Oz 15: The Royal Book of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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the beanstalk, and now, looking at them carefully, he_found them extremely pretty .

" Dorothy will like these," thought the Scarecrow, slipping them into a large inside pocket of_his robe . already, in_the back of_his head, was a queer notion that he_would at some_time or other return to Oz . he started to_give the grand chew chew a spirited description of_that wonderful country, but the ancient gentleman yawned and, waving his hands toward the door, interrupted him with:

" would_not your supreme highness care to inspect your present dominions ? "

"I suppose I_may as_well ! " with a deep sigh, the Scarecrow took the grand chew chew's arm and, holding up his royal kimono ( which_was rather long) with_the other hand, walked unsteadily down the great salon . they were about to_pass into_the garden when a little fat Silverman slid around the door, a huge silver drumstick upraised in_his right hand and a great drum hung about his neck .

the drummer beamed on_the Scarecrow .

Chang Wang woe, the beautiful, the beautiful has_come ! sublime and silver Scarecrow, let sound the royal drum !

chanted the little man in a high, thin voice, and started to bring the drumstick down upon_the huge head of_his noisy instrument .

" no you don't ! " cried the Scarecrow, leaping forward and catching his arm .

"I positively forbid it ! "

" then I_shall_have no work ! " screamed the drummer, falling on_his face ."Ah, gracious master, don't you remember me ? "

" yes," said the Scarecrow kindly, " who_are you ? "

"Oh, don't you remember little happy Toko ? " wheezed the little man, the tears rolling down his cheeks ." i_was only a boy, but you used to_be fond of me ."

" why, of_course, my dear Tappy," said the Scarecrow, not liking to hurt the little fellow's feelings ." but why do_you beat the drum ? "

" it_is customary to sound the drum at_the approach of your royal highness," put in_the grand chew chew importantly .

" was customary," said the Scarecrow firmly ." my dear Tappy Oko, never sound it in my presence again; it_is too upsetting ." which_was true enough, for_one blow of_the drum sent the flimsy Scarecrow flying into_the air .

" you're dismissed, happy," snapped the grand chew chew . at_this, the little silver islander began weeping and roaring with distress .

" stop ! what else can_you do besides beat a drum ? " asked the Scarecrow kindly .

" I_can sing, stand on my head, and tell jokes," sniffed happy Toko, shuffling from one foot to_the other .

" very_good," said the Scarecrow ." you_are henceforth imperial Punster to my person . come along, we're going to look over the island ."

the grand chew chew frowned so terribly that happy Toko's knees shook with terror .

" it_is_not fitting for a slave to accompany the grand chew chew and_the emperor," he hissed angrily .

the Scarecrow looked surprised, for_the kingdom of Oz is quite democratic, and no one is considered better than another . but seeing this_was not the time to argue, he winked broadly behind the grand chew chew's back .

"I'll see you again, Tappy my boy," he_called genially, and passed out into_the garden, where a magnificent silver palanquin, surrounded by pikemen and shieldbearers, awaited him .

chapter 8

the SCARECROW STUDIES the silver island

two days had passed since_the Scarecrow had fallen into his kingdom . he_was not finding his royal duties as pleasant as he had anticipated . the country was beautiful enough, but being emperor of_the silver Islands was not the simple affair that ruling Oz had_been . the pigtail on_the back of_his hat was terribly distracting, and he_was always tripping over his kimono, to_which he_could_not seem to accustom himself . his subjects were extremely quarrelsome, always pulling one another's queues or stealing fruit, umbrellas, and silver polish . his ministers, the grand chew chew, the chief chow chow, and general mugwump, were no better, and keeping peace in_the palace took all the Scarecrow's cleverness .

in_the daytime he tried culprits in_the royal court, interviewed his seventeen secretaries, rode out in_the royal palanquin, and made speeches to visiting princes . at night he sat in_the great silver salon and by_the light of_the lanterns studied the book of Ceremonies . his etiquette, the grand chew chew informed him, was shocking . he_was always doing something wrong, dodging the imperial umbrella, speaking kindly to a palace servant, or walking unattended in_the gardens .

the royal palace itself was richly furnished, and_the Scarecrow had more than five hundred robes of state . the gardens, with their sparkling waterfalls, glowing orange trees, silver temples, towers and bridges, were too lovely for words .Poppies, roses, lotus and other lilies perfumed the air, and at night a thousand silver lanterns turned them to a veritable fairyland .

