The Lost Princess of Oz Read online

  THERE STOOD THEIR LOVELY GIRL RULER OZMA, OF OZ--]

  THE LOST PRINCESS OF OZ

  by

  L. FRANK BAUM

  Author of The Road to Oz, Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, The Emerald City of Oz, The Land of Oz, Ozma of Oz, The Patchwork Girl of Oz, Tik-Tok of Oz, The Scarecrow of Oz, Rinkitink in Oz

  Illustrated by John R. Neill

  The Reilly & Lee Co.Chicago

  Copyright 1917 by L. Frank BaumAll Rights Reserved]

  This Book is Dedicated To My Granddaughter OZMA BAUM]

  TO MY READERS

  Some of my youthful readers are developing wonderful imaginations. Thispleases me. Imagination has brought mankind through the Dark Ages to itspresent state of civilization. Imagination led Columbus to discoverAmerica. Imagination led Franklin to discover electricity. Imaginationhas given us the steam engine, the telephone, the talking-machine andthe automobile, for these things had to be dreamed of before they becamerealities. So I believe that dreams--day dreams, you know, with youreyes wide open and your brain-machinery whizzing--are likely to lead tothe betterment of the world. The imaginative child will become theimaginative man or woman most apt to create, to invent, and therefore tofoster civilization. A prominent educator tells me that fairy tales areof untold value in developing imagination in the young. I believe it.

  Among the letters I receive from children are many containingsuggestions of "what to write about in the next Oz Book." Some of theideas advanced are mighty interesting, while others are too extravagantto be seriously considered--even in a fairy tale. Yet I like them all,and I must admit that the main idea in "The Lost Princess of Oz" wassuggested to me by a sweet little girl of eleven who called to see meand to talk about the Land of Oz. Said she: "I s'pose if Ozma ever gotlost, or stolen, ev'rybody in Oz would be dreadful sorry."

  That was all, but quite enough foundation to build this present storyon. If you happen to like the story, give credit to my little friend'sclever hint. And, by the way, don't hesitate to write me your own hintsand suggestions, such as result from your own day dreams. They will besure to interest me, even if I cannot use them in a story, and the veryfact that you have dreamed at all will give me pleasure and do you good.For, after all, dear reader, these stories of Oz are just yours andmine, and we are partners. As long as you care to read them I shall tryto write them, and I've an idea that the next one will relate somestartling adventures of the "Tin Woodman of Oz" and his comrades.

  L. FRANK BAUM, Royal Historian of Oz.

  "OZCOT" at HOLLYWOOD in CALIFORNIA 1917.

  List of Chapters]

  1 A Terrible Loss 17

  2 The Troubles of Glinda the Good 30

  3 The Robbery of Cayke the Cookie Cook 38

  4 Among the Winkies 57

  5 Ozma's Friends are Perplexed 64

  6 The Search Party 73

  7 The Merry-Go-Round Mountains 89

  8 The Mysterious City 104

  9 The High Coco-Lorum of Thi 120

  10 Toto Loses Something 137

  11 Button-Bright Loses Himself 146

  12 The Czarover of Herku 157

  13 The Truth Pond 173

  14 The Unhappy Ferryman 184

  15 The Big Lavender Bear 194

  16 The Little Pink Bear 202

  17 The Meeting 216

  18 The Conference 230

  19 Ugu the Shoemaker 237

  20 Surprises 245

  21 Magic Against Magic 256

  22 In the Wicker Castle 265

  23 The Defiance of Ugu the Shoemaker 280

  24 The Little Pink Bear Speaks Truly 289

  25 Ozma of Oz 295

  26 Dorothy Forgives 303