said Ojo, who was obliged to_talk because his uncle would_not, " no one starves in_the land of Oz, either . there_is plenty for everyone, you_know; only, if_it isn't just where you happen to_be, you_must go where it_is ."

the aged Munchkin wriggled again and stared at his small nephew as_if disturbed by his argument .

" by to- morrow morning," the boy went on, " we_must go where there_is something to eat, or we_shall grow very hungry and become very unhappy ."

" where ? " asked Unc .

" where shall we go ? I don't know, I'm sure," replied Ojo ." but you_must know, Unc . you_must_have traveled, in your time, because you're so old .I don't remember it, because ever_since I_could remember anything we've lived right here in_this lonesome, round house, with a little garden back of it and_the thick woods all around . all I've ever seen of_the great land of Oz, Unc dear, is_the view of_that mountain over at_the south, where they say the Hammerheads live-- who won't let anybody go by_them-- and_that mountain at_the north, where they say nobody lives ."

" one," declared Unc, correcting him .

"Oh, yes; one family lives there, I've heard . that's the crooked magician, who_is named Dr .Pipt, and_his wife Margolotte . one year you told me about_them; i_think it took you a whole year, Unc, to_say as_much as I've just said about_the crooked magician and_his wife . they live high up on_the mountain, and_the good Munchkin country, where the fruits and flowers grow, is just the other side . it's funny you and i_should live here all alone, in_the middle of_the forest, isn't it ? "

" yes," said Unc .

" then let's go away and visit the Munchkin country and its jolly, good-natured people .I'd love to_get a sight of something besides woods, Unc Nunkie ."

" too little," said Unc .

" why, I'm not so little as I used to_be," answered the boy earnestly ." i_think I_can walk as far and as fast through_the woods as_you_can, Unc . and now that nothing grows in_our back yard that_is good to eat, we_must go where there_is food ."

Unc Nunkie made no reply for a time . then he shut down the window and turned his chair to_face the room, for_the sun was sinking behind the tree-tops and it_was growing cool .

by and by Ojo lighted the fire and_the logs blazed freely in_the broad fireplace . the two sat in_the firelight a long_time-- the old, white- bearded Munchkin and_the little boy . both were thinking . when it grew quite dark outside, Ojo said:

" eat your bread, Unc, and then we_will go to bed ."

but Unc Nunkie did_not eat the bread; neither did he go directly to bed . long after his little nephew was sound asleep in_the corner of_the room the old man sat by_the fire, thinking .

chapter two

the crooked magician

just at dawn next morning Unc Nunkie laid his hand tenderly on Ojo's head and awakened him .

" come," he_said .

Ojo dressed . he wore blue silk stockings, blue knee pants with gold buckles, a blue ruffled waist and a jacket of bright blue braided with gold . his shoes were of blue leather and turned up at_the toes, which were pointed . his hat had a peaked crown and a flat brim, and around the brim was a row of tiny golden bells that tinkled when he moved . this_was the native costume of_those who inhabited the Munchkin country of_the land of Oz, so Unc Nunkie's dress was much like that of_his nephew . instead of shoes, the old man wore boots with turnover tops and_his blue coat had wide cuffs of gold braid .

the boy noticed that his uncle had_not eaten the bread, and supposed the old man had_not_been hungry .Ojo was hungry, though; so he divided the piece of bread upon_the table and ate his half for breakfast, washing it down with fresh, cool water from_the brook .Unc put the other piece of bread in_his jacket pocket, after which he again said, as he walked out through_the doorway: " come ."

Ojo was well pleased . he_was dreadfully tired of living all alone in_the woods and wanted to travel and_see people . for_a_long_time he had wished to explore the beautiful land of Oz in_which they lived . when_they were outside, Unc simply latched the door and started up the path . no one would disturb their little house, even if anyone came so_far into_the thick forest while they were gone .

at_the foot of_the mountain that separated the country of_the Munchkins from_the country of_the Gillikins, the path divided . one_way led to_the left and_the other to_the right-- straight up the mountain .Unc Nunkie took this right- hand path and Ojo followed without asking why . he_knew it would take them to_the house of_the crooked magician, whom he had never seen but who was their nearest neighbor .

all the morning they trudged up the mountain path and at noon Unc and Ojo sat on a fallen tree- trunk and ate the last of_the bread which the old Munchkin had placed in_his pocket . then they started on again and two hours later came in sight of_the house of Dr .Pipt .

it_was a big house, round, as were all the Munchkin houses, and painted blue, which_is the distinctive color of_the Munchkin country of Oz . there_was a pretty garden around the house, where blue trees and blue flowers grew in abundance and in one place were beds of blue cabbages, blue carrots and blue lettuce, all of_which were delicious to eat . in Dr .Pipt's garden grew bun- trees, cake-trees, cream- puff bushes, blue buttercups which yielded excellent blue butter and a row of chocolate- caramel plants .Paths of blue gravel divided the vegetable and flower beds and a wider path led up_to_the front door . the place was in aclearing on_the mountain, but a little way off was_the grim forest, which completely surrounded it .

Unc knocked at_the door of_the house and a chubby, pleasant- faced woman, dressed all in blue, opened it and greeted the visitors with a smile .

"Ah," said Ojo; " you_must_be Dame Margolotte, the good wife of Dr .Pipt ."

" I_am, my dear, and all strangers are welcome to my home ."

" may we see the famous magician, madam ? "

" he_is very busy just now," she said, shaking her head doubtfully ." but come in and let me give_you something to eat, for you_must_have traveled far in_order to_get our lonely place ."

" we_have," replied Ojo, as he and Unc entered the house ." we_have come from a far lonelier place than this ."

"A lonelier place ! and in_the Munchkin country ? " she exclaimed ." then it must_be somewhere in_the blue forest ."

" it_is, good Dame Margolotte ."

" dear me ! " she said, looking at_the man, " you_must_be Unc Nunkie, known as_the silent one ." then she looked at_the boy ." and you_must_be Ojo the unlucky," she added .

" yes," said Unc .

"I never knew i_was called the unlucky," said Ojo, soberly; " but it_is really a good name for_me ."

" well," remarked the woman, as she bustled around the room and set the table and brought food from_the cupboard, " you were unlucky to live all alone in_that dismal forest, which_is much worse than_the forest around here; but perhaps your luck will change, now you_are away from_it . if, during your travels, you_can manage to lose that 'Un' at_the beginning of your_name ' unlucky,' you_will then become Ojo the lucky, which will_be a great improvement ."

" how can I lose that 'Un,' Dame Margolotte ? "

" I_do_not know how, but you_must keep the matter in mind and perhaps the chance will come to_you," she replied .

Ojo had never eaten such a fine meal in all his life . there_was a savory stew, smoking hot, a dish of blue peas, a bowl of sweet milk of a delicate blue tint and a blue pudding with blue plums in_it . when_the visitors had eaten heartily of_this fare the woman said to_them:

" do_you wish to_see Dr .Pipt on business or for pleasure ? "

Unc shook his head .

" we_are traveling," replied Ojo, " and we stopped at your house just to rest and refresh ourselves . I_do_not_think Unc Nunkie cares very_much to_see the famous crooked magician; but for_my part I_am curious to look at such a great man ."

the woman seemed thoughtful .

"I remember that Unc Nunkie and my husband used to_be friends, many years_ago," she said, " so perhaps they will_be_glad to meet again . the magician is very busy, as I_said, but if_you_will

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