the grass and trees were green as in other lands, but the sky as always full of tiny silver clouds, the waters surrounding the island were of a lovely liquid silver, and as all the houses and towers were of_this gleaming metal, the effect was bewil-dering and beautiful .

but the silver Islanders themselves were too stupid to appreciate this beauty ." and what use is_it all when I_have no one to enjoy it with me," sighed the Scarecrow ." and no time to play ! "

in Oz no one thought it queer if Ozma, the little queen, jumped rope with Dorothy or Betsy bobbin, or had a quiet game of croquet with_the palace cook . but here, alas, everything was different . if_the Scarecrow so_much as ventured a game of ball with_the gardener's boy, the whole court was thrown into an uproar . at first, the Scarecrow tried to_please everybody, but finding that nothing pleased the people in_the palace, he decided to_please himself .

"I don't care akinkajou if I_am the emperor, I'm going to_talk to_whom I please ! " he exclaimed on_the second night, and shaking his glove at a bronze statue, he threw the book of Ceremonies into_the fountain . the next morning, therefore, he ascended the throne with great firmness . immediately, the courtiers prostrated themselves, and_the Scarecrow's arms and legs blew about wildly .

" stand up at once," puffed the Scarecrow when he had regained his balance .

" you_are giving me nervous prostration . chew, kindly issue an edict forbidding prostrations . anyone caught bowing in my presence again shall lose --" the courtiers looked alarmed "-- his pigtail ! " finished the Scarecrow .

" and now, chew, you_will take my place, please . I_am going for a walk with Tappy Oko ."

the grand chew chew's mouth fell open with surprise, but seeing the Scarecrow's determined expression, he dared not disobey, and he immediately began making strange marks on a long, red parchment . happy Toko trembled as_the Scarecrow emperor took his arm, and_the courtiers stared at one another in dismay as_the two walked quietly out into_the garden .

nothing happened, however, and Tappy, regaining his composure, took out a little silver flute and started a lively tune .

"I had to_take matters into my own hands, Tappy," said the Scarecrow, listening to_the music with a pleased expression ." are there any words to_that song ? "

" yes, illustrious and supreme sir ! "

two spoons went down aPor-ce-Lane, to meet a china saucer, a'talking china in a way to break a white man's jaw, sir !

sang happy, and finished by standing gravely on_his head .

" your majesty used to_be very fond of_this song," spluttered happy .( it_is difficult to_speak while upside down, and if_you don't think so, try it ! )

"Ah ! " said the Scarecrow, beginning to_feel more cheerful, " tell me something about myself and my family, Tappy Oko ."

" happy Toko, if_it pleases your supreme amiability," corrected the little silver man, somersaulting to a standstill beside the Scarecrow .

" it does and it doesn't," murmured the Scarecrow ." there_is something about you that reminds me of apudding, and you tapped the drum, didn't you ? I believe I_shall call you Tappy Oko, if_you don't mind ! "

the Scarecrow seated himself on a silver bench and motioned for_the imperial Punster to sit down beside him .Tappy Oko sat down fearfully, first making sure that he_was not observed .

"Saving your imperial presence, this_is_not permitted," said Tappy uneasily .

" never mind about_my imperial presence," chuckled the Scarecrow ." tell me about_my imperial past ."

"Ah ! " said Tappy Oko, rolling up his eyes, " you were one_of_the_most magnificent and magnanimous of monarchs ."

" was I ? " asked the Scarecrow in a pleased voice .

" you distributed rice among_the poor, and advice among_the rich, and fought many glorious battles," continued the little man ."I composed a little song about you . perhaps you_would like to hear it ? "

the Scarecrow nodded, and Tappy, throwing back his head, chanted with a will:

Chang Wang woe did draw the bow - and twist the queues of a thousand foe !

" in Oz," murmured the Scarecrow reflectively as Tappy finished, "I twisted the necks of a flock of wild crows -- that was before I had my excellent brains, too .Oh, I'm afighting man, there's no_doubt about_it . but tell me, Tappy, where did I meet my wife ? "

" in_the water ! " chuckled Tappy Oko, screwing up his eyes .

" never ! " the Scarecrow looked out over the harbor and then down at his lumpy figure .

