the lost princess of oz-第33节
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carefully packing all the magical things that had been
stolen by Ugu and also taking whatever in the way of
magic the shoemaker had inherited from his ancestors。
〃For；〃 said Ozma； 〃I have forbidden any of my
subjects except Glinda the Good and the Wizard of Oz to
practice magical arts； because they cannot be trusted
to do good and not harm。 Therefore Ugu must never again
be permitted to work magic of any sort。〃
〃Well；〃 remarked Dorothy cheerfully； 〃a dove can't do
much in the way of magic； anyhow； and I'm going to keep
Ugu in the form of a dove until he reforms and becomes
a good and honest shoemaker。〃
When everything was packed and loaded on the backs of
the animals； they set out for the river； taking a more
direct route than that by which Cayke and the Frogman
had come。 In this way they avoided the Cities of Thi
and Herku and Bear Center and after a pleasant journey
reached the Winkie River and found a jolly ferryman
who had a fine big boat and was willing to carry the
entire party by water to a place quite near to the
Emerald City。
The river had many windings and many branches； and
the journey did not end in a day； but finally the boat
floated into a pretty lake which was but a short
distance from Ozma's home。 Here the jolly ferryman was
rewarded for his labors and then the entire party set
out in a grand procession to march to the Emerald City。
News that the Royal Ozma had been found spread
quickly throughout the neighborhood and both sides of
the road soon became lined with loyal subjects of the
beautiful and beloved Ruler。 Therefore Ozma's ears
heard little but cheers and her eyes beheld little else
than waving handkerchiefs and banners during all the
triumphal march from the lake to the city's gates。
And there she met a still greater concourse； for all
the inhabitants of the Emerald City turned out to
welcome her return and several bands played gay music
and all the houses were decorated with flags and
bunting and never before were the people so joyous and
happy as at this moment when they welcomed home their
girl Ruler。 For she had been lost and was now found
again； and surely that was cause for rejoicing。
Glinda was at the royal palace to meet the returning
party and the good Sorceress was indeed glad to have
her Great Book of Records returned to her； as well as
all the precious collection of magic instruments and
elixirs and chemicals that had been stolen from her
castle。 Cap'n Bill and the Wizard at once hung the
Magic Picture upon the wall of Ozma's boudoir and the
Wizard was so light…hearted that he did several tricks
with the tools in his black bag to amuse his companions
and prove that once again he was a powerful wizard。
For a whole week there was feasting and merriment and
all sorts of joyous festivities at the palace； in honor
of Ozma's safe return。 The Lavender Bear and the little
Pink Bear received much attention and were honored by
all； much to the Bear King's satisfaction。 The Frogman
speedily became a favorite at the Emerald City and the
Shaggy Man and Tik…Tok and Jack Pumpkinhead； who had
now returned from their search； were very polite to the
big frog and made him feel quite at home。 Even the
Cookie Cook； because she was a stranger and Ozma's
guest； was shown as much deference as if she had been a
queen。
〃All the same； Your Majesty；〃 said Cayke to Ozma； day
after day； with tiresome repetition； 〃I hope you will
soon find my jeweled dishpan； for never can I be quite
happy without it。〃
Chapter Twenty…Six
Dorothy Forgives
The gray dove which had once been Ugu the Shoemaker sat
on its tree in the far Quadling Country and moped；
chirping dismally and brooding over its misfortunes。
After a time the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman came
along and sat beneath the tree； paying no heed to the
mutterings of the gray dove。
The Tin Woodman took a small oilcan from his tin
pocket and carefully oiled his tin joints with it。
While he was thus engaged the Scarecrow remarked：
〃I feel much better； dear comrade； since we found
that heap of nice dean straw and you stuffed me anew
with it〃
〃And I feel much better now that my joints are
oiled；〃 returned the Tin Woodman； with a sigh of
pleasure。 〃You and I； friend Scarecrow； are much more
easily cared for than those clumsy meat people； who
spend half their time dressing in fine clothes and who
must live in splendid dwellings in order to be
contented and happy。 You and I do not eat； and so we
are spared the dreadful bother of getting three meals a
day。 Nor do we waste half our lives in sleep； a
condition that causes the meat people to lose al＇
consciousness and become as thoughtless and helpless as
logs of wood。〃
〃You speak truly；〃 responded the Scarecrow； tucking
some wisps of straw into his breast with his padded
fingers。 〃I often feel sorry for the meat people； many
of whom are my friends。 Even the beasts are happier
than they； for they require less to make them content。
And the birds are the luckiest creatures of all； for
they can fly swiftly where they will and find a home at
any place they care to perch； their food consists of
seeds and grains they gather from the fields and their
drink is a sip of water from some running brook。 If I
could not be a Scarecrow or a Tin Woodman my next
choice would be to live as a bird does。〃
The gray dove had listened carefully to this speech
and seemed to find comfort in it； for it hushed its
moaning。 And just then the Tin Woodman discovered
Cayke's dishpan； which was on the ground quite near to
him。
〃Here is a rather pretty utensil；〃 he said； taking it
in his tin hands to examine it； 〃but I would not care
to own it。 Whoever fashioned it of gold and covered it
with diamonds did not add to its usefulness； nor do I
consider it as beautiful as the bright dishpans of tin
one usually sees。 No yellow color is ever so handsome
as the silver sheen of tin；〃 and he turned to look at
his tin legs and body with approval。
〃I cannot quite agree with you there；〃 replied the
Scarecrow。 〃My straw stuffing has a light yellow color；
and it is not only pretty to look at but it crunkles
most delightfully when I move。〃
〃Let us admit that all colors are good in their
proper places；〃 said the Tin Woodman； who was too kind…
hearted to quarrel； 〃but you must agree with me that a
dishpan that is yellow is unnatural。 What shall we do
with this one； which we； have just found？〃
〃Let us carry it back to the Emerald City；〃 suggested
the Scarecrow。 〃Some of our friends might like to have
it for a foot…bath； and in using it that way its golden
color and sparkling ornaments would not injure its
usefulness。〃
So they went away and took the jeweled dishpan with
them。 And； after wandering through the country for a
day or so longer； they learned the news that Ozma had
been found。 Therefore they straightaway returned to the
Emerald City and presented the dishpan to Princess Ozma
as a token of their joy that she had been restored to
them。
Ozma promptly gave the diamond…studded gold dishpan
to Cayke the Cookie Cook； who was so delighted at
regaining her lost treasure that she danced up and down
in glee and then threw her skinny arms around Ozma's
neck and kissed her gratefully。 Cayke's mission was now
successfully accomplished； but she was having such a
good time at the Emerald City that she seemed in no
hurry to go back to the Country of the Yips。
It was several weeks after the dishpan had been
restored to the Cookie Cook when one day； as Dorothy
was seated in the royal gardens with Trot and Betsy
beside her； a gray dove came flying down and alighted
at the girl's feet。
〃I am Ugu the Shoemaker；〃 said the dove in a soft；
mourning voice； 〃and I have come to ask you to forgive
me for the great wrong I did in stealing Ozma and the
magic that belonged to her and to others。〃
〃Are you sorry； then？〃 asked Dorothy； looking hard at
the bird。
〃I am very sorry；〃 declared Ugu。 〃I've been thinking
over my misdeeds for a long time； for doves have little
e
