"Have your own way," she said."I'm sorry for the Patchwork Girl, that's all."Ojo and Unc Nunkie slept that night in the Magician's house, and the boy was glad to stay because he was anxious to see the Patchwork Girl brought to life.The Glass Cat was also a wonderful creature to little Ojo, who had never seen or known anything of magic before, although he had lived in the Fairyland of Oz ever since he 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, Ithought 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.
