The Woozy sat upon his square haunches to examine Hank with care "Beauty," , " matter of taste I don't say your judgment is bad, friend Hank, or that so vulgar be conceited But admire big, waggy ears and tail like paintbrush and hoofs big enough for an elephant and long neck and body so skinny that one can count the ribs with one eye shut-- 's your idea of beauty, Hank, then either you or much mistaken "

"You're full of edges," sneered the Mule "If I were square , I suppose you'd think me lovely "

"Outwardly, dear Hank, ," replied the Woozy "But really lovely, one beautiful without and within "

The Mule couldn't deny this statement, so disgusted grunt and rolled over his back was toward the Woozy But the Lion, regarding the two calmly great, yellow eyes, said dog, "My dear Toto, our friends have taught us lesson in humility Woozy Mule are indeed beautiful creatures seem , you and decidedly ugly "

"Not to ourselves," protested Toto, who was shrewd little dog "You and I, Lion, are fine specimens own races fine dog, and fine lion Only in point of comparison, one with another, can we be properly judged, so leave it poor old Sawhorse to decide the most beautiful animal among us all The Sawhorse is wood, so he won't be prejudiced and will speak the truth "

"I surely will," responded the Sawhorse, wagging his ears, which were chips set wooden head " all agreed to accept my judgment ? "

" ! " they declared, hopeful

"Then," said the Sawhorse, " point out the fact that all meat creatures, who tire unless they sleep and starve unless they eat and suffer from thirst unless they drink Such animals very imperfect, and imperfect creatures beautiful Now, made of wood "

"You surely have wooden head," said the Mule

"Yes, and wooden body and wooden legs, which are as swift wind and as tireless I've heard Dorothy say that 'handsome is as handsome does,' and I surely perform my duties in handsome manner Therefore, my honest judgment, confess that among us all the most beautiful "

The Mule snorted, Woozy laughed; Toto had lost his growl and could only look scornfully Sawhorse, who stood place unmoved But the Lion stretched himself and yawned, saying quietly, "Were we all like the Sawhorse, all be Sawhorses, which too kind Were we all like Hank, herd of mules; if like Toto, pack of dogs; should we all become the shape Woozy, no longer be remarkable unusual appearance Finally, were you all like me, consider you so common that care to associate individual, my friends, different from others, only way distinguished common herd , therefore, that we differ from one another in form and in disposition Variety spice of life, and various enough to enjoy one another's society; so be content "

" some truth speech," remarked Toto reflectively "But how lost growl ? "

"The growl is of importance only ," responded the Lion, "so your business to worry over the loss, not ours love us, afflict your burdens on us; be unhappy all by yourself "

" same person stole my growl who stole Ozma," said the little dog, " find him and punish him as he deserves the most cruel person in all the world, for dog from growling when his nature to growl is just as wicked, in my opinion, as stealing all the magic in Oz "

CHAPTER 11

BUTTON-BRIGHT LOSES HIMSELF

The Patchwork Girl, who never slept and who dark, had wandered rocks and bushes all night long, result that she was able some good news the next morning "Over the crest hill ," she said, "is big grove of trees of many kinds all sorts of fruits grow go there, nice breakfast awaiting you " This made them eager to start, so blankets were folded and strapped back Sawhorse, they all took their places animals and set out big grove Scraps had told them of

they got over the brow hill, they discovered it really immense orchard, extending for miles right and left As their way led straight trees, they hurried forward as fast as possible The first trees they came to bore quinces, which like Then there were rows of citron trees and then crab apples and afterward limes and lemons But beyond these they found grove of big, golden oranges, juicy and sweet, fruit hung low branches so pluck it easily

They helped themselves freely and all ate oranges continued on their way Then, little farther along, they came to some trees bearing fine, red apples, which they also feasted on, Wizard stopped here long enough to tie lot apples in one end of blanket

" know happen after we leave this delightful orchard," , "so it wise to carry supply of apples 't starve as long as apples, "

Scraps wasn't riding the Woozy just now She loved to climb the trees and swing herself branches from one tree to another choicest fruit was gathered Patchwork Girl very highest limbs and tossed down others Suddenly, Trot asked, "Where's Button-Bright ? " and others looked for him, they found the boy had disappeared

"Dear me ! " cried Dorothy "I guess he's lost again, and mean our waiting here until find him "

"It's good place to wait," suggested Betsy, who had found plum tree and was eating some fruit

"How wait here and find Button-Bright at one same time ? " inquired the Patchwork Girl, hanging by her toes on limb just over the heads three mortal girls

"Perhaps he'll come back here," answered Dorothy

"If he tries that, he'll prob'ly lose his way," said Trot "I've known him to lots of times It's losing his way that gets him lost "

"Very true," said the Wizard "So all the rest of stay here while I go look boy "

"Won't YOU get lost, too ? " asked Betsy

" not, my dear "

"Let ME go," said Scraps, dropping lightly ground " 't get lost, and I'm more likely Button-Bright than any of you " Without waiting for permission, she darted away trees and soon disappeared from their view

"Dorothy," said Toto, squatting beside his little mistress, "I've lost my growl "

"How did that happen ? " she asked

"I don't know," replied Toto "Yesterday morning the Woozy nearly stepped on me, and I tried to growl at him and found I couldn't growl bit "

" bark ? " inquired Dorothy

"Oh, yes indeed "

"Then never mind the growl," said she

"But when I get home Glass Cat Pink Kitten ? " asked the little dog in an anxious tone

"They won't mind 't growl at them, I'm sure," said Dorothy "I'm sorry , , Toto, 's just those things 't most of all; but before we get back, find your growl again "

" the person who stole Ozma stole my growl ? "

Dorothy smiled

"Perhaps, Toto "

"Then he's scoundrel ! " cried the little dog

"Anyone steal Ozma is as bad as bad ," agreed Dorothy, "and when we remember dear friend, the lovely Ruler of Oz, is lost, we ought not to worry over just growl "

Toto was not entirely satisfied remark, more he thought upon his lost growl, the more important his misfortune became When no one was looking, he went away trees and tried his best to growl--even little bit--but manage All do was bark, and bark cannot place of growl, so he sadly returned others

Now Button-Bright had no idea that lost at first He had merely wandered from tree to tree seeking the finest fruit until he discovered alone great orchard But that didn't worry him just then, and seeing some apricot trees farther on, he went Then he discovered some cherry trees; just beyond these were some tangerines "We've found 'most ev'ry kind of fruit but peaches," to himself, "so I guess peaches here, too, if find the trees "