Fantasy fiction; Oz (Imaginary place) -- Juvenile fiction
By luck, Ozma reflected, the Shaggy Man was in the Emerald City. She
knew that Shaggy was fond of making long trips about the Land of Oz,
exploring the little-known corners and regions of this most famous of
all Fairylands. Now he had just returned from a visit with his brother
who was in the Gillikin Country. While she waited, Ozma recalled how
the Shaggy Man had befriended Dorothy in the Great Outside World and
had found his way to the Land of Oz in the company of little Dorothy.
With him he had brought the Love Magnet, a curious magical talisman,
which caused whoever carried it to be loved by all he met. Shaggy had
gratefully accepted Ozma's invitation to make his home in the Land
of Oz, and since he had no further need for the Love Magnet, Ozma
had caused it to be hung over the Gates of the Emerald City so that
all who entered might be loving and loved. Before she had done this,
however, Ozma had wisely altered the powers of the Love Magnet so that
the talisman did not automatically cause the person who carried it to
be loved by all he met, but must be _displayed_ by its carrier before
the eyes of the person or persons whose love he wished to win. Thus,
control of the powers of the Magnet were given to its owner. All this
had happened so long ago that it was now duly written down in Professor
Wogglebug's Chronicles of the Land of Oz.
Ozma's reflections were ended by the appearance of Omby Amby and the
Shaggy Man who had no idea that anything was the matter.
"Dorothy said to tell you, your Highness, that it's one of the best
heads Jack ever had," the Shaggy Man announced with satisfaction, as he
entered the room. "Dorothy's fitting it on Jack's body now."
"Won't you sit down, please, Shaggy Man?" invited Ozma.
The little Ruler's expression was so serious that the Shaggy Man asked
with concern, "What is it, Ozma? What's wrong?"
Ozma answered silently by extending her palm on which lay the halves of
the broken Love Magnet.
The Shaggy Man's eyes clouded. "Oh, that _is_ too bad. I was very fond
of the Love Magnet. It always made me feel happy whenever I entered or
left the Emerald City. How did it come to be broken?"
Ozma explained in a few words what had happened.
"But can't the Love Magnet be repaired?" asked the Shaggy Man. "I
should think it would be an easy matter for you or the Wizard or Glinda
to put it together again as good as new."
"No," Ozma shook her head. "It isn't as simple as that. A long time
ago I looked up the history of the Love Magnet in my Magic Record
Books and I found that, if broken, it could be made whole only by one
person--the person who created it."
"And who," asked the Shaggy Man with deep interest, "is that?"
"It has been so long ago," admitted Ozma, "that I have forgotten who it
was. But I can look it up in a few seconds."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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