usiness is to paint the colors of the flowers when they
bud and bloom; but I brought the merry fellows along to see Oz, and
they've left their paint-pots behind them. Also I brought these
crooked Knooks, whom I love. My dears, the Knooks are much nicer than
they look, for their duty is to water and care for the young trees of
the forest, and they do their work faithfully and well. It's hard
work, though, and it makes my Knooks crooked and gnarled, like the
trees themselves; but their hearts are big and kind, as are the hearts
of all who do good in our beautiful world."

"I've read of the Ryls and Knooks," said Dorothy, looking upon these
little workers with interest.

Santa Claus turned to talk with the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, and
he also said a kind word to the shaggy man, and afterward went away to
ride the Saw-Horse around the Emerald City. "For," said he, "I must
see all the grand sights while I am here and have the chance, and Ozma
has promised to let me ride the Saw-Horse because I'm getting fat and
short of breath."

"Where are your reindeer?" asked Polychrome.

"I left them at home, for it is too warm for them in this sunny
country," he answered. "They're used to winter weather when they
travel."

In a flash he was gone, and the Ryls and Knooks with him; but they
could all hear the golden hoofs of the Saw-Horse ringing on the marble
pavement outside, as he pranced away with his noble rider.

Presently the band played again, and the High Chamberlain announced:

"Her Gracious Majesty, the Queen of Merryland."

They looked earnestly to discover whom this queen might be, and saw
advancing up the room an exquisite wax doll dressed in dainty fluffs
and ruffles and spangled gown. She was almost as big as Button-Bright,
and her cheeks and mouth and eyebrow were prettily painted in delicate
colors. Her blue eyes stared a bit, being of glass, yet the expression
upon her Majesty's face was quite pleasant and decidedly winning. With
the Queen of Merryland were four wooden soldiers, two stalking ahead of
her with much dignity and two following behind, like a royal bodyguard.
The soldiers were painted in bright colors and carried wooden guns, and
after them came a fat little man who attracted attention at once,
although he seemed modest and retiring. For he was made of candy, and
carried a tin sugar-sifter filled with powdered sugar, with which he
dusted himself frequently so that he wouldn't stick to