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A roar of merriment greeted his ears. Ozma, the lovely girl ruler of Oz, was

having a party, and the room was full of most surprising people--surprising

to some, that is, but old friends to most of us.

Jack, holding tightly to his pumpkin head, was running as fast as his

wooden feet and wobbly legs would take him from Dorothy. A game of blind-

man's-buff was in full swing, and Scraps and Tik-Tok, the Scarecrow and

Nick Chopper, the Glass Cat and the Cowardly Lion, the Wizard of Oz and

the wooden Sawhorse, Cap'n Bill and Betsy Bobbin, Billina and the Hungry

Tiger were tumbling over each other in an effort to keep away from the

blindfolded little girl.

But Dorothy was too quick for them. With a sudden whirl, she spun 'round

and grasped a coatsleeve.

"The Scarecrow!" she laughed triumphantly. "I can tell by the way he

skwoshes--and now he's it!"

"I'm always it!" chuckled the droll person. "But--hah! Behold the learned

Professor standing so aloofly in our midst."

No one had noticed Professor Wogglebug, who had been quietly watching the

game.

"I don't like to interrupt the party," he began, approaching Ozma's throne

apologetically, "but I've just had a most brilliant idea!"

What? Another?" murmured the Scarecrow, rolling up his eyes.

Where did you lose it?" asked Jack Pumpkinhead, edging forward

anxiously.

Lose it! Who said I'd lost it?" snapped the Professor, glaring at poor Jack.

Well, you said you'd had it, and had is the past tense, so--" Jack's voice

trailed off uncertainly, and Ozma, seeing he was embarrassed, begged the

Professor to explain.

"Your Highness!" began Professor Wogglebug, while the company settled

down in a resigned circle on the floor, "As Oz is the most interesting and

delightful country on the Continent of Imagination and its people the most

unusual and talented, I am about to compile a Royal Book which will give

the names and history of all our people. In other words, I am to be the

Great, Grand Genealogist of Oz!"

Whatever that is," the Scarecrow whispered in Dorothy's ear.

The Royal Book of Oz