he Land of Oz.

"Why, your face has been newly painted!" exclaimed Dorothy, when the
first greetings were over.

"I had it touched up a bit by the Munchkin farmer who first made me,"
answered the Scarecrow, pleasantly. "My complexion had become a bit grey
and faded, you know, and the paint had peeled off one end of my mouth,
so I couldn't talk quite straight. Now I feel like myself again, and I
may say without immodesty that my body is stuffed with the loveliest
oat-straw in all Oz." He pushed against his chest. "Hear me crunkle?" he
asked.

"Yes," said Dorothy; "you sound fine."

Button-Bright was wonderfully attracted by the straw man, and so was
Polly. The shaggy man treated him with great respect, because he was so
queerly made.

Jellia Jamb now came to say that Ozma wanted Princess Dorothy to receive
the invited guests in the Throne-Room, as they arrived. The Ruler was
herself busy ordering the preparations for the morrow's festivities, so
she wished her friend to act in her place.

Dorothy willingly agreed, being the only other Princess in the Emerald
City; so she went to the great Throne-Room and sat in Ozma's seat,
placing Polly on one side of her and Button-Bright on the other. The
Scarecrow stood at the left of the throne and the Tin Woodman at the
right, while the Wonderful Wizard and the shaggy man stood behind.

The Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger came in, with bright new bows of
ribbon on their collars and tails. After greeting Dorothy affectionately
the huge beasts lay down at the foot of the throne.

While they waited, the Scarecrow, who was near the little boy, asked:

"Why are you called Button-Bright?"

"Don't know," was the answer.

"Oh yes, you do, dear," said Dorothy. "Tell the Scarecrow how you got
your name."

"Papa always said I was bright as a button, so mamma always called me
Button-Bright," announced the boy.

"Where is your mamma?" asked the Scarecrow.

"Don't know," said Button-Bright.

"Where is your home?" asked the Scarecrow.

"Don't know," said Button-Bright.

"Don't you want to find your mamma again?" asked the Scarecrow.

"Don't know," said Button-Bright, calmly.

The Scarecrow looked thoughtful.

"Your papa may have been right," he observed; "but there are many kinds
of buttons, you see. There are silver and gold buttons, which are highly
polished and glitter brightly. There are pearl and rubber buttons, and
other kinds, with surfaces more or less bright.