moment no one in Oz ever died Those who were old remained old; those who were young and strong change as years passed them by; the children remained children always, and played and romped hearts' content, while all the babies lived in their cradles and were tenderly cared for and never grew up So people in Oz stopped counting how old they were in years, for years made no difference in their appearance and alter their station get sick, so there were no doctors among them Accidents might happen to some, on rare occasions, true, and while no one could die naturally, as other people do, possible that one totally destroyed Such incidents, however, were very unusual, and so seldom was there anything to worry over Oz people were as happy and contented as

Another strange thing fairy Land of Oz whoever managed to enter it outside world came under the magic spell place and change in appearance as long lived there So Dorothy, who now lived with Ozma, seemed just the same sweet little girl she when first she came delightful fairyland

Perhaps all parts of Oz called truly delightful, but surely delightful neighborhood Emerald City, where Ozma reigned Her loving influence was felt for many miles around, but there were places mountains Gillikin Country, forests Quadling Country, and perhaps in far-away parts Munchkin and Winkie Countries, where the inhabitants were somewhat rude and uncivilized and yet come under the spell of Ozma's wise and kindly rule Also, when Oz first became fairyland, it harbored several witches and magicians and sorcerers and necromancers, who were scattered in various parts, but most deprived magic powers, and Ozma had issued royal edict forbidding anyone in her dominions to work magic except Glinda the Good Wizard of Oz Ozma herself, being real fairy, knew lot of magic, but she only used it to benefit her subjects

This little explanation will to understand better the story reaching, but most of already known familiar Oz people whose adventures followed in other Oz books

Ozma and Dorothy were fast friends and were much together Everyone in Oz loved Dorothy almost their lovely Ruler, little Kansas girl's good fortune spoiled her or rendered her at all vain She was just the same brave and true and adventurous child as before she lived in royal palace and became the chum fairy Ozma

room two sat -- one of Ozma's private suite of apartments -- hung the famous Magic Picture the source of constant interest to little Dorothy One had but to stand before it and wish what any person was doing, and at once scene would flash magic canvas which showed exactly where that person was, and like our own moving pictures would reproduce the actions person as long cared to watch them So today, when Dorothy tired of her embroidery, she drew the curtains from Magic Picture and wished what her friend Button Bright was doing Button Bright, she saw, was playing ball with Ojo, the Munchkin boy, so Dorothy next wished what her Aunt Em was doing The picture showed Aunt Em quietly engaged in darning socks for Uncle Henry, so Dorothy wished what her old friend the Tin Woodman was doing

The Tin Woodman was then just leaving his tin castle company Scarecrow and Woot the Wanderer Dorothy had never seen this boy before, so she wondered who Also she was curious where the three were going, for she noticed Woot's knapsack and guessed they had started on long journey She asked Ozma , but Ozma know

That afternoon Dorothy again saw the travelers Magic Picture, but they were merely tramping country and Dorothy was not much interested couple of days later, however, the girl, being again with Ozma, wished her friends, the Scarecrow Tin Woodman Magic Picture, and occasion found them great castle of Mrs Yoop, the Giantess, who was about to transform them Both Dorothy and Ozma now became greatly interested and watched the transformations with indignation and horror

"What wicked Giantess ! " exclaimed Dorothy

"Yes," answered Ozma, " be punished cruelty to our friends, and poor boy "

they followed the adventure little Brown Bear Tin Owl Green Monkey with breathless interest, and were delighted escaped from Mrs Yoop know, then, who the Canary was, but realized it the transformation of some person of consequence, whom the Giantess had also enchanted

When, finally, the day came adventurers headed south Munchkin Country, Dorothy asked anxiously:

"Can't something , Ozma ? Can't you change 'em back into their own shapes ? They've suffered enough dreadful transformations, seems "

"I've been studying ways to help them, they were transformed," replied Ozma " Mrs Yoop is now the only yookoohoo in my dominions, yookoohoo magic is very peculiar and hard for others to understand, yet resolved to attempt to break these enchantments not succeed, but best directions our friends are taking, I believe going by Jinjur's Ranch, so start now meet them there Would you like with me, Dorothy ? "

