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"
This is what becomes of pride!" The Scarecrow extended his hands
expressively. "Most people who hunt up their family trees are in for a fall,
and I've had mine."
"But who do you want to be?" asked the Knight gravely. "A Scarecrow in Oz--
or the--er--Emperor that you were?"
"I don't care who I were!" In his excitement, the Scarecrow lost his grammar
completely. "I want to be who I am. I want to be myself."
"
"
But which one?" asked the Cowardly Lion, who was still a bit confused.
Why, my best self, of course," said the Scarecrow with a bright smile. The
sight of his old friends had quite restored his cheerfulness. "I've been here
long enough to know that I am a better Scarecrow than an Emperor."
"
Why, how simple it is!" sighed Dorothy contentedly. "Professor Wogglebug
was all wrong. It's not what you were, but what you are-- it's being yourself
that counts."
"By my Halidom, the little maid is right!" said Sir Hokus, slapping his knee
in delight. "Let your Gheewizard but try his transformations! Out on him!
But what says yon honest henchman?" Happy Toko, although he
understood no word of the conversation, had been watching the discussion
with great interest. He had been trying to attract the Scarecrow's attention
for some time, but the Knight was the only one who had noticed him.
"
What is it, Tappy?" asked the Scarecrow, dropping easily back into Silver
Islandish.
"
Honored Master, the dawn approaches and with it the Royal Princes and
the Grand Gheewizard--and your bride!" Happy paused significantly. The
Scarecrow shuddered.
"Let's go back to Oz!" said the Cowardly Lion uneasily.
The Scarecrow was feeling in the pocket of his old Munchkin suit which he
always wore under his robes of state. "Here!" said he, giving a little pill to
Happy Toko. "It's one of Professor Wogglebug's language pills," he exclaimed
to Dorothy, "and will enable him to speak and understand Ozish." Happy
swallowed the pill gravely.
"
Greetings, honorable Ozites!" he said politely as soon as the pill was down.
Dorothy clapped her hands in delight, for it was so comfortable to have him
speak their own language.
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