"Now, see here," said Dorothy; " the Magic Flower to Ozma on her birthday You'd Ozma, wouldn't you ? "

"I'm not sure," replied the creature "Why should anybody ? "

"You've got heart, 'cause it inside of you," said Trot

"Yes; it's pretty heart, and I'm fond of it," said the cat, twisting around to view its own body "But it's made from ruby, and it's hard as nails "

"Aren't you good for ANYthing ? " asked Trot

"Yes, I'm pretty to look at, 's more than said of you," retorted the creature

Trot laughed , and Dorothy, who understood the Glass Cat pretty well, said soothingly:

" indeed beautiful, and tell Cap'n Bill where the Magic Flower, all the people in Oz will praise your cleverness The Flower will belong to Ozma, but everyone will know the Glass Cat discovered it "

the kind of praise the crystal creature liked

"Well," it said, while the pink brains rolled around, " the Magic Flower way up north Munchkin Country where few people live or ever go There's river there that flows through forest, and middle forest small island stands the gold pot grows the Magic Flower "

"How did you get island ? " asked Dorothy "Glass cats can't swim "

"No, but I'm not afraid of water," reply "I just walked across the river bottom "

"Under the water ? " exclaimed Trot

The cat gave her scornful look

"How could I walk OVER the water BOTTOM river ? were transparent, anyone YOUR brains working But I'm sure never find the place alone It has always been hidden Oz people "

"But you, with your fine pink brains, could find it again, I s'pose," remarked Dorothy

"Yes; and that Magic Flower for Ozma, I'll go and show you the way "

"That's lovely of you ! " declared Dorothy "Trot and Cap'n Bill will go , their birthday present to Ozma While you're gone I'll have something else her "

"All right Come on, then, Cap'n," said the Glass Cat, starting to move away

"Wait minute," begged Trot "How long will we be gone ? "

"Oh, about week "

"Then I'll put some things in basket ," said the girl, and ran palace her preparations journey

6 Ozma's Birthday Presents

When Cap'n Bill and Trot Glass Cat had started hidden island far-off river the Magic Flower, Dorothy wondered again what give Ozma on her birthday She met the Patchwork Girl and said:

" you going Ozma for birthday present ? "

"I've written song for her," answered the strange Patchwork Girl, who went name of "Scraps," and who, through stuffed with cotton, had fair assortment of mixed brains "It's splendid song chorus runs :

crazy; You're daisy, Ozma dear; I'm demented; You're contented, Ozma dear; patched and gay and glary; You're sweet and lovely fairy; May your birthdays all be happy, Ozma dear ! "

"How like it, Dorothy ? " inquired the Patchwork Girl

" good poetry, Scraps ? " asked Dorothy, doubtfully

"It's as good as any ordinary song," reply " it dandy title, too call the song: 'When Ozma Has Birthday, Everybody's Sure Gay, for Help the Fact That She Was Born '"

"That's pretty long title, Scraps," said Dorothy

"That makes it stylish," replied the Patchwork Girl, turning somersault and alighting on one stuffed foot "Now-a-days the titles are sometimes longer songs "

Dorothy left her and walked slowly toward the place, where she met the Tin Woodman just going up the front steps

" you going Ozma on her birthday ? " she asked

"It's secret, but I'll tell you," replied the Tin Woodman, who was Emperor Winkies " having my people make Ozma lovely girdle set with beautiful tin nuggets Each tin nugget surrounded by circle of emeralds, just to set it off to good advantage The clasp girdle pure tin ! Won't that be fine ? "

"I'm sure she'll like it," said Dorothy " what give her ? "

"I haven't the slightest idea, Dorothy It took me three months own present for Ozma "

The girl walked thoughtfully around back palace, and presently came famous Scarecrow of Oz, who has having two palace servants stuff his legs with fresh straw

