This Book is Dedicated To My Granddaughter OZMA BAUM

To My Readers

Some youthful readers are developing wonderful imaginations This pleases me Imagination has brought mankind Dark Ages to its present state of civilization Imagination led Columbus to discover America Imagination led Franklin to discover electricity Imagination us the steam engine, the telephone, the talking-machine automobile, things had dreamed of became realities So I believe that dreams -- day dreams, , with your eyes wide open and your brain-machinery whizzing -- are likely to lead betterment world The imaginative child will become the imaginative man or woman most apt to create, to invent, and therefore to foster civilization prominent educator tells me that fairy tales are of untold value in developing imagination young I believe it

letters I receive from children are many containing suggestions of "what to write about next Oz Book " ideas advanced are mighty interesting, while others are too extravagant seriously considered -- even in fairy tale Yet I like them all, and admit main idea in "The Lost Princess of Oz" was suggested by sweet little girl of eleven who called me and Land of Oz Said she: "I s'pose if Ozma ever got lost, or stolen, ev'rybody in Oz dreadful sorry "

That was all, but quite enough foundation to build this present story on happen to like the story, give credit to my little friend's clever hint

L Frank Baum Royal Historian of Oz

1 Terrible Loss
2 The Troubles of Glinda the Good
3 The Robbery of Cayke the Cookie Cook
4 Winkies
5 Ozma's Friends Are Perplexed
6 The Search Party
7 The Merry-Go-Round Mountains
8 The Mysterious City
9 The High Coco-Lorum of Thi
10 Toto Loses Something
11 Button-Bright Loses Himself
12 The Czarover of Herku
13 The Truth Pond
14 The Unhappy Ferryman
15 The Big Lavender Bear
16 The Little Pink Bear
17 The Meeting
18 The Conference
19 Ugu the Shoemaker
20 More Surprises
21 Magic Against Magic
22 Wicker Castle
23 The Defiance of Ugu the Shoemaker
24 The Little Pink Bear Speaks Truly
25 Ozma of Oz
26 Dorothy Forgives

THE LOST PRINCESS

BY L FRANK BAUM

CHAPTER 1

TERRIBLE LOSS

There fact: Princess Ozma, the lovely girl ruler Fairyland of Oz, was lost She had completely disappeared Not one of her subjects--not even her closest friends--knew what had become of her Dorothy who first discovered it Dorothy was little Kansas girl who had come Land of Oz to live and given delightful suite of rooms in Ozma's royal palace just because Ozma loved Dorothy and wanted her to live as near her as possible so the two girls much together

Dorothy was not the only girl outside world who welcomed to Oz and lived royal palace another named Betsy Bobbin, whose adventures had led her to seek refuge with Ozma, and still another named Trot, who invited, together with her faithful companion Cap'n Bill, her home wonderful fairyland The three girls all had rooms palace and were great chums; but Dorothy dearest friend gracious Ruler and only she at any hour dared to seek Ozma in her royal apartments For Dorothy had lived in Oz much longer other girls and made Princess realm

Betsy was year older than Dorothy and Trot was year younger, yet the three were near enough of an age great playmates and nice times together while the three were talking together one morning in Dorothy's room that Betsy proposed they make journey Munchkin Country, four great countries Land of Oz ruled by Ozma "I've never been there yet," said Betsy Bobbin, "but the Scarecrow once told me prettiest country in all Oz "

"I'd like , too," added Trot

"All right," said Dorothy "I'll go and ask Ozma Perhaps she will Sawhorse Red Wagon, which much nicer than having to walk all the way This Land of Oz is pretty big place get to all the edges of it "

So she jumped up and went along the halls splendid palace until she came royal suite, which filled all the front second floor In little waiting room sat Ozma's maid, Jellia Jamb, who was busily sewing "Is Ozma up yet ? " inquired Dorothy

"I don't know, my dear," replied Jellia "I haven't heard word from her She hasn't even called for her bath or her breakfast, and far past her usual time "

"That's strange ! " exclaimed the little girl

"Yes," agreed the maid, "but no harm happened to her No one can die or be killed Land of Oz, and Ozma is herself powerful fairy, and she has no enemies as Therefore not at all worried about her, though admit her silence is unusual "

"Perhaps," said Dorothy thoughtfully, "she has overslept Or reading or working out some new sort of magic good to her people "

