"Is blue the only respectable color, then ? " inquired Ojo

"Yes, for Munchkin All our country is blue, But in other parts of Oz the people favor different colors Emerald City, where our Princess Ozma lives, green popular color But all Munchkins prefer blue to anything else and when my housework girl is brought to life she herself of unpopular colors that she'll never dare be rebellious or impudent, as servants are sometimes liable are made the same way their mistresses are "

Unc Nunkie nodded approval

"Good i-dea," ; was long speech for Unc Nunkie because two words

"So I cut up the quilt," continued Margolotte, "and made -shaped girl, which I stuffed with cotton-wadding show you what good job ," and she went to tall cupboard and threw open the doors

Then back she came, lugging in her arms the Patchwork Girl, which she set bench and propped up so figure tumble over

Chapter Three

The Patchwork Girl

Ojo examined this curious contrivance with wonder The Patchwork Girl was taller than he, when she stood upright, and her body was plump and rounded because it so neatly stuffed with cotton Margolotte had first made the girl's form patchwork quilt and then she had dressed it with patchwork skirt and an apron with pockets -- using the same gay material throughout feet she had sewn pair of red leather shoes with pointed toes All the fingers and thumbs girl's hands carefully formed and stuffed and stitched edges, with gold plates ends as finger-nails

"She to work, when she comes to life," said Marglotte

The head Patchwork Girl most curious part of her While she waited for her husband to finish making his Powder of Life the woman had found ample time to complete the head as her fancy dictated, and she realized that good servant's head properly constructed The hair was of brown yarn and hung down on her neck in several neat braids Her eyes were two silver suspender-buttons cut from pair Magician's old trousers, were sewed on with black threads, which formed the pupils eyes Margolotte had puzzled over the ears for , were important servant was to hear distinctly, but finally she had made them out of thin plates of gold and attached them in place of stitches through tiny holes bored metal Gold most common metal Land of Oz used for many purposes because soft and pliable

The woman had cut slit Patchwork Girl's mouth and sewn two rows of white pearls for teeth, using strip of scarlet plush for tongue This mouth Ojo considered very artistic and lifelike, and Margolotte was pleased boy praised it There were almost too many patches face girl for her considered strictly beautiful, cheek was yellow other red, her chin blue, her forehead purple center, where her nose formed and padded, bright yellow

"You had her face all pink," suggested the boy

"I suppose so; but I had no pink cloth," replied the woman "Still, I as it matters much, for my Patchwork Girl useful rather than ornamental If I get tired looking at her patched face whitewash it "

"Has she any brains ? " asked Ojo

"No; I forgot all brains ! " exclaimed the woman " you reminded me , for too late to supply them, by any means Until brought to life do anything I please girl But careful not her brains, and those she has such as are fitted station to occupy in life In other words, her brains mustn't be "

"Wrong," said Unc Nunkie

"No; right ," returned the woman

"He means," explained Ojo, "that unless your servant has good brains she won't know how to obey you properly, nor things you ask her "

"Well, true," agreed Margolotte; "but, contrary, servant with brains is sure independent and high- and-mighty and feel above her work very delicate task, as , and take care the girl just the right quantity right sort of brains her just enough, but not "

she went to another cupboard filled with shelves All the shelves were lined with blue glass bottles, neatly labeled Magician to show what they contained One whole shelf was marked: "Brain Furniture," bottles shelf were labeled as follows: "Obedience," "Cleverness," "Judgment," "Courage," "Ingenuity," "Amiability," "Learning," "Truth," "Poesy," "Self Reliance "

"Let me see," said Margolotte; " qualities she 'Obedience' first of all," and she took down the bottle bearing that label and poured upon dish several grains contents "'Amiability' is also good and 'Truth '" She poured dish quantity from each bottles " do," she continued, " other qualities needed in servant "

Unc Nunkie, who with Ojo stood beside her, touched the bottle marked "Cleverness "

"Little," said he

"A little 'Cleverness' ? Well, perhaps right, sir," said she, and was about down the bottle Crooked Magician suddenly called to her excitedly fireplace

"Quick, Margolotte ! Come and help me "

She ran to her husband's side at once and helped him lift the four kettles fire Their contents had all boiled away, leaving bottom of each kettle few grains of fine white powder Very carefully the Magician removed this powder, placing it all together in golden dish, where he mixed it with golden spoon mixture was complete scarcely handful, all told

"That," said Dr Pipt, in pleased and triumphant tone, " wonderful Powder of Life, which I alone know how It has taken me nearly six years these precious grains of dust, but the little heap dish is worth the price of kingdom and many king would give all he possess it When it has become cooled place it in small bottle; but meantime watch it carefully, lest gust of wind blow it away or scatter it "

Unc Nunkie, Margolotte Magician all stood looking marvelous Powder, but Ojo was more interested just then Patchwork Girl's brains Thinking it both unfair and unkind to deprive her of any good qualities that were handy, the boy took down every bottle shelf and poured contents in Margolotte's dish No one saw him , for all were looking Powder of Life; but soon the woman remembered what she doing, and came back cupboard

"Let's see," she remarked; " about my girl little 'Cleverness,' the Doctor's substitute for 'Intelligence'--a quality he learned how to manufacture " Taking down the bottle of "Cleverness" she added powder heap dish Ojo became bit uneasy , for he had already put quite lot "Cleverness" powder dish; but he dared not interfere and so he comforted himself thought that one cleverness

Margolotte now carried the dish of brains bench Ripping the seam patch girl's forehead, she placed the powder head and then sewed up the seam as neatly and securely as before

"My girl is all ready for your Powder of Life, my dear," she said to her husband But the Magician replied:

"This powder must not be used before to-morrow morning; but now cool enough bottled "

He selected small gold bottle with pepper- box top, so powder sprinkled on any object small holes Very carefully he placed the Powder of Life gold bottle and then locked it up in drawer cabinet

"At last," said he, rubbing his hands together gleefully, " ample leisure for good talk with my old friend Unc Nunkie So sit down cosily and enjoy ourselves After stirring those four kettles for six years little rest "

" most talking," said Ojo, "for Unc is called the Silent One and uses few words "

" ; but that renders your uncle most agreeable companion and gossip," declared Dr Pipt "Most people talk , so relief one who talks too little "

Ojo looked Magician with much awe and curiosity

"Don't you find it very annoying so crooked ? " he asked