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thought gravely upon the dangerous adventure they had
undertaken； wondering if they would ever be able to
find their beloved Ozma again。 The animals lay in a
group by themselves； a little distance from the others。
〃I've lost my growl！〃 said Toto； who had been very
silent and sober all that day。 〃What do you suppose has
become of it？〃
〃If you had asked me to keep track of your growl； I
might be able to tell you；〃 remarked the Lion sleepily。
〃But； frankly； Toto； I supposed you were taking care of
it yourself。〃
〃It's an awful thing to lose one's growl；〃 said Toto；
wagging his tail disconsolately。 〃What if you lost your
roar； Lion？ Wouldn't you feel terrible？〃
〃My roar；〃 replied the Lion； 〃is the fiercest thing
about me。 I depend on it to frighten my enemies so
badly that they won't dare to fight me。〃
〃Once；〃 said the Mule； 〃I lost my bray； so that I
couldn't call to Betsy to let her know I was hungry。
That was before I could talk； you know； for I had not
yet come into the Land of Oz； and I found it was
certainly very uncomfortable not to be able to make a
noise。〃
〃You make enough noise now；〃 declared Toto。 〃But none
of you has answered my question： Where is my growl？〃
〃You may search me；〃 said the Woozy。 〃I don't care
for such things myself。〃
〃You snore terribly；〃 asserted Toto。
〃It may he；〃 said the Woozy。 〃What one does when
asleep one is not accountable for。 I wish you would
wake me up； some time when I'm snoring； and let me hear
the sound。 Then I can judge whether it is terrible or
delightful。〃
〃It isn't pleasant； I assure you；〃 said the Lion；
yawning。
〃To me it seems wholly unnecessary；〃 declared Hank
the Mule。
〃You ought to break yourself of the habit；〃 said the
Sawhorse。 〃You never hear me snore； because I never
sleep。 I don't even whinny； as those puffy meat horses
do。 I wish that whoever stole Toto's growl had taken
the Mule's bray and the Lion's roar and the Woozy's
snore at the same time。〃
〃Do you think； then； that my growl was stolen？〃
〃You have never lost it before； have you？〃 inquired
the Sawhorse。
〃Only once； when I had a sore throat from barking too
long at the moon。〃
〃Is your throat sore now？〃 asked the Woozy。
〃No；〃 replied the dog。
〃I can't understand；〃 said Hank； 〃why dogs bark at
the moon； They can't scare the moon； and the moon
doesn't pay any attention to the bark。 So why do dogs
do it？〃
〃Were you ever a dog？〃 asked Toto。
〃No； indeed；〃 replied Hank。 〃I am thankful to say I
was created a mule the most beautiful of all beasts
and have always remained one。〃
The Woozy sat upon his square haunches to examine
Hank with care。
〃Beauty；〃 said he； 〃must be a matter of taste。 I
don't say your judgment is bad； friend Hank； or that
you are so vulgar as to be conceited。 But if you admire
big waggly ears； and a tail like a paint…brush； and
hoofs big enough for an elephant； and a long neck and a
body so skinny that one can count the ribs with one eye
shut if that's your idea of beauty； Hank then
either you or I must be much mistaken。〃
〃You're full of edges；〃 sneered the Mule。 〃If I were
square； as you are； I suppose you'd think me lovely。〃
〃Outwardly； dear Hank； I would；〃 replied the Woozy。
〃But to be really lovely one must be beautiful without
and within。〃
The Mule couldn't deny this statement； so he gave a
disgusted grunt and rolled over so that his back was
toward the Woozy。 But the Lion； regarding the two
calmly with his great yellow eyes； said to the dog：
〃My dear Toto； our friends have taught us a lesson in
humility。 If the Woozy and the Mule are indeed
beautiful creatures； as they seem to think； you and I
must be decidedly ugly。〃
〃Not to ourselves；〃 protested Toto； who was a shrewd
little dog。 〃You and I； Lion； are fine specimens of our
own races。 I am a fine dog and you are a fine lion。
Only in point of comparison； one with another； can we
be properly judged； so I will leave it to the poor old
Sawhorse to decide which is the most beautiful animal
among us all。 The Sawhorse is wood； so he won't be
prejudiced and will speak the truth。〃
〃I surely will；〃 responded the Sawhorse； wagging his
ears； which were chips set in his wooden head。 〃Are you
all agreed to accept my judgment？〃
〃We are！〃 they declared； each one hopeful。
〃Then；〃 said the Sawhorse； 〃I must point out to you
the fact that you are all meat creatures； who tire
unless they sleep； and starve unless they eat； and
suffer from thirst unless they drink。 Such animals must
be very imperfect； and imperfect Creatures cannot be
beautiful。 Now； I am made of wood。〃
〃You surely have a wooden head；〃 said the Mule。
〃Yes； and a wooden body and wooden legs which are
as swift as the wind and as tireless。 I've heard
Dorothy say that 'handsome is as handsome does；' and I
surely perform my duties in a handsome manner。
Therefore； if you wish my honest judgement； I will
confess that among us all I am the most beautiful。〃
The Mule snorted and the Woozy laughed； Toto had lost
his growl and could only look scornfully at the
Sawhorse； who stood in his place unmoved。 But the Lion
stretched himself and yawned； saying quietly：
〃Were we all like the Sawhorse we would all be
Sawhorses； which would be too many of the kind； were we
all like Hank； we would be a herd of mules； if like
Toto； we would be a pack of dogs； should we all become
the shape of the Woozy； he would no longer be
remarkable for his unusual appearance。 Finally； were
you all like me； I would consider you so common that I
would not care to associate with you。 To be individual；
my friends； to be different from others； is the only
way to become distinguished from the common herd。 Let
us be glad； therefore； that we differ from one another
in form and in disposition。 Variety is the spice of
life and we are various enough to enjoy one another's
society； so let us be content。〃
〃There is some truth in that speech；〃 remarked Toto
reflectively。 〃But how about my lost growl？〃
〃The growl is of importance only to you；〃 responded
the Lion； 〃so it is your business to worry over the
loss； not ours。 If you love us； do not inflict your
burdens on us； be unhappy all by