" your majesty forgets you were then a man like me -- er -- not stuffed with straw, I mean," exclaimed happy, looking embarrassed ." she was fishing," continued the little Punster, " when a huge silver fish became entangled in her line . she stood up, the fish gave a mighty leap and pulled her out_of_the boat . your majesty, having seen the whole affair from_the bank, plunged bravely into_the water and, swimming out, rescued her, freed the fish, and in due time made her your bride .I've made a song about_that, also ."

" let's hear it," said the Scarecrow . and this_is what happy sung:

Tsing Tsing, a silver Fisher's daughter, was fishing in_the silver water . the moon shone on her silver hair and there were fishes everywhere !

then came a mighty silver fish, it seized her line and with a swish of silver fins upset her boat .Tsing Tsing could neither swim nor float .

she raised her silver voice in fear and who her call of help should hear but Chang Wang woe, the emperor, who saved and married her, what's more !

" did I really ? " asked the Scarecrow, feeling quite flattered by happy's song .

" yes," said happy positively, " and invited me to_the wedding, though i_was only a small boy ."

" was chew chew there ? " the Scarecrow couldn't help wondering how the old nobleman had taken his marriage with a poor fisherman's daughter .

happy chuckled at_the memory ." he had a princess all picked out for_you," he confided merrily:

and there he stood in awful pride and scorned the father of_the bride !

"Hoh ! " roared the Scarecrow, falling off the bench ." that's the Ozziest thing I've heard since I landed in_the silver Islands .Tappy, my boy, I believe we_are going to_be friends ! but let's forget the past and think of_the present ! "

the Scarecrow embraced his imperial Punster on_the spot ." let's find something jolly to_do," he suggested .

" would your extreme highness care for kites ? " asked happy .'Tis a favorite sport here ! "

" would I ! but wait, i_will disguise myself ." Hiding his royal hat under the bench, he put on happy Toko's broad-rimmed (sic) peasant hat . it turned down all ' round and almost hid his face . then he turned his robe inside out and declared himself ready .

they passed through a small silver town before_they reached the field where the kites were to_be flown, and_the Scarecrow was delighted with its picturesque and quaint appearance . the streets were narrow and full of queer shops . silver lanterns and little pennants hung from each door, the merchants and maidens in their gay sedans and_the people afoot made a bright and lively picture .

" if I_could just live here instead of in_the palace," mused the Scarecrow, pausing before a modest rice shop . it_is dangerous to stop in_the narrow streets, and happy jerked his master aside just in_time to_prevent his being trodden on by a huge camel . it sniffed at_the Scarecrow suspiciously, and_they were forced to flatten themselves against a wall to let it pass . happy anxiously hurried the emperor through_the town, and_they soon arrived at_the kite flying field .a great throng had gathered to watch the exhibition, and there were more kites than one would see in a lifetime here . huge fish, silver paper dragons, birds -- every sort and shape of kite was tugging at its string, and hundreds of silver Islanders -- boys, girls and grown-ups -- were looking on .

" how interesting," said the Scarecrow, fascinated by a huge dragon that floated just over his head ." i_wish Dorothy could_see this, I_do indeed ! "

but the dragon kite seemed almost alive, and horrors ! just as it swooped down, a hook in_the tail caught in_the Scarecrow's collar, and before happy Toko could even wink, the emperor of_the silver Islands was sailing towards the clouds . the Scarecrow, as_you_must know, weighs almost nothing, and_the people shouted with glee, for they thought him a dummy man and part of_the performance . but happy Toko ran after_the kite as fast as his fat little legs would carry him .

" alas, alas, I_shall lose my position ! " wailed happy Toko, quite convinced that_the Scarecrow would_be dashed to pieces on_the rocks ."Oh, putty head that I_am to set myself against the grand chew chew ! "

the Scarecrow, however, after recovering from_the first shock, began to enjoy himself .Holding fast to_the dragon's tail, he looked down with great interest upon his dominions .Rocks, mountains, tall silver pagodas, drooping willow trees, flashed beneath him . truly a beautiful island ! his gaze strayed over the silver waters surrounding the island, and he_was astonished to_see a great fleet sailing into_the harbor -- a great fleet of singular vessels with silken sails .

" what's this ? " thought the Scarecrow . but just then the dragon kite became suddenly possessed . it jerked him up, it jerked him down, and shook him this_way and_that . his hat

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