really very crooked and Ojo wondered how he managed many things twisted body When he sat down upon crooked chair that made to fit him, one knee was under his chin other near the small back; but cheerful man face bore pleasant and agreeable expression

" not allowed to perform magic, except own amusement," his visitors, as he lighted pipe with crooked stem and began to smoke "Too many people were working magic Land of Oz, and so our lovely Princess Ozma put stop she was quite right There were several wicked Witches who caused lot of trouble; but now all out of business and only the great Sorceress, Glinda the Good, is permitted to practice her arts, which never harm anybody The Wizard of Oz, who used humbug and knew no magic at all, taking lessons of Glinda, and I'm told getting pretty good Wizard; but merely the assistant great Sorceress I've the right servant girl wife, , or Glass Cat to catch our mice--which she refuses --but forbidden to work magic for others, or to use it as profession "

"Magic very interesting study," said Ojo

"It truly is," asserted the Magician "In I've performed some magical feats that were worthy skill of Glinda the Good For instance, there's the Powder of Life, and my Liquid of Petrifaction, contained bottle shelf yonder--over the window "

"What does the Liquid of Petrifaction do ? " inquired the boy

"Turns everything it touches to solid marble It's an invention own, and it very useful Once two dreadful Kalidahs, with bodies like bears and heads like tigers, came here forest to attack us; but I sprinkled Liquid on them and instantly they turned to marble I now use them as ornamental statuary in my garden This table looks like wood, and once it really was wood; but I sprinkled few drops Liquid of Petrifaction and now marble never break nor wear out "

"Fine ! " said Unc Nunkie, wagging his head and stroking his long gray beard

"Dear me; what chatterbox you're getting , Unc," remarked the Magician, who was pleased compliment But just then there came scratching back door and shrill voice cried:

"Let me in ! Hurry up, can't you ? Let me in ! "

Margolotte got up and went door

"Ask like good cat, then," she said

"Mee-ee-ow-w-w ! There; does that suit your royal highness ? " asked the voice, in scornful accents

"Yes; that's proper cat talk," declared the woman, and opened the door

At once cat entered, came center room and stopped short sight of strangers Ojo and Unc Nunkie both stared at it with wide open eyes, for surely no such curious creature had ever existed before--even Land of Oz

Chapter Four

The Glass Cat

The cat of glass, so clear and transparent that through it as easily as through window top head, however, was mass of delicate pink balls which looked like jewels, and it had heart made of blood-red ruby The eyes were two large emeralds, but aside colors all the rest animal was clear glass, and it had spun- glass tail that was really beautiful

"Well, Doc Pipt, to introduce us, or not ? " demanded the cat, in tone of annoyance "Seems forgetting your manners "

"Excuse me," returned the Magician " Unc Nunkie, the descendant former kings Munchkins, before this country became part Land of Oz "

" haircut," observed the cat, washing its face

"True," replied Unc, with low chuckle of amusement

"But he has lived alone heart forest for many years," the Magician explained; "and, although barbarous country, no barbers there "

" the dwarf ? " asked the cat

" dwarf, but boy," answered the Magician " never seen boy before now small because young With more years grow big and become as tall as Unc Nunkie "

"Oh magic ? " the glass animal inquired

"Yes; but Nature's magic, more wonderful than any art known to man For instance, my magic made you, and made you live; and poor job because useless and bother ; but 't make you grow always be the same size-- same saucy, inconsiderate Glass Cat, with pink brains and hard ruby heart "

"No one can regret more than I the fact that me," asserted the cat, crouching floor and slowly swaying its spun-glass tail from side to side "Your world is very uninteresting place I've wandered through your gardens and forest until I'm tired of it all, and when I come house the conversation of your fat wife and of yourself bores me dreadfully "

" because I different brains from those we ourselves possess--and much too good for cat," returned Dr Pipt

"Can't you take 'em out, then, and replace 'em with pebbles, I won't feel above my station in life ? " asked the cat, pleadingly

"Perhaps so I'll try it, after I've brought the Patchwork Girl to life,"

The cat walked bench the Patchwork Girl reclined and looked at her attentively

" going that dreadful thing live ? " she asked

The Magician nodded

" intended my wife's servant maid," "When alive she will do all our work and mind the house But to order her around, Bungle, us treat the Patchwork Girl respectfully "

"I won't I couldn't respect such bundle of scraps under any circumstances "

" don't, more scraps than like," cried Margolotte, angrily

"Why didn't you make her pretty to look at ? " asked the cat " me pretty--very pretty, indeed--and I love to watch my pink brains roll around 're working, and my precious red heart beat " She went to long mirror, as she said this, and stood before it, looking at herself with an air of much pride "But that poor patched thing will hate herself, when she's once alive," continued the cat "If I were you I'd use her for mop, and make another servant prettier "

" perverted taste," snapped Margolotte, much annoyed frank criticism " the Patchwork Girl is beautiful, considering what she's made of Even the rainbow hasn't colors, and admit rainbow is pretty thing "

The Glass Cat yawned and stretched herself floor

"Have your own way," she said "I'm sorry Patchwork Girl, that's all "

Ojo and Unc Nunkie slept that night Magician's house, boy was glad to stay because anxious the Patchwork Girl brought to life The Glass Cat was also wonderful creature to little Ojo, who had never seen or known anything of magic before, although he had lived Fairyland of Oz born Back there woods nothing unusual ever happened Unc Nunkie, who King Munchkins, his people united with all the other countries of Oz in acknowledging Ozma as their sole ruler, had retired forgotten forest nook baby nephew had lived all alone there Only neglected garden had failed to grow food , always have lived solitary Blue Forest; but now they had started out to mingle with other people, first place they came to proved so interesting that Ojo could scarcely sleep wink all night

Margolotte was an excellent cook and gave them fine breakfast While they were all engaged in eating, the good woman said:

" last meal to cook for , for right after breakfast Dr Pipt has promised to bring my new servant to life let her wash the breakfast dishes and sweep and dust the house What relief ! "

" , indeed, relieve you of much drudgery," said the Magician " , Margolotte, you getting some brains cupboard, while busy with my kettles What qualities given your new servant ? "

"Only those that an humble servant requires," she answered " wish her above her station, Glass Cat does make her discontented and unhappy, for always be servant "