Fantasy fiction; Oz (Imaginary place) -- Juvenile fiction
"Then everything will be the same. Oh, goody goody!" exulted Betsy
Bobbin, squeezing Trot's hand under the table. "Isn't he a perfect
dear?"
"Instead of a King's double, I'm a tailor's dummy," sighed Humpy
resignedly. "Oh well, I don't care, but you'll have to make me another
suit."
"I'll make you a tailored suit. I'll make you _all_ suits," promised
the King enthusiastically.
"Put plenty of pockets in mine!" puffed Pajuka, sinking into his seat
with another yawn.
"I'll need a boy in my shop, too," smiled the King, looking down the
long table. "How about it, Snip? Will you stay?"
"A good place for a button boy," giggled Scraps, while Snip himself
blushed with pleasure and excitement.
"Oh, I'd love to!" cried Snip. "But may I go back to Kimbaloo first and
tell Kinda Jolly where I am?"
"Of course, of course," promised the royal tailor, beaming upon
everyone. "And now, as we are all tired and sleepy (the King winked at
Pajuka who was trying to hide another monstrous yawn) I move that we
all retire."
"That will be the second time you've retired to-day," laughed Snip,
pushing back his chair and running to open the door for his Majesty.
For in spite of his abdication they all felt that Pastoria was a real
King.
"Oh, isn't everything turning out splendidly?" sighed Dorothy, pressing
the Scarecrow's arm. "The King will be a lot happier as a tailor and
every tailor needs a dummy, so that takes care of Humpy. And won't it
be fun to have Snip in the Emerald City?"
"I should say!" grinned the Scarecrow, and then, because nobody could
stay awake another minute, they bade each other good night and hurried
off to bed.
Snip and the Prime Minister shared a sumptuous apartment in the east
wing and, hearing a strange noise in the night, Snip sat up in alarm.
Pajuka's bed was empty, but standing on one leg over by the window and
snoring like a goodfellow (which indeed he was) stood the huge Prime
Minister, his head resting peacefully on his shoulder.
"He thinks he's still a goose," smiled Snip, snuggling down under the
covers.
CHAPTER 21
The Grand Procession
The next day there was a grand procession through the streets of
the Emerald City, in honor of the long lost King of Oz. The Elegant
Elephant led off, the King and Humpy--dressed exactly alike--riding
proudly on his back. Next rode Ozma upon the famous Saw Horse; then
came the Cowardly Lion, carrying Dorothy and Snip; then the Hungry
Tiger with Betsy and Trot.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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