So, if Dorothy keeps her word and I am permitted to write another Oz book, you will probably discover how all these characters came together in the famous Emerald City. Meantime, I want to tell all my little friends--whose numbers are increasing by many thousands every year--that I am very grateful for the favor they have shown my books and for the delightful little letters I am constantly receiving. I am almost sure that I have as many friends among the children of America as any story writer alive; and this, of course, makes me very proud and happy.
"OZCOT" at HOLLYWOOD in CALIFORNIA, 1914.
1--Ann's Army 13 2--Out of Oogaboo 24 3--Magic Mystifies the Marchers 28 4--Betsy Braves the Billows 39 5--The Roses Repulse the Refugees 42 6--Shaggy Seeks his Stray Brother 48 7--Polychrome's Pitiful Plight 65 8--Tik-Tok Tackles a Tough Task 78 9--Ruggedo's Rage is Rash and Reckless 92 10--A Terrible Tumble Through a Tube 107 11--The Famous Fellowship of Fairies 120 12--The Lovely Lady of Light 129 13--The Jinjin's Just Judgment 136 14--The Long-Eared Hearer Learns by Listening 149 15--The Dragon Defies Danger 159 16--The Naughty Nome 168 17--A Tragic Transformation 177 18--A Clever Conquest 193 19--King Kaliko 202 20--Quox Quietly Quits 213 21--A Bashful Brother 221 22--Kindly Kisses 233 23--Ruggedo Reforms 245 24--Dorothy is Delighted 251 25--The Land of Love 263
"I won't!" cried Ann; "I won't sweep the floor. It is beneath my dignity."
"Some one must sweep it," replied Ann's younger sister, Salye; "else we shall soon be wading in dust. And you are the eldest, and the head of the family."
"I'm Queen of Oogaboo," said Ann, proudly. "But," she added with a sigh, "my kingdom is the smallest and the poorest in all the Land of Oz."
This was quite true. Away up in the mountains, in a far corner of the beautiful fairyland of Oz, lies a small valley which is named Oogaboo, and in this valley lived a few people who were usually happy and contented and never cared to wander over the mountain pass into the more settled parts of the land. They knew that all of Oz, including their own territory, was ruled by a beautiful Princess named Ozma, who lived in the splendid Emerald City; yet the simple folk of Oogaboo never visited Ozma. They had a royal family of their own--not especially to rule over them, but just as a matter of pride. Ozma permitted the various parts of her country to have their Kings and Queens and Emperors and the like, but all were ruled over by the lovely girl Queen of the Emerald City.