The Magic of Oz

Faithful Record Remarkable Adventures of Dorothy and Trot Wizard of Oz, together Cowardly Lion, the Hungry Tiger and Cap'n Bill, in their successful search for Magical and Beautiful Birthday Present for Princess Ozma of Oz

by L Frank Baum "Royal Historian of Oz"

Contents

--To My Readers--
1 Mount Munch
2 The Hawk
3 Two Bad Ones
4 Conspirators
5 Happy Corner of Oz
6 Ozma's Birthday Presents
7 The Forest of Gugu
8 The Li-Mon-Eags Make Trouble
9 The Isle Magic Flower
10 Stuck Fast
11 The Beasts Forest of Gugu
12 Kiki Uses His Magic
13 The Loss Black Bag
14 The Wizard Learns the Magic Word
15 The Lonesome Duck
16 The Glass Cat Finds the Black Bag
17 Remarkable Journey
18 The Magic Wizard
19 Dorothy Bumble Bees
20 The Monkeys Have Trouble
21 The College of Athletic Arts
22 Ozma's Birthday Party
23 The Fountain of Oblivion

To My Readers

Curiously enough, events taken place last few years "great outside world," find incidents so marvelous and inspiring that hope to equal them with stories Land of Oz

However, "The Magic of Oz" is really more strange and unusual than anything read or heard about side Great Sandy Desert which shuts us off Land of Oz, even exciting years, so appeal to your love of novelty

long and confining illness has prevented my answering all the good letters sent me--unless stamps were enclosed--but from now on prompt attention to each and every letter my readers favor me

Assuring you that my love has never faltered and hoping the Oz Books will continue pleasure as long as able to write them,

Yours affectionately, L FRANK BAUM, "Royal Historian of Oz " "OZCOT" at HOLLYWOOD in CALIFORNIA 1919

1 Mount Munch

east edge Land of Oz, Munchkin Country, is big, tall hill called Mount Munch One one side, the bottom hill just touches the Deadly Sandy Desert that separates the Fairyland of Oz from all the rest world, but other side, the hill touches the beautiful, fertile Country Munchkins

The Munchkin folks, however, merely stand off and look at Mount Munch and know very little ; for, about third way up, its sides become too steep to climb, and if any people live top great towering peak that seems to reach nearly skies, the Munchkins aware fact

But people DO live there, just the same The top of Mount Munch is shaped like saucer, broad and deep, and saucer are fields where grains and vegetables grow, and flocks are fed, and brooks flow and trees bear all sorts of things houses scattered here and there, each having its family of Hyups, people call themselves The Hyups seldom go down the mountain, same reason Munchkins never climb up: the sides are too steep

In houses lived wise old Hyup named Bini Aru, who used clever Sorcerer But Ozma of Oz, who rules everyone Land of Oz, had made decree that no one should practice magic in her dominions except Glinda the Good Wizard of Oz, and when Glinda sent this royal command Hyups of strong-winged Eagle, old Bini Aru at once stopped performing magical arts He destroyed many magic powders and tools of magic, and afterward honestly obeyed the law He had never seen Ozma, but she was his Ruler and obeyed

only that grieved him He had discovered new and secret method of transformations that was unknown to Sorcerer Glinda the Good know it, nor did the little Wizard of Oz, nor Dr Pipt nor old Mombi, nor anyone else who dealt in magic arts Bini Aru's own secret By its means, it simplest thing to transform anyone into beast, bird or fish, or anything else, and back again, once how to pronounce the mystical word: "Pyrzqxgl "

Bini Aru had used this secret , but not to cause evil or suffering to others When he had wandered far from home and was hungry, say: " cow--Pyrzqxgl ! " In an instant cow, and then eat grass and satisfy his hunger All beasts and birds can talk Land of Oz, so cow was no longer hungry, it would say: " Bini Aru again: Pyrzqxgl ! " magic word, properly pronounced, would instantly restore him proper form

Now, , dare to write down this magic word so plainly if my readers would pronounce it properly and so to transform themselves and others, but fact that no one in all the world except Bini Aru, had ever ( time this story begins) been able to pronounce "Pyrzqxgl ! " the right way, so safe it It well, however, in reading this story aloud, careful not to pronounce Pyrzqxgl the proper way, and thus avoid all danger secret being able to work mischief

Bini Aru, having discovered the secret of instant transformation, which required no tools or powders or other chemicals or herbs and always worked perfectly, was reluctant such wonderful discovery entirely unknown or lost to all human knowledge He decided not to use it again, since Ozma had forbidden him , but he reflected that Ozma was girl and might change her mind and allow her subjects to practice magic, Bini Aru could again transform himself and others at will,--unless, , he forgot how to pronounce Pyrzqxgl meantime

After giving the matter careful thought, he decided to write the word, and how it pronounced, in some secret place, find it after many years, but where no one else could ever find it

That was clever idea, but what bothered the old Sorcerer was secret place He wandered all over the Saucer top of Mount Munch, but found no place to write the secret word where others likely to stumble upon it So finally he decided it written somewhere own house

Bini Aru had wife named Mopsi Aru who was famous for making fine huckleberry pies, and he had son named Kiki Aru who was not famous at all noted as being cross and disagreeable because not happy, and not happy because down the mountain and visit the big world below father let him No one paid any attention to Kiki Aru, because he didn't amount to anything, anyway

Once year festival on Mount Munch which all the Hyups attended held center saucer-shaped country, day was given over to feasting and merry-making The young folks danced and sang songs; the women spread the tables with good things to eat, men played on musical instruments and told fairy tales

Kiki Aru usually went festivals parents, and then sat sullenly outside the circle and dance or sing or even talk other young people So the festival make him any happier than other days, and Bini Aru and Mopsi Aru that go rather stay at home and be unhappy all by himself, , and so they gladly let him stay

But after left alone Kiki decided to enter his father's private room, where forbidden , if find any magic tools Bini Aru used to work with when he practiced sorcery As he went in Kiki stubbed his toe on floor boards He searched everywhere but found no trace father's magic All destroyed

Much disappointed, he started out again when he stubbed his toe same floor board That set him thinking Examining the board more closely, Kiki found it pried up and then nailed down again little higher other boards But why had his father taken up the board ? Had he hidden some magic tools underneath the floor ?

Kiki got chisel and pried up the board, but found nothing under it just about to replace the board when it slipped hand and turned over, and something written underside of it The light was rather dim, so the board window and examined it, and found writing described exactly how to pronounce the magic word Pyrzqxgl, which would transform anyone into anything instantly, and back again word was repeated

Now, at first, Kiki Aru didn't realize what wonderful secret he had discovered; but he thought it of use to him and so piece of paper and made an exact copy instructions for pronouncing Pyrzqxgl Then he folded the paper and put it pocket, and replaced the board floor no one would suspect it removed

Kiki went garden and sitting beneath tree made careful study paper He had always wanted away from Mount Munch and visit the big world--especially the Land of Oz-- idea now came to him that if transform himself into bird, fly to any place and fly back again whenever he cared to necessary, however, to learn by heart the way to pronounce the magic word, because bird no way to carry paper with it, and Kiki unable to resume his proper shape if he forgot the word or its pronunciation

So he studied it , repeating it hundred times mind until sure forget it But safety doubly sure he placed the paper in tin box in neglected part garden and covered the box with small stones

getting late day and Kiki wished to attempt his first transformation before his parents returned festival So he stood front porch home and said: