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was born。 Back there in the woods nothing unusual
ever happened。 Unc Nunkie； who might have been
King of the Munchkins； had not his people united
with all the other countries of Oz in
acknowledging Ozma as their Sole ruler； had
retired into this forgotten forest nook with his
baby nephew and they had lived all alone there。
Only that the neglected garden had failed to grow
food for them； they would always have lived in the
solitary Blue Forest； but now they had started out
to mingle with other people； and the first place
they came to proved so interesting that Ojo could
scarcely sleep a wink all night。
Margolotte was an excellent cook and gave
them a fine breakfast。 While they were all engaged
in eating； the good woman said：
〃This is the last meal I shall have to cook
for some time； for right after breakfast Dr。 Pipt
has promised to bring my new servant to life。
I shall let her wash the breakfast dishes and
sweep and dust the house。 What a relief it
will be！〃
〃It will； indeed； relieve you of much drudgery；〃
said the Magician。 〃By the way； Margolotte； I
thought I saw you getting some brains from the
cupboard； while I was busy with my kettles。 What
qualities have you given your new servant？〃
〃Only those that an humble servant requires；〃
she answered。 〃I do not wish her to feel above
her station； as the Glass Cat does。 That would
make her discontented and unhappy； for of
course she must always be a servant。〃
Ojo was somewhat disturbed as he listened to
this； and the boy began to fear he had done wrong
in adding all those different qualities of brains
to the lot Margolotte had prepared for the
servant。 But it was too late now for regret； since
all the brains were securely sewn up inside the
Patchwork Girl's head。 He might have confessed
what he had done and thus allowed Margolotte and
her husband to change the brains； but he was
afraid of incurring their anger。 He believed that
Unc had seen him add to the brains； and Unc had
not said a word against it； but then； Unc never
did say anything unless it was absolutely
necessary。
As soon as breakfast was over they all went
into the Magician's big workshop； where the
Glass Cat was lying before the mirror and the
Patchwork Girl lay limp and lifeless upon the
bench。
〃Now； then；〃 said Dr。 Pipt； in a brisk tone；
〃we shall perform one of the greatest feats of
magic possible to man； even in this marvelous
Land of Oz。 In no other country could it be
done at all。 I think we ought to have a little
music while the Patchwork Girl comes to life。
It is pleasant to reflect that the first sounds her
golden ears will hear will be delicious music。
As he spoke he went to a phonograph； which
screwed fast to a small table； and wound up
the spring of the instrument and adjusted the
big gold horn。
〃The music my servant will usually hear；〃
remarked Margolotte； 〃will be my orders to do
her work。 But I see no harm in allowing her to
listen to this unseen band while she wakens to
her first realization of life。 My orders will beat
the band； afterward。〃
The phonograph was now playing a stirring
march tune and the Magician unlocked his
cabinet and took out the gold bottle containing
the Powder of Life。
They all bent over the bench on which the
Patchwork Girl reclined。 Unc Nunkie and Margolotte
stood behind； near the windows； Ojo at one side
and the Magician in front； where he would have
freedom to sprinkle the powder。 The Glass Cat came
near； too； curious to watch the important scene。
〃All ready？〃 asked Dr。 Pipt。
〃All is ready；〃 answered his wife。
So the Magician leaned over and shook from
the bottle some grains of the wonderful Powder；
and they fell directly on the Patchwork Girl's
head and arms。
Chapter Five
A Terrible Accident
〃It will take a few minutes for this powder to
do its work；〃 remarked the Magician； sprinkling
the body up and down with much care。
But suddenly the Patchwork Girl threw up one
arm； which knocked the bottle of powder from the
crooked man's hand and sent it flying across the
room。 Unc Nunkie and Margolotte were so startled
that they both leaped backward and bumped
together； and Unc's head joggled the shelf above
them and upset the bottle containing the Liquid of
Petrifaction。
The Magician uttered such a wild cry that Ojo
jumped away and the Patchwork Girl sprang after
him and clasped her stuffed arms around him in
terror。 The Glass Cat snarled and hid under the
table； and so it was that when the powerful Liquid
of Petrifaction was spilled it fell only upon the
wife of the Magician and the uncle of Ojo。 With
these two the charm worked promptly。 They stood
motionless and stiff as marble statues； in exactly
the positions they were in when the Liquid struck
them。
Ojo pushed the Patchwork Girl away and
ran to Unc Nunkie； filled with a terrible fear
for the only friend and protector he had ever
known。 When he grasped Unc's hand it was
cold and hard。 Even the long gray beard was
solid marble。 The Crooked Magician was
dancing around the room in a frenzy of despair；
calling upon his wife to forgive him； to speak
to him； to come to life again！
The Patchwork Girl； quickly recovering from her
fright； now came nearer and looked from one to
another of the people with deep interest。 Then she
looked at herself and laughed。 Noticing the
mirror； she stood before it and examined her
extraordinary features with amazementher button
eyes； pearl bead teeth and puffy nose。 Then；
addressing her reflection in the glass； she exclaimed：
〃Whee； but there's a gaudy dame！
Makes a paint…box blush with shame。
Razzle…dazzle； fizzle…fazzle！
Howdy…do； Miss What's…your…name？〃
She bowed； and the reflection bowed。 Then
she laughed again； long and merrily； and the
Glass Cat crept out from under the table and said：
〃I don't blame you for laughing at yourself。
Aren't you horrid？〃
〃Horrid？〃 she replied。 〃Why； I'm thoroughly
delightful。 I'm an Original； if you please； and
therefore incomparable。 Of all the comic； absurd；
rare and amusing creatures the world contains； I
must be the supreme freak。 Who but poor Margolo