CHAPTER 21
Dorothy, Betsy and Ozma
I suppose many of my readers have read descriptions of the beautiful andmagnificent Emerald City of Oz, so I need not describe it here, exceptto state that never has any city in any fairyland ever equalled this onein stately splendor. It lies almost exactly in the center of the Land ofOz, and in the center of the Emerald City rises the wall of glisteningemeralds that surrounds the palace of Ozma. The palace is almost a cityin itself and is inhabited by many of the Ruler's especial friends andthose who have won her confidence and favor.
As for Ozma herself, there are no words in any dictionary I can findthat are fitted to describe this young girl's beauty of mind and person.Merely to see her is to love her for her charming face and manners; toknow her is to love her for her tender sympathy, her generous nature, hertruth and honor. Born of a long line of Fairy Queens, Ozma is as nearlyperfect as any fairy may be, and she is noted for her wisdom as well asfor her other qualities. Her happy subjects adore their girl Ruler andeach one considers her a comrade and protector.
At the time of which I write, Ozma's best friend and most constantcompanion was a little Kansas girl named Dorothy, a mortal who had cometo the Land of Oz in a very curious manner and had been offered a home inOzma's palace. Furthermore, Dorothy had been made a Princess of Oz, andwas as much at home in the royal palace as was the gentle Ruler. She knewalmost every part of the great country and almost all of its numerousinhabitants. Next to Ozma she was loved better than anyone in all Oz,for Dorothy was simple and sweet, seldom became angry and had such afriendly, chummy way that she made friends wherever she wandered. It wasshe who first brought the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and the CowardlyLion to the Emerald City. Dorothy had also introduced to Ozma the ShaggyMan and the Hungry Tiger, as well as Billina the Yellow Hen, Eurekathe Pink Kitten, and many other delightful characters and creatures.Coming as she did from our world, Dorothy was much like many other girlswe know; so there were times when she was not so wise as she mighthave been, and other times when she was obstinate and got herself intotrouble. But life in a fairyland had taught the little girl to accept allsorts of surprising things as matters-of-course, for while Dorothy was nofairy--but just as mortal as we are--she had seen more wonders than mostmortals ever do.
Another little girl from our outside world also lived in Ozma's palace.This was Betsy Bobbin, whose strange adventures had brought her to theEmerald City, where Ozma had cordially welcomed her. Betsy was a shylittle thing and could never get used to the marvels that surroundedher, but she and Dorothy were firm friends and thought themselves veryfortunate in being together in this delightful country.
One day Dorothy and Betsy were visiting Ozma in the girl Ruler's privateapartment, and among the things that especially interested them wasOzma's Magic Picture, set in a handsome frame and hung upon the wallof the room. This picture was a magic one because it constantly changedits scenes and showed events and adventures happening in all parts ofthe world. Thus it was really a "moving picture" of life, and if the onewho stood before it wished to know what any absent person was doing, thepicture instantly showed that person, with his or her surroundings.
The two girls were not wishing to see anyone in particular, on thisoccasion, but merely enjoyed watching the shifting scenes, some of whichwere exceedingly curious and remarkable. Suddenly Dorothy exclaimed:"Why, there's Button-Bright!" and this drew Ozma also to look at thepicture, for she and Dorothy knew the boy well.
"Who is Button-Bright?" asked Betsy, who had never met him.
"Why, he's the little boy who is just getting off the back of thatstrange flying creature," exclaimed Dorothy. Then she turned to Ozma andasked: "What is that thing, Ozma? A bird? I've never seen anything likeit before."
"It is an Ork," answered Ozma, for they were watching the scene wherethe Ork and the three big birds were first landing their passengers inJinxland, after the long flight across the desert. "I wonder," addedthe girl Ruler, musingly, "why those strangers dare venture into thatunfortunate country, which is ruled by a wicked King."
"That girl, and the one-legged man, seem to be mortals from the outsideworld," said Dorothy.
"The man isn't one-legged," corrected Betsy; "he has one wooden leg."
"It's almost as bad," declared Dorothy, watching Cap'n Bill stump around.
"They are three mortal adventurers," said Ozma, "and they seem worthy andhonest. But I fear they will be treated badly in Jinxland, and if theymeet with any misfortune there it will reflect upon me, for Jinxland is apart of my dominions."
"Can't we help them in any way?" inquired Dorothy. "That seems like anice little girl. I'd be sorry if anything happened to her."
"Let us watch the picture for awhile," suggested Ozma, and so they alldrew chairs before the Magic Picture and followed the adventures of Trotand Cap'n Bill and Button-Bright. Presently the scene shifted and showedtheir friend the Scarecrow crossing the mountains into Jinxland, and thatsomewhat relieved Ozma's anxiety, for she knew at once that Glinda theGood had sent the Scarecrow to protect the strangers.
The adventures in Jinxland proved very interesting to the three girls inOzma's palace, who during the succeeding days spent much of their time inwatching the picture. It was like a story to them.
Dorothy]
"That girl's a reg'lar trump!' exclaimed Dorothy, referring to Trot, andOzma answered:
"She's a dear little thing, and I'm sure nothing very bad will happento her. The old sailor is a fine character, too, for he has never oncegrumbled over being a grasshopper, as so many would have done."
When the Scarecrow was so nearly burned up the girls all shivered alittle, and they clapped their hands in joy when the flock of Orks cameand saved him.
So it was that when all the exciting adventures in Jinxland were over andthe four Orks had begun their flight across the mountains to carry themortals into the Land of Oz, Ozma called the Wizard to her and asked himto prepare a place for the strangers to sleep.
The famous Wizard of Oz was a quaint little man who inhabited the royalpalace and attended to all the magical things that Ozma wanted done. Hewas not as powerful as Glinda, to be sure, but he could do a great manywonderful things. He proved this by placing a house in the uninhabitedpart of the Quadling Country where the Orks landed Cap'n Bill and Trotand Button-Bright, and fitting it with all the comforts I have describedin the last chapter.
Next morning Dorothy said to Ozma:
"Oughtn't we to go meet the strangers, so we can show them the way to theEmerald City? I'm sure that little girl will feel shy in this beautifulland, and I know if 'twas me I'd like somebody to give me a welcome."
Ozma smiled at her little friend and answered:
"You and Betsy may go to meet them, if you wish, but I can not leavemy palace just now, as I am to have a conference with Jack Pumpkinheadand Professor Wogglebug on important matters. You may take the Sawhorseand the Red Wagon, and if you start soon you will be able to meet theScarecrow and the strangers at Glinda's palace."
"Oh, thank you!" cried Dorothy, and went away to tell Betsy and to makepreparations for the journey.
Betsy]
The Scarecrow of Oz Page 23
