Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net _The Shaggy Man of Oz_ BY JACK SNOW, FOUNDED ON AND CONTINUING THE FAMOUS OZ STORIES BY L. FRANK BAUM ILLUSTRATED BY FRANK KRAMER THE REILLY & LEE CO. CHICAGO * * * * * THE SHAGGY MAN OF OZ COPYRIGHT 1949 BY THE REILLY & LEE CO. PRINTED IN THE U. S. A. [Transcriber's Note: Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] * * * * * _TO THE CHILDREN_ During the past few years, several readers have written me asking: "What ever happened to the Nome King's tunnel under the Deadly Desert?" The answer will be found in this book. Everyone who has read the Oz books knows and loves Shaggy. He first met Dorothy in "The Road To Oz," and from that time on had a number of adventures in which he discovered such famous Oz personages as the Patchwork Girl, Ojo, Unk Nunkie, the Glass Cat, Betsy Bobbin and her Mule Hank, and many others. So, it is about time that the Shaggy Man had an Oz book all his own--and here it is--faithfully recorded from the latest messages received from the Land of Oz. Incidentally, you will recall that after Glinda laid down her Barrier of Invisibility, the only manner of communication between Oz and the Great Outside World was by radio. Well, now, your author of the Oz books has succeeded in tuning in the Emerald City on a specially built television set--his "magic picture." This has helped a great deal in the writing of this book--but not nearly so much as your own letters. So don't forget to write and tell me all your thoughts about the Land of Oz and the equally interesting countries surrounding it. Just now, important things are happening there which I hope to tell you about in another Oz book. _JACK SNOW_ * * * * * _This book is dedicated to my Father John Alonzo Snow_ Santa Claus was good to me-- Gave me lots of things Wrapped in dainty parcels And tied with ribbon-strings. I can't recall what lovely gifts Within there chanced to be-- The wrappers and the ribbons Were what are dear to me. They breathe of sweet remembrance, Of Love and Kindly Thought-- The things about my presents That never could be bought. And so, although I'm far away, Love's message spans the space And our two hearts are linked anew Through dear old Santa's grace. _by L. Frank Baum a hitherto unpublished poem written to his Sister, Mary Louise Brewster_