Tik-Tok of Oz Read online

  Tik-Tok OF OZ

  TIK-TOK OF OZ

  by

  L. FRANK BAUM

  Author ofThe Road to Oz, Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, TheEmerald City of Oz, The Land of Oz, Ozmaof Oz, The Patchwork Girl of Oz

  Illustrated by John R. Neill

  The Reilly & Lee Co.Chicago

  COPYRIGHT 1914 BY L Frank Baum ALL RIGHTS RESERVED]

  To Louis F. Gottschalk, whose sweet and dainty melodies breathe the true spirit of fairyland, this book is affectionately dedicated]

  TO MY READERS

  The very marked success of my last year's fairy book, "The PatchworkGirl of Oz," convinces me that my readers like the Oz stories "best ofall," as one little girl wrote me. So here, my dears, is a new Oz storyin which is introduced Ann Soforth, the Queen of Oogaboo, whom Tik-Tokassisted in conquering our old acquaintance, the Nome King. It also tellsof Betsy Bobbin and how, after many adventures, she finally reached themarvelous Land of Oz.

  There is a play called "The Tik-Tok Man of Oz," but it is not like thisstory of "Tik-Tok of Oz," although some of the adventures recorded inthis book, as well as those in several other Oz books, are includedin the play. Those who have seen the play and those who have read theother Oz books will find in this story a lot of strange characters andadventures that they have never heard of before.

  In the letters I receive from children there has been an urgent appealfor me to write a story that will take Trot and Cap'n Bill to the Land ofOz, where they will meet Dorothy and Ozma. Also they think Button-Brightought to get acquainted with Ojo the Lucky. As you know, I am obligedto talk these matters over with Dorothy by means of the "wireless," forthat is the only way I can communicate with the Land of Oz. When I askedher about this idea, she replied: "Why, haven't you heard?" I said "No.""Well," came the message over the wireless, "I'll tell you all about it,by and by, and then you can make a book of that story for the children toread."

  So, if Dorothy keeps her word and I am permitted to write another Ozbook, you will probably discover how all these characters came togetherin the famous Emerald City. Meantime, I want to tell all my littlefriends--whose numbers are increasing by many thousands every year--thatI am very grateful for the favor they have shown my books and for thedelightful little letters I am constantly receiving. I am almost surethat I have as many friends among the children of America as any storywriter alive; and this, of course, makes me very proud and happy.

  L. Frank Baum.

  "OZCOT" at HOLLYWOOD in CALIFORNIA, 1914.