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THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ
by L。 FRANK BAUM
Affectionately dedicated to my young friend
Sumner Hamilton Britton of Chicago
Prologue
Through the kindness of Dorothy Gale of Kansas；
afterward Princess Dorothy of Oz； an humble writer
in the United States of America was once appointed
Royal Historian of Oz； with the privilege of
writing the chronicle of that wonderful fairyland。
But after making six books about the adventures of
those interesting but queer people who live in the
Land of Oz； the Historian learned with sorrow that
by an edict of the Supreme Ruler； Ozma of Oz； her
country would thereafter be rendered invisible to
all who lived outside its borders and that all
communication with Oz would； in the future； be cut off。
The children who had learned to look for the
books about Oz and who loved the stories about the
gay and happy people inhabiting that favored
country； were as sorry as their Historian that
there would be no more books of Oz stories。 They
wrote many letters asking if the Historian did not
know of some adventures to write about that had
happened before the Land of Oz was shut out from
all the rest of the world。 But he did not know of
any。 Finally one of the children inquired why we
couldn't hear from Princess Dorothy by wireless
telegraph； which would enable her to communicate
to the Historian whatever happened in the far…off
Land of Oz without his seeing her； or even knowing
just where Oz is。
That seemed a good idea； so the Historian rigged
up a high tower in his back yard； and took lessons
in wireless telegraphy until he understood it；
and then began to call 〃Princess Dorothy of Oz〃 by
sending messages into the air。
Now； it wasn't likely that Dorothy would be
looking for wireless messages or would heed the
call； but one thing the Historian was sure of； and
that was that the powerful Sorceress； Glinda；
would know what he was doing and that he desired
to communicate with Dorothy。 For Glinda has a big
book in which is recorded every event that takes
place anywhere in the world； just the moment that
it happens； and so of course the book would tell
her about the wireless message。
And that was the way Dorothy heard that the
Historian wanted to speak with her； and there was
a Shaggy Man in the Land of Oz who knew how to
telegraph a wireless reply。 The result was that
the Historian begged so hard to be told the latest
news of Oz； so that he could write it down for the
children to read； that Dorothy asked permission of
Ozma and Ozma graciously consented。
That is why； after two long years of waiting；
another Oz story is now presented to the children
of America。 This would not have been possible had
not some clever man invented the 〃wireless〃 and an
equally clever child suggested the idea of
reaching the mysterious Land of Oz by its means。
L。 Frank Baum。
〃OZCOT〃
at Hollywood
in California
LIST OF CHAPTERS
1 … Ojo and Unc Nunkie
2 … The Crooked Magician
3 … The Patchwork Girl
4 … The Glass Cat
5 … A Terrible Accident
6 … The Journey
7 … The Troublesome Phonograph
8 … The Foolish Owl and the Wise Donkey
9 … They Meet the Woozy
10 … Shaggy Man to the Rescue
11 … A Good Friend
12 … The Giant Porcupine
13 … Scrapes and the Scarecrow
14 … Ojo Breaks the Law
15 … Ozma's Prisoner
16 … Princess Dorothy
17 … Ozma and Her Friends
18 … Ojo is Forgiven
19 … Trouble with the Tottenhots
20 … The Captive Yoop
21 … Hip Hopper the Champion
22 … The Joking Horners
23 … Peace is Declared
24 … Ojo Finds the Dark Well
25 … They Bribe the Lazy Quadling
26 … The Trick River
27 … The Tin Woodman Objects
28 … The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Patchwork Girl of Oz
Chapter One
Ojo and Unc Nunkie
〃Where's the butter； Unc Nunkie？〃 asked Ojo。
Unc looked out of the window and stroked his
long beard。 Then he turned to the Munchkin boy and
shook his head。
〃Isn't；〃 said he。
〃Isn't any butter？ That's too bad； Unc。 Where's
the jam then？〃 inquired Ojo； standing on a stool
so he could look through all the shelves of the
cupboard。 But Unc Nunkie shook his head again。
〃Gone；〃 he said。
〃No jam； either？ And no cakeno jellyno
applesnothing but bread？〃
〃All；〃 said Unc； again stroking his beard as he
gazed from the window。
The little boy brought the stool and sat be side
his uncle； munching the dry bread slowly and
seeming in deep thought。
〃Nothing grows in our yard but the bread
tree；〃 he mused； 〃and there are only two more
loaves on that tree； and they're not ripe yet。 Tell
me； Unc； why are we so poor？〃
The old Munchkin turned and looked at Ojo。 He
had kindly eyes； but he hadn't smiled or laughed
in so long that the boy had forgotten that Unc
Nunkie could look any other way than solemn。 And
Unc never spoke any more words than he was obliged
to； so his little nephew； who lived alone with
him； had learned to understand a great deal from
one word。
〃Why are we so poor； Unc？〃 repeated the
〃Not；〃 said the old Munchkin。
〃I think we are；〃 declared Ojo。 〃What have we
got？〃
〃House；〃 said Unc Nunkie。
〃I know； but everyone in the Land of Oz
has a place to live。 What else； Unc？〃
〃Bread。〃
〃I'm eating the last loaf that's ripe。 There；
I've put aside your share； Unc。 It's on the table；
so you can eat it when you get hungry。 But when
that is gone； what shall we eat； Unc？〃
The old man shifted in his chair but merely
shook his head。
〃Of course；〃 said Ojo； who was obliged to talk
because his uncle would not； 〃no one starves in
the Land of Oz； either。 There is plenty for
everyone； you know； only； if it isn't just where
you happen to be； you must go where it is。〃
The aged Munchkin wriggled again and stared at
his small nephew as if disturbed by his argument。
〃By tomorrow morning；〃 the boy went on； we must
go where there is something to eat； or we shall
grow very hungry and become very unhappy。〃
〃Where？〃 asked Unc。
〃Where shall we go？ I don't know； I'm sure；〃
replied Ojo。 〃But you must know； Unc。 You must
have traveled； in your time； because you're so
old。 I don't remember it； because ever since I
could remember anything we've lived right here in
this lonesome； round house； with a little garden
back of it and the thick woods all around。 All
I've ever seen of the great Land of Oz； Unc dear；
is the view of that mountain over at the south；
where they say the Hammerheads livewho won't let
anybody go by themand that mountain at the
north； where they say nobody lives。〃
〃One；〃 declared Unc； correcting him。
〃Oh； yes； one family lives there； I've heard。
That's the Crooked Magician； who is named
Dr。 Pipt； and his wife Margolotte。 One year you
told me about them； I think it took you a whole
year； Unc； to say as much as I've just said about
the Crooked Magician and his wife。 They live
high up on the mountain； and the good Munchkin
Country； where the fruits and flowers grow； is
just the other side。 It's funny you and I should
live here all alone； in the middle of the forest；
Isn't it？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Unc。
〃Then let's go away and visit the Munchkin
Country and its jolly； good…natured people。 I'd
love to get a sight of something besides woods；
Unc Nunkie。〃
〃Too little；〃 said Unc。
〃Why； I'm not so little as I used to be；〃
answered the boy earnestly。 〃I think I can walk
as far and as fast through the woods as you
can； Unc。 And now that nothing grows in our
back yard that is good to eat； we must go where
there is food。〃
Unc Nunkie made no reply for a time。 Then
he shut down the window and turned his chair
to face the room； for the sun was sinking behind
the tree…tops and it was growing cool。
By and by Ojo lighted the fire and the logs