"Any things true," replied Jellia Jamb, "so I haven't dared disturb our royal mistress You, however, are privileged character, Princess, and that Ozma wouldn't mind at all went in her "

" not," said Dorothy, and opening the door outer chamber, she went in All was still here She walked into another room, Ozma's boudoir, and then, pushing back heavy drapery richly broidered with threads of pure gold, the girl entered the sleeping-room fairy Ruler of Oz The bed of ivory and gold was vacant; the room was vacant; not trace of Ozma was found surprised, yet still with no fear that anything had happened to her friend, Dorothy returned boudoir other rooms suite the bath, the wardrobe, and even great throne room, which adjoined the royal suite, but in none places could she find Ozma

So she returned anteroom where she had left the maid, Jellia Jamb, and said, "She isn't in her rooms now, so out "

"I don't understand how without my seeing her," replied Jellia, "unless she made herself invisible "

"She isn't there, anyhow," declared Dorothy

"Then go find her," suggested the maid, who appeared little uneasy So they went corridors, and there Dorothy almost stumbled over queer girl who was dancing lightly along the passage

"Stop minute, Scraps ! " she called, " seen Ozma ? "

"Not I ! " replied the queer girl, dancing nearer "I lost both my eyes in tussle Woozy last night, creature scraped 'em both off my face square paws So I put the eyes in my pocket, and Button-Bright led me to Aunt Em, who sewed 'em on again So I've seen nothing at all today, except five minutes So I haven't seen Ozma "

" , Scraps," said Dorothy, looking curiously eyes, which were merely two round, black buttons sewed girl's face

There were other things about Scraps seemed curious to one seeing her first time She was commonly called "the Patchwork Girl" because her body and limbs were made from gay-colored patchwork quilt which cut into shape and stuffed with cotton Her head was round ball stuffed same manner and fastened to her shoulders For hair, she had mass of brown yarn, and nose for her part cloth pulled out shape of knob and tied with string to hold it in place Her mouth carefully made by cutting slit proper place and lining it with red silk, adding two rows of pearls for teeth and bit of red flannel for tongue

queer make-up, the Patchwork Girl was magically alive and had proved herself not the least jolly and agreeable many quaint characters who inhabit the astonishing Fairyland of Oz Indeed, Scraps was general favorite, although she was rather flighty and erratic and did and said many things that surprised her friends She was seldom still, but loved to dance, handsprings and somersaults, to climb trees and to indulge in active sports

"I'm going to search for Ozma," remarked Dorothy, "for she isn't in her rooms, and to ask her question "

"I'll go ," said Scraps, " eyes are brighter than yours, and see farther "

"I'm not sure ," returned Dorothy "But come along, like "

Together they searched all great palace and even farthest limits palace grounds, which were quite extensive, but nowhere could they find trace of Ozma When Dorothy returned to where Betsy and Trot awaited her, the little girl's face was rather solemn and troubled, for never before had Ozma gone away without telling her friends where she was going, or without an escort that befitted her royal state She was gone, however, and none had seen her go Dorothy had met and questioned the Scarecrow, Tik-Tok, the Shaggy Man, Button-Bright, Cap'n Bill, and even the wise and powerful Wizard of Oz, but not had seen Ozma since she parted with her friends the evening before and had gone to her own rooms

"She didn't say anything las' night about going anywhere," observed little Trot

"No, 's the strange part of it," replied Dorothy "Usually Ozma lets us know of everything she does "

" look Magic Picture ? " suggested Betsy Bobbin " tell us where in just one second "

" ! " cried Dorothy "Why didn't before ? " And at once the three girls hurried away to Ozma's boudoir, where the Magic Picture always hung This wonderful Magic Picture was royal Ozma's greatest treasures large gold frame center of bluish-gray canvas various scenes constantly appeared and disappeared If one who stood before it wished what any person anywhere was doing, only necessary to wish scene Magic Picture would shift scene where that person was and show exactly what he or she was then engaged in doing So the girls knew it easy to wish Ozma, and picture quickly learn where she was

Dorothy advanced place where the picture was usually protected by thick satin curtains and pulled the draperies aside Then she stared in amazement, while her two friends uttered exclamations of disappointment

The Magic Picture was gone Only blank space wall behind the curtains showed where it had formerly hung

CHAPTER 2

THE TROUBLES OF GLINDA THE GOOD