The Emerald City of Oz by L. Frank Baum :
L. Frank Baum, John R. Neill
eBook
(, May 6, 2014)
PERHAPS I should admit on the title page that this book is "By L. Frank Baum and his correspondents," for I have used many suggestions conveyed to me in letters from children. Once on a time I really imagined myself "an author of fairy tales," but now I am merely an editor or private secretary for a host of youngsters whose ideas I am requested to weave into the thread of my stories.These ideas are often clever. They are also logical and interesting. So I have used them whenever I could find an opportunity, and it is but just that I acknowledge my indebtedness to my little friends.My, what imaginations these children have developed! Sometimes I am fairly astounded by their daring and genius. There will be no lack of fairy-tale authors in the future, I am sure. My readers have told me what to do with Dorothy, and Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, and I have obeyed their mandates. They have also given me a variety of subjects to write about in the future: enough, in fact, to keep me busy for some time. I am very proud of this alliance. Children love these stories because children have helped to create them. My readers know what they want and realize that I try to please them. The result is very satisfactory to the publishers, to me, and (I am quite sure) to the children.I hope, my dears, it will be a long time before we are obliged to dissolve partnership.Coronado, 1910 L. Frank Baum.How THE NOME KING BECAME ANGRY The Nome King was in an angry mood, and at such times he was very disagreeable. Every one kept away from him, even his Chief Steward Kaliko.Therefore the King stormed and raved all by himself, walking up and down in his jewel-studded cavern and getting angrier all the time. Then he remembered that it was no fun being angry unless he had some one to frighten and make miserable, and he rushed to his big gong and made it clatter as loud as he could.In came the Chief Steward, trying not to show the Nome King how frightened he was."Send the Chief Counselor here!" shouted the angry monarch.Kaliko ran out as fast as his spindle legs could carry his fat round body, and soon the Chief Counselor entered the cavern. The King scowled and said to him:"I'm in great trouble over the loss of my Magic Belt. Every little while I want to do something magical, and find I can't because the Belt is gone. That makes me angry, and when I'm angry I can't have a good time. Now, what do you advise?""Some people," said the Chief Counselor, "enjoy getting angry.""But not all the time," declared the King. "To be angry once in a while is really good fun, because it makes others so miserable. But to be angry morning, noon and night, as I am, grows monotonous and prevents my gaining any other pleasure in life. Now, what do you advise?""Why, if you are angry because you want to do magical things and can't, and if you don't want to get angry at all, my advice is not to want to do magical things."CONTENTSHow the Nome King Became AngryHow Uncle Henry Got Into TroubleHow Ozma Granted Dorothy's RequestHow the Nome King Planned RevengeHow Dorothy Became a PrincessHow Guph Visited the WhimsiesHow Aunt Em Conquered the LionHow the Grand Gallipoot Joined the NomesHow the Wogglebug Taught AthleticsHow the Cuttenclips LivedHow the General Met the First and ForemostHow they Matched the FuddlesHow the General Talked to the KingHow the Wizard Practiced SorceryHow Dorothy Happened to Get LostHow Dorothy Visited UtensiaHow They Came to BunburyHow Ozma Looked into the Magic PictureHow Bunnybury Welcomed the StrangersHow Dorothy Lunched With a KingHow the King Changed His MindHow the Wizard Found DorothyHow they Encountered the FlutterbudgetsHow the Tin Woodman Told the Sad NewsHow the Scarecrow Displayed His WisdomHow Ozma Refused to Fight for Her KingdomHow the Fierce Warriors Invaded OzHow They Drank at the Forbidden FountainHow Glinda Worked a Magic SpellHow the Story of Oz Came to an