Author of The Road to Oz,
  Dorothy and The Wizard in Oz,
  The Land of Oz, etc.

   Author's Note

    Perhaps I
        should admit
               on the title page
         that this book is
           "By L. Frank Baum
               and his correspondents,"
            for I
              have used many suggestions
                 conveyed to me in
                letters from children.

    Once on a time
         I really imagined myself
           "an author of fairy tales,"
            but now
             I am merely an editor
                  or private secretary
                       for a host of youngsters
             whose ideas
               I am requestsed
                  to weave
                       into the thread
                           of my stories.

    These ideas are often clever.

    They are
           also logical and interesting.

    So I have used them
         whenever I
            could find an opportunity,
           and it is
             but just
                 that I
                      acknowledge my indebtedness
                           to my little friends.

    My,
           what imaginations these children
              have developed!

    Sometimes I
        am fairly
              astounded by
                   their daring and genius.

    There will be
           no lack of fairy-tale authors
         in the future,
           I am sure.

    My readers have told me
         what to do with Dorothy,
           and Aunt Em
               and Uncle Henry,
         and I
              have obeyed their mandates.

    They have also
          given me a variety
               of subjects
          to write
               about in the future:
        enough,
           in fact,
         to keep me busy
               for some time.

    I am very proud
           of this alliance.

    Children love these stories
         because children
              have helped to create them.

    My readers know
         what they want and realize
             that I try
                  to please them.

    The result
        is very satisfactory
               to the publishers,
           to me,
         and
           (I am quite sure)
          to the children.

    I hope,
           my dears,
         it will be
               a long time
             before we
                are obliged to dissolve partnership.

    L. FRANK
        BAUM.

    Coronado,
           1910
 
  1. How the Nome King Became
       Angry

    The Nome King
        was in an angry mood,
           and at such times
             he was very disagreeable.

    Every one
          kept away from him,
           even his Chief Steward Kaliko.

    Therefore the King
          stormed and raved all
               by himself,
           walking up and
               down in
                   his jewel-studded cavern and
              getting angrier all the time.

    Then he remembered
         that it
            was no fun being angry
         unless he
            had some one
                  to frighten and make miserable,
           and he rushed
               to his big gong and
                  made it clatter
                       as loud
                     as he could.

    In came the Chief Steward,
           trying not
              to show the Nome King
             how frightened he was.

    "Send the Chief Counselor here!"

    shouted the angry monarch.

    Kaliko ran out as
         fast as his spindle legs
        could carry his fat,
           round body,
         and soon the Chief Counselor
              entered the cavern.

    The King scowled and
          said to him:

    "I'm in great trouble
           over the loss
               of my Magic Belt.

    Every little
         while I want
              to do something magical,
           and find I can't
             because the Belt is gone.

    That makes me angry,
           and when I'm angry
             I can't have
                   a good time.

    Now,
           what do you advise?"

    "Some people,"
          said the Chief Counselor,
               "enjoy getting angry."

    "But not all the time,"
          declared the King.

    "To be angry once
           in a
         while is really good fun,
           because it
            makes others so miserable.

    But to be angry morning,
           noon and night,
         as I am,
           grows monotonous
            and prevents my gaining
                   any other pleasure in life.