Cowardly Lion (Fictitious character) -- Juvenile fiction; Fantasy literature; Oz (Imaginary place) -- Juvenile fiction
"Show us the Uns," commanded Ozma breathlessly, and Bob and Notta
almost tumbled over backwards when the Magic Picture showed them
I-wish-I-was and his Featherheads. A great battle was in progress,
for I-wish-I-was was furious at the loss of the Flyaboutabus. The
Guards and their friends on one side and the wicked ruler on the other
were fighting tumultuously. Sticks and feathers were flying in every
direction and they were even pulling down their tree houses.
Ozma shook her head gravely, but Bob Up, who had been thinking about
the only good Un ever since they left the skyland, suddenly remembered
his name and triumphantly whispered it to Ozma. Instantly Ozma, with
the help of Glinda and the Wizard, commanded the good Un to come out
from his hiding and sit upon the throne. The fighting ceased at once
and the Uns began to look at one another with puzzled expressions, as
if they could not remember what they had been quarreling about. Bob and
Notta and the Cowardly Lion shouted with approval, forgetting in their
interest that the Uns in the picture could not hear them.
The good Un's name was Unselfish and, as Glinda assured Ozma that the
skyle would thereafter be ruled wisely and well, they all returned
to the throne room. After Dorothy had hugged Notta a dozen times for
his devotion to the Cowardly Lion, and the clown had turned his best
somersaults, told his best jokes and generally made himself so funny
that everyone was doubled up with laughter, Ozma again raised her
scepter for silence.
"I suppose," said the little fairy regretfully, for she had taken a
great fancy to the clown and Snorer and Bob Up, "I suppose that now
you are anxious to return to America."
Notta took off his cap and scratched his ear, a habit he had when
puzzled or embarrassed.
"Don't go yet!" begged Dorothy, seizing the clown's arm imploringly. As
for Bob Up, he retired behind an emerald pillar so that no one could
see that he was crying.
"Oh, yes," cawed Snorer, flapping down from the back of a tall chair
where he had been enjoying a noisy little nap. "Oh, yes, we must go to
America and make our fortune. I am going to have my nose patented and
teach the people there how to snore properly."
"That's right," agreed Notta soberly. "I'm a family man now and must go
back and earn enough to send Bob to college, and I must save up for my
old age, for clowns can't be tumbling around the country forever."
"Why, it's nothing but fun," cried Scraps, who had been quiet as long
as she could contain herself.
"Not always," sighed Notta. "Making people laugh is the hardest work in
the world. Look how easy it is to make them cry? But come along, Bob
Up. It's high time we were going, and if this little lady will just say
the magic word we'll bid you all good-bye. I must be saving up for my
old age," he repeated mournfully.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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