L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum Tik-Tok of Oz
There is a play called The Tik-Tok Man of Oz, but it is not like this story of Tik-Tok of Oz, although some of the adventures recorded in this book, as well as those in several other Oz books, are included in the play. Those who have seen the play and those who have read the other Oz books will find in this story a lot of strange characters and adventures that they have never heard of before.
In the letters I receive from children there has been an urgent appeal for me to write a story that will take Trot and Capn Bill to the Land of Oz, where they will meet Dorothy and Ozma. Also they think Button-Bright ought to get acquainted with Ojo the Lucky. As you know, I am obliged to talk these matters over with Dorothy by means of the wireless, for that is the only way I can communicate with the Land of Oz. When I asked her about this idea, she replied: Why, havent you heard? I said No. Well, came the message over the wireless, Ill tell you all about it, by and by, and then you can make a book of that story for the children to read.
So, if Dorothy keeps her word and I am permitted to write another Oz book, you will probably discover how all these characters came together in the famous Emerald City. Meantime, I want to tell all my little friends whose numbers are increasing by many thousands every year that I am very grateful for the favor they have shown my books and for the delightful little letters I am constantly receiving. I am almost sure that I have as many friends among the children of America as any story writer alive; and this, of course, makes me very proud and happy.
L. Frank Baum.
CHAPTER 1 Anns Army
Some one must sweep it, replied Anns younger sister, Salye; else we shall soon be wading in dust. And you are the eldest, and the head of the family.
Im Queen of Oogaboo, said Ann, proudly. But, she added with a sigh, my kingdom is the smallest and the poorest in all the Land of Oz.
This was quite true. Away up in the mountains, in a far corner of the beautiful fairyland of Oz, lies a small valley which is named Oogaboo, and in this valley lived a few people who were usually happy and contented and never cared to wander over the mountain pass into the more settled parts of the land. They knew that all of Oz, including their own territory, was ruled by a beautiful Princess named Ozma, who lived in the splendid Emerald City; yet the simple folk of Oogaboo never visited Ozma. They had a royal family of their own not especially to rule over them, but just as a matter of pride. Ozma permitted the various parts of her country to have their Kings and Queens and Emperors and the like, but all were ruled over by the lovely girl Queen of the Emerald City.
The King of Oogaboo used to be a man named Jol Jemkiph Soforth, who for many years did all the drudgery of deciding disputes and telling his people when to plant cabbages and pickle onions. But the Kings wife had a sharp tongue and small respect for the King, her husband; therefore one night King Jol crept over the pass into the Land of Oz and disappeared from Oogaboo for good and all. The Queen waited a few years for him to return and then started in search of him, leaving her eldest daughter, Ann Soforth, to act as Queen.
Now, Ann had not forgotten when her birthday came, for that meant a party and feasting and dancing, but she had quite forgotten how many years the birthdays marked. In a land where people live always, this is not considered a cause for regret, so we may justly say that Queen Ann of Oogaboo was old enough to make jelly and let it go at that.
But she didnt make jelly, or do any more of the housework than she could help. She was an ambitious woman and constantly resented the fact that her kingdom was so tiny and her people so stupid and unenterprising. Often she wondered what had become of her father and mother, out beyond the pass, in the wonderful Land of Oz, and the fact that they did not return to Oogaboo led Ann to suspect that they had found a better place to live. So, when Salye refused
of Jo Clock, who had an orchard of clock-trees. This man at first insisted that he would not join the army, but Queen Anns promise to make him a General finally won his consent.
How many Generals are there in your army? he asked.
Four, so far, replied Ann.
And how big will the army be? was his next question.
I intend to make every one of the eighteen men in Oogaboo join it, she said.
Then four Generals are enough, announced Jo Clock. I advise you to make the rest of them Colonels.
Ann tried to follow his advice. The next four men she visited who were Jo Plum, Jo Egg, Jo Banjo and Jo Cheese, named after the trees in their orchards she made Colonels of her Army; but the fifth one, Jo Nails, said Colonels and Generals were getting to be altogether too common in the Army of Oogaboo and he preferred to be a Major. So Jo Nails, Jo Cake, Jo Ham and Jo Stockings were all four made Majors, while the next four Jo Sandwich, Jo Padlocks, Jo Sundae and Jo Buttons were appointed Captains of the Army.