Front matter
Reading edition
THIS BOOK BELONGS TO
The Gnome King of Oz
THE GNOME KING of OZ
By RUTH PLUMLY THOMPSON Founded on and continuing the Famous Oz Stories
By L. FRANK BAUM “Royal Historian of Oz”
Illustrated by JOHN R. NEILL
The Reilly & Lee Co. Chicago
Copyright 1927 by The Reilly & Lee Co. All Rights Reserved Made in U. S. A.
Well, Boys and Girls! After Betsy’s adventures last year with the Hungry Tiger and the Prince of Rash, I did think everything exciting that could happen had happened in the Land of OZ. I rather expected this year’s history would be a drowsy record of birthdays, visitings and trips to undiscovered countries.
But scarcely had I begun on the first birthday, which happened to be Cap’n Bill’s and which Dorothy had written me all about, when a special radiogram arrived from the Emerald City. Ruggedo, the old Gnome King, had escaped from Runaway Island. The Patchwork Girl had disappeared from the Capital. You can imagine how anxiously I waited for further news. Would Ruggedo succeed in capturing Oz? Where was Scraps? How would the adventure end?
Well, even I did not guess the way it did end, and as you are probably as curious as I was, I’ll only say that it’s the most unexpected and mysterious happening yet! Really! There’s a treasure ship, a new little boy from Philadelphia, a magic cloak and an Oztrich in it!
How are you all? Happy? As for me, I kinda feel like Scraps to-day, full of rhymes and jingles. I feel that way When I think of you and the folks I’ve met in Oz and the letters I’m sure to get When you’ve read this book. Three cheers! Hurray! I’m looking for letters. Looking right your way!
RUTH PLUMLY THOMPSON
254 S. Farragut Terrace, West Philadelphia, Penna. May, 1927.
This Book Is Dedicated to My Nephew Richard Shuff Thompson, Jr.
With lots of love and a little laugh, For a little boy almost three and a half! If I had a wish, I’d wish it quick And keep him always “Little Dick.” R. P. T.
