For whole week feasting and merriment and all sorts of joyous festivities palace in honor of Ozma's safe return The Lavender Bear little Pink Bear received much attention and were honored by all, much Bear King's satisfaction The Frogman speedily became favorite Emerald City, Shaggy Man and Tik-Tok and Jack Pumpkinhead, who had now returned from their search, were very polite big frog and made him feel quite at home Even the Cookie Cook, because she was quite stranger and Ozma's guest, was shown deference she queen

"All the same, Your Majesty," said Cayke to Ozma, day after day with tiresome repetition, " soon find my jeweled dishpan, for never can I be quite happy without it "

CHAPTER 26

DOROTHY FORGIVES

The gray dove which had once been Ugu the Shoemaker sat on its tree far Quadling Country and moped, chirping dismally and brooding over its misfortunes After time, the Scarecrow Tin Woodman came along and sat beneath the tree, paying no heed mutterings gray dove The Tin Woodman took small oilcan tin pocket and carefully oiled his tin joints with it

While thus engaged, the Scarecrow remarked, " much better, dear comrade, since that heap of nice, clean straw and you stuffed me anew with it "

"And much better now that my joints are oiled," returned the Tin Woodman with sigh of pleasure "You and I, friend Scarecrow, are much more easily cared for than those clumsy meat people, who spend half their time dressing in fine clothes and live in splendid dwellings contented and happy You and eat, and so spared the dreadful bother of getting three meals day Nor do we waste half our lives in sleep, condition that causes the meat people to lose all consciousness and become as thoughtless and helpless as logs of wood "

"You speak truly," responded the Scarecrow, tucking some wisps of straw into his breast padded fingers "I often feel sorry meat people, many of whom are my friends Even the beasts are happier than they, for they require less them content birds are the luckiest creatures of all, for fly swiftly where and find home at any place they care to perch Their food consists of seeds and grains they gather fields, and their drink is sip of water from some running brook If I Scarecrow or Tin Woodman, my next choice to live as bird does "

The gray dove had listened carefully speech and seemed comfort , hushed its moaning And just then the Tin Woodman discovered Cayke's dishpan, ground quite near to him " rather pretty utensil," , taking it tin hand to examine it, "but care to own it Whoever fashioned it of gold and covered it with diamonds add to its usefulness, nor do I consider it as beautiful bright dishpans of tin one usually sees No yellow color is ever so handsome silver sheen of tin," and he turned to look at his tin legs and body with approval

" quite agree there," replied the Scarecrow "My straw stuffing has light yellow color, and only pretty to look at, but it crunkles most delightfully when I move "

" admit that all colors are good in their proper places," said the Tin Woodman, who was too kind-hearted to quarrel, "but agree with me that dishpan yellow is unnatural What shall one, which just found ? "

" carry it back Emerald City," suggested the Scarecrow " friends might like it for foot-bath, and in using it that way, its golden color and sparkling ornaments injure its usefulness "

So they went away and took the jeweled dishpan And after wandering country for day or so longer, they learned the news that Ozma found Therefore they straightway returned Emerald City and presented the dishpan to Princess Ozma as token joy that she restored Ozma promptly gave the diamond-studded gold dishpan to Cayke the Cookie Cook, who was delighted at regaining her lost treasure that she danced up and down in glee and then threw her skinny arms around Ozma's neck and kissed her gratefully Cayke's mission was now successfully accomplished, but she was having such Emerald City that she seemed in no hurry back Country Yips

several weeks dishpan restored Cookie Cook when one day, as Dorothy was seated royal gardens with Trot and Betsy beside her, gray dove came flying down and alighted girl's feet

" Ugu the Shoemaker," said the dove in soft, mourning voice, "and come to to forgive me great wrong in stealing Ozma magic that belonged to her and to others "

" sorry, then ? " asked Dorothy, looking hard bird

" VERY sorry," declared Ugu "I've been thinking over my misdeeds , for doves have little else but think, and I'm surprised that such wicked man and had so little regard rights of others now convinced that even had I succeeded in making myself ruler of all Oz, I happy, for many days of quiet thought have shown me that only those things one acquires honestly are able to render one content "

"I guess that's so," said Trot

"Anyhow," said Betsy, "the bad man seems truly sorry, and if he has now become good and honest man, we ought to forgive him "

" become good MAN again," said Ugu, " transformation under will always keep me form of dove But kind forgiveness former enemies, dove and highly respected "

"Wait here till I run Magic Belt," said Dorothy, "and I'll transform you back to your reg'lar shape in jiffy "

"No, don't ! " pleaded the dove, fluttering its wings in an excited way "I only want your forgiveness I don't want man again As Ugu the Shoemaker skinny and old and unlovely As dove quite pretty to look at As man ambitious and cruel, while as dove content with my lot and happy in my simple life learned to love the free and independent life of bird, and I'd rather not change back "

"Just like, Ugu," said Dorothy, resuming her seat "Perhaps right, 're certainly better dove than you were man, and if ever backslide an' feel wicked again, you couldn't do much harm as gray dove "

"Then you forgive me for all the trouble I caused you ? " he asked earnestly

" Anyone who's sorry just be forgiven "

" ," said the gray dove, and flew away again

THE END