A Happy Home in Oz
"And now," sighed the little Queen of Oz, sinking down among the soft
cushions of her emerald throne, "let's have the whole story!" Nothing
could have exceeded her amazement, as Notta told of their marvelous
adventures in Oz--of Doorways and Un and Preserva the Great, of the
Flyaboutabus and the Fiddlebow Boat. Dorothy was so curious about the
Skyle of Un that they all ran to look in Ozma's Magic Picture, which
shows any place or person one wishes to see.
"Show us the Uns," commanded Ozma breathlessly, and Bob and Notta
almost tumbled over backwards when the Magic Picture showed them
I-wish-I-was and his Featherheads. A great battle was in progress,
for I-wish-I-was was furious at the loss of the Flyaboutabus. The
Guards and their friends on one side and the wicked ruler on the other
were fighting tumultuously. Sticks and feathers were flying in every
direction and they were even pulling down their tree houses.
Ozma shook her head gravely, but Bob Up, who had been thinking about
the only good Un ever since they left the skyland, suddenly remembered
his name and triumphantly whispered it to Ozma. Instantly Ozma, with
the help of Glinda and the Wizard, commanded the good Un to come out
from his hiding and sit upon the throne. The fighting ceased at once
and the Uns began to look at one another with puzzled expressions, as
if they could not remember what they had been quarreling about. Bob and
Notta and the Cowardly Lion shouted with approval, forgetting in their
interest that the Uns in the picture could not hear them.
The good Un's name was Unselfish and, as Glinda assured Ozma that the
skyle would thereafter be ruled wisely and well, they all returned
to the throne room. After Dorothy had hugged Notta a dozen times for
his devotion to the Cowardly Lion, and the clown had turned his best
somersaults, told his best jokes and generally made himself so funny
that everyone was doubled up with laughter, Ozma again raised her
scepter for silence.
"I suppose," said the little fairy regretfully, for she had taken a
great fancy to the clown and Snorer and Bob Up, "I suppose that now
you are anxious to return to America."
Notta took off his cap and scratched his ear, a habit he had when
puzzled or embarrassed.
"Don't go yet!" begged Dorothy, seizing the clown's arm imploringly. As
for Bob Up, he retired behind an emerald pillar so that no one could
see that he was crying.
"Oh, yes," cawed Snorer, flapping down from the back of a tall chair
where he had been enjoying a noisy little nap. "Oh, yes, we must go to
America and make our fortune. I am going to have my nose patented and
teach the people there how to snore properly."
"That's right," agreed Notta soberly. "I'm a family man now and must go
back and earn enough to send Bob to college, and I must save up for my
old age, for clowns can't be tumbling around the country forever."
"Why, it's nothing but fun," cried Scraps, who had been quiet as long
as she could contain herself.
"Not always," sighed Notta. "Making people laugh is the hardest work in
the world. Look how easy it is to make them cry? But come along, Bob
Up. It's high time we were going, and if this little lady will just say
the magic word we'll bid you all good-bye. I must be saving up for my
old age," he repeated mournfully.
When Notta was sad, he always thought about his old age, and the idea
of leaving the Cowardly Lion and all of this merry and childlike
company made him sad indeed. And Ozma, who is the cleverest little mind
and heart reader anywhere in the world or out--Ozma guessed his secret.
"Don't go!" cried the little Queen impulsively. "Stay with us and you
won't have any old age. Stay in Oz, dear Notta, and be happy forever."
At this the excitement was terrific. Every man, woman, child, animal,
and celebrity added his or her voice to Ozma's, and when the clown,
with tears in his eyes, accepted the little Queen's generous offer,
they seized hands or paws, as the case might be, and danced merrily
'round Bob, Snorer and Notta Bit More.
"You shall have the jolliest cottage in Oz," promised the Scarecrow,
when the excitement had subsided a bit.
"A tent would seem more homelike," whispered Notta in the cloth ear of
that charming gentleman. And a tent he did have, on the outskirts of
the Emerald City--a tent shared with Snorer and Bob, where, with the
help of the charming and unusual inhabitants of Oz, the clown gave the
most surprising shows that had ever been seen in that magical country.
Bob, in his good fortune, did not forget the half a lion, and the
Wizard of Oz reunited the unfortunate creature, after bringing both
halves, with the aid of Ozma's magic belt, to the Emerald City. The
poor beast, whose hind quarters had fortunately escaped Crunch's stone
spell, was so overjoyed to see his tail again that he raced round in
circles for several hours after his reunion.
As for Mustafa, he grew amazingly rich from the sale of his stone
lions, and you can see them any fine day, guarding the doors of public
buildings or standing proudly in the various parks of Oz. But in spite
of his great wealth, he was far from happy, for his eyes, from staring
so hard at his ring, had become hopelessly crossed, and cross-eyed he
remained to the end of his days.
Bob Up is friends with everyone, but most of all with Button Bright, a
little boy who once visited Sky Island and who could not hear enough of
the Skyle of Un.
Notta has saved up enough for Bob's entire education and has gone off
to confer with Professor Wogglebug, President of the College of Art and
Athletic Perfection, about the future of the little boy.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Cowardly Lion of Oz, by Ruth Plumly Thompson