" ," answered the little girl; "I wouldn't miss it for anything "

"Then order the Red Wagon," said Ozma of Oz, "and start at once "

Dorothy ran as she was bid, while Ozma went to her Magic Room ready the things she believed need In half an hour the Red Wagon stood grand entrance palace, and before hitched the Wooden Sawhorse, Ozma's favorite steed

This Sawhorse, while made of wood, was alive and could travel swiftly and without tiring the ends wooden legs from wearing down short, Ozma had shod the Sawhorse with plates of pure gold His harness was studded with brilliant emeralds and other jewels and so, while he himself was not at all handsome, his outfit made splendid appearance

Sawhorse could understand her spoken words, Ozma used no reins to guide him She merely told him where When she came palace with Dorothy, they both climbed Red Wagon and then the little dog, Toto, ran up and asked:

" going to leave me behind, Dorothy ? " Dorothy looked at Ozma, who smiled in return and said:

"Toto may go , him to "

So Dorothy lifted the little dog wagon, for, while run fast, keep up speed wonderful Sawhorse

Away they went, over hills and through meadows, covering the ground with astonishing speed surprising, therefore, Red Wagon arrived before Jinjur's house just energetic young lady had finished scrubbing the Green Monkey and was about to lead him caramel patch

Chapter Thirteen

The Restoration

The Tin Owl gave hoot of delight when the Red Wagon draw up before Jinjur's house, Brown Bear grunted and growled with glee and trotted toward Ozma as fast as wobble As Canary, it flew swiftly to Dorothy's shoulder and perched there, saying in her ear:

"Thank goodness come to our rescue ! "

"But who ? " asked Dorothy

"Don't ? " returned the Canary

"No; first time we noticed you Magic Picture, you were just bird, now But we've guessed giant woman had transformed you, as she did the others "

"Yes; I'm Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter," announced the Canary

"Goodness me ! " cried Dorothy "How dreadful "

"Well, I make rather pretty bird, ," returned Polychrome, "but I'm anxious to resume my own shape and get back upon my rainbow "

"Ozma will , I'm sure," said Dorothy "How does it feel, Scarecrow, Bear ? " she asked, addressing her old friend

"I don't like it," declared the Scarecrow Bear "This brutal form is quite beneath the dignity of wholesome straw man "

"And think of me," said the Owl, perching dashboard Red Wagon with much noisy clattering tin feathers "Don't I look horrid, Dorothy, with eyes several sizes too big body, and so weak that I ought to wear spectacles ? "

"Well," said Dorothy critically, as she looked him over, "you're nothing to brag of, confess But Ozma will soon fix you up again "

The Green Monkey had hung back, bashful at meeting two lovely girls while form of beast; but Jinjur now took his hand and led him forward while she introduced him to Ozma, and Woot managed low bow, not really ungraceful, before her girlish Majesty, the Ruler of Oz

" all been forced to endure sad experience," said Ozma, "and so anxious all in my power to break Mrs Yoop's enchantments But first tell me how you happened to stray into that lonely Valley where Yoop Castle stands "

they related the object journey, the Scarecrow Bear telling Tin Woodman's resolve Nimmie Amee and marry her, as just reward for her loyalty to him Woot told adventures Loons of Loonville, Tin Owl described the manner they captured and transformed Giantess Then Polychrome related her story, and when all told, and Dorothy had reproved Toto for growling Tin Owl, Ozma remained thoughtful for while, pondering upon what she had heard Finally she looked up, and with one of her delightful smiles, said anxious group:

" not sure my magic to restore of you, because your transformations are strange and unusual character Indeed, Mrs Yoop was quite justified in believing no power could alter her enchantments However, restore the Scarecrow original shape stuffed with straw beginning, and even the yookoohoo magic alter that The Giantess was merely able bear's shape of man's shape, but the bear is stuffed with straw, just man was So confident make man bear again "

"Hurrah ! " cried the Brown Bear, and tried clumsily to dance jig of delight

"As Tin Woodman, his case is much the same," resumed Ozma, still smiling "The power Giantess make him anything but tin creature, whatever shape she transformed him into, so impossible to restore him manly form Anyhow, test my magic at once, do what promised "