Scarecrow!'
That's all I hear. I did stand on my head, too. And Dorothy, I can't
seem to get used to being a grandparent," added the Scarecrow in a
melancholy voice. "It's turning my straws gray." He plucked several
from his chest and held them out to her. "Why, those little villains
don't even believe in Oz! 'It's not on the map, old
Grandpapapapapah!'" he mumbled, imitating the tones of his little
grandsons so cleverly that Dorothy laughed in spite of herself.

"This is what becomes of pride!" The Scarecrow extended his hands
expressively. "Most people who hunt up their family trees are in for
a fall, and I've had mine."

"But who do you want to be?" asked the Knight gravely. "A Scarecrow
in Oz--or the--er--Emperor that you were?"

"I don't care who I were!" In his excitement, the Scarecrow lost his
grammar completely. "I want to be who I am. I want to be myself."

"But which one?" asked the Cowardly Lion, who was still a bit
confused.

"Why, my best self, of course," said the Scarecrow with a bright
smile. The sight of his old friends had quite restored his
cheerfulness. "I've been here long enough to know that I am a better
Scarecrow than an Emperor."

"Why, how simple it is!" sighed Dorothy contentedly. "Professor
Wogglebug was all wrong. It's not what you were, but what you are--
it's being yourself that counts."

"By my Halidom, the little maid is right!" said Sir Hokus, slapping
his knee in delight. "Let your Gheewizard but try his
transformations! Out on him! But what says yon honest henchman?"
Happy Toko, although he understood no word of the conversation, had
been watching the discussion with great interest. He had been trying
to attract the Scarecrow's attention for some time, but the Knight
was the only one who had noticed him.

"What is it, Tappy?" asked the Scarecrow, dropping easily back into
Silver Islandish.

"Honored Master, the dawn approaches and with it the Royal Princes
and the Grand Gheewizard--and your bride!" Happy paused
significantly. The Scarecrow shuddered.

"Let's go back to Oz!" said the Cowardly Lion uneasily.

The Scarecrow was feeling in the pocket of his old Munchkin suit
which he always wore under his robes of state. "Here!" said he,
giving a little pill to Happy Toko. "It's one of Professor
Wogglebug's language pills," he exclaimed to Dorothy, "and will
enable him to speak and understand Ozish." Happy swallowed the pill
gravely.

"Greetings, honorable Ozites!" he s