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choice would be to live as a bird does。〃
The gray dove had listened carefully to this speech
and seemed to find comfort in it； for it hushed its
moaning。 And just then the Tin Woodman discovered
Cayke's dishpan； which was on the ground quite near to
him。
〃Here is a rather pretty utensil；〃 he said； taking it
in his tin hands to examine it； 〃but I would not care
to own it。 Whoever fashioned it of gold and covered it
with diamonds did not add to its usefulness； nor do I
consider it as beautiful as the bright dishpans of tin
one usually sees。 No yellow color is ever so handsome
as the silver sheen of tin；〃 and he turned to look at
his tin legs and body with approval。
〃I cannot quite agree with you there；〃 replied the
Scarecrow。 〃My straw stuffing has a light yellow color；
and it is not only pretty to look at but it crunkles
most delightfully when I move。〃
〃Let us admit that all colors are good in their
proper places；〃 said the Tin Woodman； who was too kind…
hearted to quarrel； 〃but you must agree with me that a
dishpan that is yellow is unnatural。 What shall we do
with this one； which we； have just found？〃
〃Let us carry it back to the Emerald City；〃 suggested
the Scarecrow。 〃Some of our friends might like to have
it for a foot…bath； and in using it that way its golden
color and sparkling ornaments would not injure its
usefulness。〃
So they went away and took the jeweled dishpan with
them。 And； after wandering through the country for a
day or so longer； they learned the news that Ozma had
been found。 Therefore they straightaway returned to the
Emerald City and presented the dishpan to Princess Ozma
as a token of their joy that she had been restored to
them。
Ozma promptly gave the diamond…studded gold dishpan
to Cayke the Cookie Cook； who was so delighted at
regaining her lost treasure that she danced up and down
in glee and then threw her skinny arms around Ozma's
neck and kissed her gratefully。 Cayke's mission was now
successfully accomplished； but she was having such a
good time at the Emerald City that she seemed in no
hurry to go back to the Country of the Yips。
It was several weeks after the dishpan had been
restored to the Cookie Cook when one day； as Dorothy
was seated in the royal gardens with Trot and Betsy
beside her； a gray dove came flying down and alighted
at the girl's feet。
〃I am Ugu the Shoemaker；〃 said the dove in a soft；
mourning voice； 〃and I have come to ask you to forgive
me for the great wrong I did in stealing Ozma and the
magic that belonged to her and to others。〃
〃Are you sorry； then？〃 asked Dorothy； looking hard at
the bird。
〃I am very sorry；〃 declared Ugu。 〃I've been thinking
over my misdeeds for a long time； for doves have little
else to do but think； and I'm surprised that I was such
a wicked man and had so little regard for the rights of
others。 I am now convinced that even had I succeeded in
making myself ruler of all Oz I should not have been
happy； for many days of quiet thought have shown me
that only those things one acquires honestly are able
to render one content。〃
〃I guess that's so；〃 said Trot。
〃Anyhow；〃 said Betsy； 〃the bad man seems truly sorry；
and if he has now become a good and honest man we ought
to forgive him。〃
〃I fear I cannot become a good man again；〃 said Ugu；
〃for the transformation I am under will always keep me
in the form of a dove。 But； with the kind forgiveness
of my former enemies； I hope to become a very good
dove； and highly respected。〃
〃Wait here till I run for my Magic Belt；〃 said
Dorothy； 〃and I'll transform you back to your reg'lar
shape in a jiffy。〃
〃No don't do that！〃 pleaded the dove； fluttering its
wings in an excited way。 〃I only want your forgiveness；
I don't want to be a man again。 As Ugu the Shoemaker I
was skinny and old and unlovely； as a dove I am quite
pretty to look at。 As a man I was ambitious and cruel；
while as a dove I can be content with my lot and happy
in my simple life。 I have learned to love the free and
independent life of a bird and I'd rather not change
back。〃
〃Just as you like； Ugu；〃 said Dorothy； resuming her
seat。 〃Perhaps you are right； for you're cert'nly a
better dove than you were a man； and if you should ever
backslide； an' feel wicked again； you couldn't do much
harm as a gray dove。〃
〃Then you forgive me for all the trouble I caused
you？〃 he asked earnestly。
〃Of course； anyone who's sorry just has to be
forgiven。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said the gray dove； and flew away again。
End