the lost princess of oz-第2节
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patchwork quilt which had been cut into shape and
stuffed with cotton。 Her head was a round ball stuffed
in the same manner and fastened to her shoulders。 For
hair she had a mass of brown yarn and to make a nose
for her a pan of the cloth had been pulled out into the
shape of a knob and tied with a string to hold it in
place。 Her mouth had been carefully made by cutting a
slit in the proper place and lining it with red silk；
adding two rows of pearls for teeth and a bit of red
flannel for a tongue。
In spite of this queer make…up； the Patchwork Girl
was magically alive and had proved herself not the
least jolly and agreeable of the many quaint characters
who inhabit the astonishing Fairyland of Oz。 Indeed；
Scraps was a general favorite； although she was rather
flighty and erratic and did and said many things that
surprised her friends。 She was seldom still； but loved
to dance； to turn handsprings and somersaults； to climb
trees and to indulge in many other active sports。
〃I'm going to search for Ozma；〃 remarked Dorothy；
〃for she isn't in her rooms and I want to ask her a
question。〃
〃I'll go with you；〃 said Scraps； 〃for my eyes are
brighter than yours and they can see farther。〃
〃I'm not sure of that；〃 remarked Dorothy。 〃But come
along； if you like。〃
Together they searched all through the great palace
and even to the farthest limits of the palace grounds；
which were quite extensive； but nowhere could they find
a trace of Ozma。 When Dorothy returned to where Betsy
and Trot awaited her； the little girl's face was rather
solemn and troubled； for never before had Ozma gone
away without telling her friends where she was going；
or without an escort that befitted her royal state。
She was gone； however； and none had seen her go。
Dorothy had met and questioned the Scarecrow； Tik…Tok；
the Shaggy Man； Button…Bright； Cap'n Bill； and even the
wise and powerful Wizard of Oz； but not one of them had
seen Ozma since she parted with her friends the evening
before and had gone to her own rooms。
〃She didn't say anything las' night about going
anywhere；〃 observed little Trot。
〃No； and thats the strange Part of it；〃 replied
Dorothy。 〃Usually Ozma lets us know of everything she
does。〃
〃Why not look in the Magic Picture？〃 suggested Betsy
Bobbin。 〃That will tell us where she is； in just one
second。〃
〃Of course！〃 cried Dorothy。 〃Why didn't I think of
that before？〃 and at once the three girls hurried away
to Ozma's boudoir； where the Magic Picture always hung。
This wonderful Magic Picture was one of the royal
Ozma's greatest treasures。 there was a large gold
frame； in the center of which was a bluish…gray canvas
on which various scenes constantly appeared and
disappeared。 If one who stood before it wished to see
what any person anywhere in the world was doing；
it was only necessary to make the wish and the scene in
the Magic Picture would shift to the scene where that
person was and show exactly what he or she was then
engaged in doing。 So the girls knew it would be easy
for them to wish to see Ozma； and from the picture they
could quickly learn where she was。
Dorothy advanced to the place where the picture was
usually protected by thick satin Curtains； and pulled
the draperies aside。 Then she stared in amazement；
while her two friends uttered exclamations of
disappointment。
The Magic Picture was gone。 Only a blank space on the
wall behind the curtains showed where it had formerly
hung。
Chapter Two
The Troubles of Glinda the Good
That same morning there was great excitement in the
castle of the powerful Sorceress of Oz； Glinda the
Good。 This castle； situated in the Quadling Country；
far south of the Emerald City where Ozma ruled； was a
splendid structure of exquisite marbles and silver
grilles。 Here the Sorceress lived； surrounded by a bevy
of the most beautiful maidens of Oz； gathered from all
the four countries of that fairyland as well as from
the magnificent Emerald City itself； which stood in the
place where the four countries cornered。
It was considered a great honor to be allowed to
serve the good Sorceress； whose arts of magic were used
only to benefit the Oz people。 Glinda was Ozma's most
valued servant； for her knowledge of sorcery was
wonderful and she could accomplish almost anything that
her mistress； the lovely girl Ruler of Oz； wished her
to。
Of all the magical things which surrounded Glinda in
her castle there was none more marvelous than her Great
Book of Records。 On the pages of this Record Book were
constantly being inscribed day by day and hour by
hour all the important events that happened anywhere
in the known world； and they were inscribed in the book
at exactly the moment the events happened。 Every
adventure in the Land of Oz and in the big outside
world； and even in places that you and I have never
heard of； were recorded accurately in the Great Book；
which never made a mistake and stated only the exact
truth。 For that reason nothing could be concealed from
Glinda the Good； who had only to look at the pages of
the Great Book of Records to know everything that had
taken place。 That was one reason she was such a great
Sorceress； for the records made her wiser than any
other living person。
This wonderful book was placed upon a big gold table
that stood in the middle of Glinda's drawing…room。 The
legs of the table； which were encrusted with precious
gems； were firmly fastened to the tiled floor and the
book itself was chained to the table and locked with
six stout golden padlocks； the keys to which Glinda
carried on a chain that was secured around her own
neck。
The pages of the Great Book were larger in size than
those of an American newspaper and although they were
exceedingly thin there were so many of them that they
made an enormous； bulky volume。 With its gold cover and
gold clasps the book was so heavy that three men could
scarcely have lifted it。 Yet this morning； when Glinda
entered her drawing…room after breakfast； with all her
maidens trailing after her； the good Sorceress was
amazed to discover that her Great Book of Records had
mysteriously disappeared。
Advancing to the table； she found the chains had been
cut with some sharp instrument； and this must have been
done while all in the castle slept。 Glinda was shocked
and grieved。 Who could have done this wicked； bold
thing？ And who could wish to deprive her of her Great
Book of Records？
The Sorceress was thoughtful for a time； considering
the consequences of her loss。 Then she went to her Room
of Magic to prepare a charm that would tell her who had
stolen the Record Book。 But； when she unlocked her
cupboards and threw open the doors； all of her magical
instruments and rare chemical compounds had been
removed from the shelves。
The Sorceress was now both angry and alarmed。 She sat
down in a chair and tried to think how this
extraordinary robbery could have taken place。 It was
evident that the thief was some person of very great
power； or the theft could never have been accomplished
without her knowledge。 But who； in all the Land of Oz；
was powerful and skillful enough to do this awful
thing？ And who； having the power； could also have an
object in defying the wisest and most talented
Sorceress the world has ever known？
Glinda thought over the perplexing matter for a full
hour； at the end of which time she was still puzzled
how to explain it。 But although her instrument and
chemicals were gone her knowledge of magic had not been
stolen； by any means； since no thief； however skillful；
can rob one of knowledge； and that is why knowledge is
the best and safest treasure to acquire。 Glinda
believed that when she had time to gather more magical
herbs and elixirs and to manufacture more magical
instruments she would be able to discover who the
robber was； and what had become of her precious Book of
Records。
〃Whoever has done this；〃 she said to her maidens； 〃is
a very foolish person； for in time he is sure to be
found out and will then be severely punished
