登陆注册
15474200000055

第55章 Chapter Twenty-Five Ozma of Oz(3)

"Here is a rather pretty utensil," he said, taking it in his tin hands to examine it, "but I would not care to own it. Whoever fashioned it of gold and covered it with diamonds did not add to its usefulness, nor do Iconsider it as beautiful as the bright dishpans of tin one usually sees. No yellow color is ever so handsome as the silver sheen of tin," and he turned to look at his tin legs and body with approval.

"I cannot quite agree with you there," replied the Scarecrow. "My straw stuffing has a light yellow color, and it is not only pretty to look at but it crunkles most delightfully when I move.""Let us admit that all colors are good in their proper places," said the Tin Woodman, who was too kind-hearted to quarrel; "but you must agree with me that a dishpan that is yellow is unnatural. What shall we do with this one, which we, have just found?""Let us carry it back to the Emerald City," suggested the Scarecrow. "Some of our friends might like to have it for a foot-bath, and in using it that way its golden color and sparkling ornaments would not injure its usefulness."So they went away and took the jeweled dishpan with them. And, after wandering through the country for a day or so longer, they learned the news that Ozma had been found. Therefore they straightaway returned to the Emerald City and presented the dishpan to Princess Ozma as a token of their joy that she had been restored to them.

Ozma promptly gave the diamond-studded gold dishpan to Cayke the Cookie Cook, who was so delighted at regaining her lost treasure that she danced up and down in glee and then threw her skinny arms around Ozma's neck and kissed her gratefully. Cayke's mission was now successfully accomplished, but she was having such a good time at the Emerald City that she seemed in no hurry to go back to the Country of the Yips.

It was several weeks after the dishpan had been restored to the Cookie Cook when one day, as Dorothy was seated in the royal gardens with Trot and Betsy beside her, a gray dove came flying down and alighted at the girl's feet.

"I am Ugu the Shoemaker," said the dove in a soft, mourning voice, "and I have come to ask you to forgive me for the great wrong I did in stealing Ozma and the magic that belonged to her and to others.""Are you sorry, then?" asked Dorothy, looking hard at the bird.

"I am very sorry," declared Ugu. "I've been thinking over my misdeeds for a long time, for doves have little else to do but think, and I'm surprised that I was such a wicked man and had so little regard for the rights of others. I am now convinced that even had I succeeded in making myself ruler of all Oz I should not have been happy, for many days of quiet thought have shown me that only those things one acquires honestly are able to render one content.""I guess that's so," said Trot.

"Anyhow," said Betsy, "the bad man seems truly sorry, and if he has now become a good and honest man we ought to forgive him.""I fear I cannot become a good man again," said Ugu, "for the transformation I am under will always keep me in the form of a dove. But, with the kind forgiveness of my former enemies, I hope to become a very good dove, and highly respected.""Wait here till I run for my Magic Belt," said Dorothy, "and I'll transform you back to your reg'lar shape in a jiffy.""No don't do that!" pleaded the dove, fluttering its wings in an excited way. "I only want your forgiveness;I don't want to be a man again. As Ugu the Shoemaker Iwas skinny and old and unlovely; as a dove I am quite pretty to look at. As a man I was ambitious and cruel, while as a dove I can be content with my lot and happy in my simple life. I have learned to love the free and independent life of a bird and I'd rather not change back.""Just as you like, Ugu," said Dorothy, resuming her seat. "Perhaps you are right, for you're cert'nly a better dove than you were a man, and if you should ever backslide, an' feel wicked again, you couldn't do much harm as a gray dove.""Then you forgive me for all the trouble I caused you?" he asked earnestly.

"Of course; anyone who's sorry just has to be forgiven.""Thank you," said the gray dove, and flew away again.

同类推荐
  • 正一醮墓仪

    正一醮墓仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 青囊奥语

    青囊奥语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 要行舍身经

    要行舍身经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 芝园集

    芝园集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 阿育王息坏目因缘经

    阿育王息坏目因缘经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 品味谈吃

    品味谈吃

    本书介绍了饮食的基本知识,对食料和品味尤其注重,趣味和知识性都很强。
  • 刀剑封缄传

    刀剑封缄传

    不朽之作。历尽十年艰辛,终磨一剑,值得一读!
  • 表面上的你

    表面上的你

    这世上多少委屈悲伤都被精湛的演技而敷衍过去,多少泪水混进大雨,无人知晓......只余一人彳亍而行,茕茕孑立......
  • 相思谋:妃常难娶

    相思谋:妃常难娶

    某日某王府张灯结彩,婚礼进行时,突然不知从哪冒出来一个小孩,对着新郎道:“爹爹,今天您的大婚之喜,娘亲让我来还一样东西。”说完提着手中的玉佩在新郎面前晃悠。此话一出,一府宾客哗然,然当大家看清这小孩与新郎如一个模子刻出来的面容时,顿时石化。此时某屋顶,一个绝色女子不耐烦的声音响起:“儿子,事情办完了我们走,别在那磨矶,耽误时间。”新郎一看屋顶上的女子,当下怒火攻心,扔下新娘就往女子所在的方向扑去,吼道:“女人,你给本王站住。”一场爱与被爱的追逐正式开始、、、、、、、
  • 重生悠着点

    重生悠着点

    女主因得乳腺癌,遭遇人生突变,离心的老公,幼小的一双儿女。因缘际会,女主重生回到高中时代,空间,修仙怎一个爽字了得。再遇前生老公,会发生怎样的故事,敬请期待。
  • 济世神验良方

    济世神验良方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 至尊魔妃:狂妄三小姐

    至尊魔妃:狂妄三小姐

    前世被闺蜜背叛之死!下世绝不信友情。再次重生早已不再是以往的慕容紫依,但是…为什么是个废物!太不符合我了!好吧,废物就废物!看我如何逆天。
  • 穿越小兵:将军我来当

    穿越小兵:将军我来当

    没有金手指的宅女叶竹青穿越到架空大陆,先有直男癌将军丈夫,后遇腹黑冷血假面王爷。逃出将军府后只想吃喝玩乐、了此残生的叶竹青却被抓了壮丁,被迫卷入两国交战。点亮了战场技能的叶竹青,数次破敌,恢复边疆安宁。当上护国大将军之后的她功成身退,转身回京都,却迎来最大的敌人,面临最惨痛的爱恨。
  • 花千骨之爱恋再续

    花千骨之爱恋再续

    花千骨重生转世后恢复记忆会原谅白子画吗?糖宝和落十一会有怎样的结局?幽若和笙箫默会有怎样的爱恋之旅?
  • 综穿之无尽

    综穿之无尽

    她是二十一世纪医学界第一人。人生格言:随遇而安,有得必有失。一次偶然竟打开了一个神秘空间,从而揭开身世之谜。也因此担负上了修复时空的责任,开起来一段传奇的旅途。