The Patchwork Girl of Oz
Page 5
THE GLASS CAT
CHAP. 4
The cat was made of glass, so clear and transparent that you could seethrough it as easily as through a window. In the top of its head,however, was a mass of delicate pink balls which looked like jewels, andit had a heart made of a blood-red ruby. The eyes were two largeemeralds, but aside from these colors all the rest of the animal wasclear glass, and it had a spun-glass tail that was really beautiful.
"Well, Doc Pipt, do you mean to introduce us, or not?" demanded the cat,in a tone of annoyance. "Seems to me you are forgetting your manners."
"Excuse me," returned the Magician. "This is Unc Nunkie, the descendantof the former kings of the Munchkins, before this country became a partof the Land of Oz."
"He needs a hair-cut," observed the cat, washing its face.
"True," replied Unc, with a low chuckle of amusement.
"But he has lived alone in the heart of the forest for many years," theMagician explained; "and, although that is a barbarous country, thereare no barbers there."
"Who is the dwarf?" asked the cat.
"That is not a dwarf, but a boy," answered the Magician. "You have neverseen a boy before. He is now small because he is young. With more yearshe will grow big and become as tall as Unc Nunkie."
"Oh. Is that magic?" the glass animal inquired.
"Yes; but it is Nature's magic, which is more wonderful than any artknown to man. For instance, my magic made you, and made you live; and itwas a poor job because you are useless and a bother to me; but I can'tmake you grow. You will always be the same size--and the same saucy,inconsiderate Glass Cat, with pink brains and a hard ruby heart."
"No one can regret more than I the fact that you made me," asserted thecat, crouching upon the floor and slowly swaying its spun-glass tailfrom side to side. "Your world is a very uninteresting place. I'vewandered through your gardens and in the forest until I'm tired of itall, and when I come into the house the conversation of your fat wifeand of yourself bores me dreadfully."
"That is because I gave you different brains from those we ourselvespossess--and much too good for a cat," returned Dr. Pipt.
"Can't you take 'em out, then, and replace 'em with pebbles, so that Iwon't feel above my station in life?" asked the cat, pleadingly.
"Perhaps so. I'll try it, after I've brought the Patchwork Girl tolife," he said.
The cat walked up to the bench on which the Patchwork Girl reclined andlooked at her attentively.
"Are you going to make that dreadful thing live?" she asked.
The Magician nodded.
"It is intended to be my wife's servant maid," he said. "When she isalive she will do all our work and mind the house. But you are not toorder her around, Bungle, as you do us. You must treat the PatchworkGirl respectfully."
"I won't. I couldn't respect such a bundle of scraps under anycircumstances."
"If you don't, there will be more scraps than you will like," criedMargolotte, angrily.
"Why didn't you make her pretty to look at?" asked the cat. "You made mepretty--very pretty, indeed--and I love to watch my pink brains rollaround when they're working, and to see my precious red heart beat." Shewent to a long mirror, as she said this, and stood before it, lookingat herself with an air of much pride. "But that poor patched thing willhate herself, when she's once alive," continued the cat. "If I were youI'd use her for a mop, and make another servant that is prettier."
"You have a perverted taste," snapped Margolotte, much annoyed at thisfrank criticism. "I think the Patchwork Girl is beautiful, consideringwhat she's made of. Even the rainbow hasn't as many colors, and you mustadmit that the rainbow is a pretty thing."
The Glass Cat yawned and stretched herself upon the floor.
"Have your own way," she said. "I'm sorry for the Patchwork Girl, that'sall."
Ojo and Unc Nunkie slept that night in the Magician's house, and the boywas glad to stay because he was anxious to see the Patchwork Girlbrought to life. The Glass Cat was also a wonderful creature to littleOjo, who had never seen or known anything of magic before, although hehad lived in the Fairyland of Oz ever since he was born. Back there inthe woods nothing unusual ever happened. Unc Nunkie, who might have beenKing of the Munchkins, had not his people united with all the othercountries of Oz in acknowledging Ozma as their sole ruler, had retiredinto this forgotten forest nook with his baby nephew and they had livedall alone there. Only that the neglected garden had failed to grow foodfor them, they would always have lived in the solitary Blue Forest; butnow they had started out to mingle with other people, and the firstplace they came to proved so interesting that Ojo could scarcely sleep awink all night.
Margolotte was an excellent cook and gave them a fine breakfast. Whilethey were all engaged in eating, the good woman said:
"This is the last meal I shall have to cook for some time, for rightafter breakfast Dr. Pipt has promised to bring my new servant to life. Ishall 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. "Bythe way, Margolotte, I thought I saw you getting some brains from thecupboard, while I was busy with my kettles. What qualities have yougiven your new servant?"
"Only those that an humble servant requires," she answered. "I do notwish her to feel above her station, as the Glass Cat does. That wouldmake her discontented and unhappy, for of course she must always be aservant."
Ojo was somewhat disturbed as he listened to this, and the boy began tofear he had done wrong in adding all those different qualities of brainsto the lot Margolotte had prepared for the servant. But it was too latenow for regret, since all the brains were securely sewn up inside thePatchwork Girl's head. He might have confessed what he had done and thusallowed Margolotte and her husband to change the brains; but he wasafraid of incurring their anger. He believed that Unc had seen him addto the brains, and Unc had not said a word against it; but then, Uncnever did say anything unless it was absolutely necessary.
As soon as breakfast was over they all went into the Magician's bigworkshop, where the Glass Cat was lying before the mirror and thePatchwork Girl lay limp and lifeless upon the bench.
"Now, then," said Dr. Pipt, in a brisk tone, "we shall perform one ofthe greatest feats of magic possible to man, even in this marvelous Landof Oz. In no other country could it be done at all. I think we ought tohave a little music while the Patchwork Girl comes to life. It ispleasant to reflect that the first sounds her golden ears will hear willbe delicious music."
As he spoke he went to a phonograph, which was screwed fast to a smalltable, and wound up the spring of the instrument and adjusted the biggold horn.
"The music my servant will usually hear," remarked Margolotte, "will bemy orders to do her work. But I see no harm in allowing her to listen tothis unseen band while she wakens to her first realization of life. Myorders will beat the band, afterward."
The phonograph was now playing a stirring march tune and the Magicianunlocked his cabinet and took out the gold bottle containing the Powderof Life.
They all bent over the bench on which the Patchwork Girl reclined. UncNunkie and Margolotte stood behind, near the windows, Ojo at one sideand the Magician in front, where he would have freedom to sprinkle thepowder. The Glass Cat came near, too, curious to watch the importantscene.
"All ready?" asked Dr. Pipt.
"All is ready," answered his wife.
So the Magician leaned over and shook from the bottle some grains of thewonderful Powder, and they fell directly on the Patchwork Girl's headand arms.