E-text prepared by Michael Gray (Lost_Gamer@comcast.net) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 16259-h.htm or 16259-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/2/5/16259/16259-h/16259-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/2/5/16259/16259-h.zip) THE SURPRISING ADVENTURES OF THE MAGICAL MONARCH OF MO AND HIS PEOPLE by L. FRANK BAUM With pictures by Frank Ver Beck 1903 To the Comrade of my boyhood days Dr. Henry Clay Baum TO THE READER This book has been written for children. I have no shame in acknowledging that I, who wrote it, am also a child; for since I can remember my eyes have always grown big at tales of the marvelous, and my heart is still accustomed to go pit-a-pat when I read of impossible adventures. It is the nature of children to scorn realities, which crowd into their lives all too quickly with advancing years. Childhood is the time for fables, for dreams, for joy. These stories are not true; they could no be true and be so marvelous. No one is expected to believe them; they were meant to excite laughter and to gladden the heart. Perhaps some of those big, grown-up people will poke fun of us--at you for reading these nonsense tales of the Magical Monarch, and at me for writing them. Never mind. Many of the big folk are still children--even as you and I. We cannot measure a child by a standard of size or age. The big folk who are children will be our comrades; the others we need not consider at all, for they are self-exiled from our domain. L. FRANK BAUM. June, 1903. CONTENTS THE FIRST SURPRISE The Beautiful Valley of Mo THE SECOND SURPRISE The Strange Adventures of the King's Head THE THIRD SURPRISE The Tramp Dog and the Monarch's Lost Temper THE FOURTH SURPRISE The Peculiar Pains of Fruit Cake Island THE FIFTH SURPRISE The Monarch Celebrates His Birthday THE SIXTH SURPRISE King Scowleyow and His Cast-Iron Man THE SEVENTH SURPRISE Timtom and the Princess Pattycake THE EIGHTH SURPRISE The Bravery of Prince Jollikin THE NINTH SURPRISE The Wizard and the Princess THE TENTH SURPRISE The Duchess Bredenbutta's Visit to Turvyland THE ELEVENTH SURPRISE Prince Fiddlecumdoo and the Giant THE TWELFTH SURPRISE The Land of the Civilized Monkeys THE THIRTEENTH SURPRISE The Stolen Plum-Pudding THE FOURTEENTH SURPRISE The Punishment of the Purple Dragon _The First Surprise_ THE BEAUTIFUL VALLEY OF MO I dare say there are several questions you would like to ask at the very beginning of this history. First: Who is the Monarch of Mo? And why is he called the Magical Monarch? And where _is_ Mo, anyhow? And why have you never heard of it before? And can it be reached by a railroad or a trolley-car, or must one walk all the way?