" you going Ozma on her birthday ? " asked Dorothy

" her," answered the Scarecrow

"I won't tell," promised Dorothy

"Well, I'm having some straw slippers made for her--all straw, mind you, and braided very artistically Ozma has always admired my straw filling, so I'm sure she'll be pleased lovely straw slippers "

"Ozma pleased with anything her loving friends give her," said the girl "What I'M worried about, Scarecrow, is what Ozma that she hasn't got already "

"That's what worried me, until slippers," said the Scarecrow "You'll have , Dorothy; that's the only way good idea If I hadn't such wonderful brains, I'd never have thought straw foot-decorations "

Dorothy left him and went to her room, where she sat down and tried hard Pink Kitten was curled up window-sill and Dorothy asked her:

"What can Ozma for her birthday present ? "

"Oh, give her some milk," replied the Pink Kitten; "that's the nicest thing of "

fuzzy little black dog had squatted down at Dorothy's feet and now looked up at her with intelligent eyes

"Tell me, Toto," said the girl; "what would Ozma like best for birthday present ? "

The little black dog wagged his tail

"Your love," said he "Ozma wants loved more than anything else "

"But I already love her, Toto ! "

"Then tell her you love her ever did before "

"That wouldn't be true," objected Dorothy, "for I've always loved her as , and, really, Toto, Ozma some PRESENT, 'cause everyone else will give her present "

"Let me see," said Toto "How would it be her that useless Pink Kitten ? "

"No, Toto; that wouldn't do "

"Then six kisses "

"No; that's no present "

"Well, I guess you'll have to figure it out , Dorothy," said the little dog "To MY notion you're more particular than Ozma "

Dorothy decided that if anyone could help her it Glinda the Good, the wonderful Sorceress of Oz who was Ozma's faithful subject and friend But Glinda's castle was Quadling Country and quite journey Emerald City

So the little girl went to Ozma and asked permission to use the Wooden Sawhorse royal Red Wagon visit to Glinda, girl Ruler kissed Princess Dorothy and graciously granted permission

The Wooden Sawhorse was remarkable creatures in Oz Its body was small log and its legs were limbs of trees stuck body Its eyes were knots, its mouth was sawed end log and its ears were two chips small branch left rear end log as tail

Ozma herself, during one of her early adventures, had brought this wooden horse to life, and so she was much attached queer animal and had shod the bottoms wooden legs with plates of gold so not wear out The Sawhorse was swift and willing traveler, and though it could talk if need arose, it seldom said anything unless spoken to Sawhorse was harnessed Red Wagon there were no reins to guide him because all that was needed was him where

Dorothy now told him to Glinda's Castle Sawhorse carried her there with marvelous speed

"Glinda," said Dorothy, when she greeted Sorceress, who was tall and stately, with handsome and dignified features and dressed in splendid and becoming gown, " you going Ozma for birthday present ? "

The Sorceress smiled and answered:

"Come into my patio show you "

So they entered place that was surrounded wings great castle but had no roof, and was filled with flowers and fountains and exquisite statuary and many settees and chairs of polished marble or filigree gold Here there were gathered fifty beautiful young girls, Glinda's handmaids, who selected from all parts Land of Oz on account wit and beauty and sweet dispositions great honor made one of Glinda's handmaidens

When Dorothy followed the Sorceress delightful patio all the fifty girls were busily weaving, and their shuttles were filled with sparkling green spun glass such little girl had never seen before

" it, Glinda ? " she asked

"One recent discoveries," explained the Sorceress " found way threads from emeralds, by softening the stones and then spinning them into long, silken strands emerald threads weaving cloth Ozma splendid court gown for her birthday notice threads have all the beautiful glitter and luster emeralds made, and so Ozma's new dress the most magnificent the world has ever seen, and quite fitting lovely Ruler Fairyland of Oz "

Dorothy's eyes were fairly dazed brilliance emerald cloth, some the girls had already woven

"I've never seen ANYthing so beautiful ! " she said, with sigh "But tell me, Glinda, what can our lovely Ozma on her birthday ? "

The good Sorceress considered this question before she replied Finally she said: