Ozma of Oz

by L. Frank Baum

  The Emerald City

  Dorothy decided to accept Ozma's invitation to return with her to theLand of Oz. There was no greater chance of her getting home from Ev thanfrom Oz, and the little girl was anxious to see once more the countrywhere she had encountered such wonderful adventures. By this time UncleHenry would have reached Australia in his ship, and had probably givenher up for lost; so he couldn't worry any more than he did if she stayedaway from him a while longer. So she would go to Oz.

  They bade good-bye to the people of Ev, and the King promised Ozma thathe would ever be grateful to her and render the Land of Oz any servicethat might lie within his power.

  And then they approached the edge of the dangerous desert, and Ozmathrew down the magic carpet, which at once unrolled far enough for allof them to walk upon it without being crowded.

  Tiktok, claiming to be Dorothy's faithful follower because he belongedto her, had been permitted to join the party, and before they startedthe girl wound up his machinery as far as possible, and the copper manstepped off as briskly as any one of them.

  Ozma also invited Billina to visit the Land of Oz, and the yellow henwas glad enough to go where new sights and scenes awaited her.

  They began the trip across the desert early in the morning, and as theystopped only long enough for Billina to lay her daily egg, before sunsetthey espied the green slopes and wooded hills of the beautiful Land ofOz. They entered it in the Munchkin territory, and the King of theMunchkins met them at the border and welcomed Ozma with great respect,being very pleased by her safe return. For Ozma of Oz ruled the King ofthe Munchkins, the King of the Winkies, the King of the Quadlings andthe King of the Gillikins just as those kings ruled their own people;and this supreme ruler of the Land of Oz lived in a great town of herown, called the Emerald City, which was in the exact center of the fourkingdoms of the Land of Oz.

  The Munchkin king entertained them at his palace that night, and in themorning they set out for the Emerald City, travelling over a road ofyellow brick that led straight to the jewel-studded gates. Everywherethe people turned out to greet their beloved Ozma and to hail joyfullythe Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion, who were popularfavorites. Dorothy, too, remembered some of the people, who hadbefriended her on the occasion of her first visit to Oz, and they werewell pleased to see the little Kansas girl again, and showered her withcompliments and good wishes.

  At one place, where they stopped to refresh themselves, Ozma accepted abowl of milk from the hands of a pretty dairy-maid. Then she looked atthe girl more closely, and exclaimed:

  "Why, it's Jinjur--isn't it!"

  "Yes, your Highness," was the reply, as Jinjur dropped a low curtsy. AndDorothy looked wonderingly at this lively appearing person, who had onceassembled an army of women and driven the Scarecrow from the throne ofthe Emerald City, and even fought a battle with the powerful army ofGlinda the Sorceress.

  "I've married a man who owns nine cows," said Jinjur to Ozma, "and now Iam happy and contented and willing to lead a quiet life and mind my ownbusiness."

  "Where is your husband?" asked Ozma.

  "He is in the house, nursing a black eye," replied Jinjur, calmly. "Thefoolish man would insist upon milking the red cow when I wanted him tomilk the white one; but he will know better next time, I am sure."

  Then the party moved on again, and after crossing a broad river on aferry and passing many fine farm houses that were dome shaped andpainted a pretty green color, they came in sight of a large buildingthat was covered with flags and bunting.

  "I don't remember that building," said Dorothy. "What is it?"

  "That is the College of Art and Athletic Perfection," replied Ozma. "Ihad it built quite recently, and the Woggle-Bug is its president. Itkeeps him busy, and the young men who attend the college are no worseoff than they were before. You see, in this country are a number ofyouths who do not like to work, and the college is an excellent placefor them."

  And now they came in sight of the Emerald City, and the people flockedout to greet their lovely ruler. There were several bands and manyofficers and officials of the realm, and a crowd of citizens in theirholiday attire.

  Thus the beautiful Ozma was escorted by a brilliant procession to herroyal city, and so great was the cheering that she was obliged toconstantly bow to the right and left to acknowledge the greetings of hersubjects.

  "I PROMOTE YOU TO BE CAPTAIN-GENERAL"]

  That evening there was a grand reception in the royal palace, attendedby the most important persons of Oz, and Jack Pumpkinhead, who was alittle over-ripe but still active, read an address congratulating Ozmaof Oz upon the success of her generous mission to rescue the royalfamily of a neighboring kingdom.

  Then magnificent gold medals set with precious stones were presented toeach of the twenty-six officers; and the Tin Woodman was given a new axestudded with diamonds; and the Scarecrow received a silver jar ofcomplexion powder. Dorothy was presented with a pretty coronet and madea Princess of Oz, and Tiktok received two bracelets set with eight rowsof very clear and sparkling emeralds.

  Afterward they sat down to a splendid feast, and Ozma put Dorothy at herright and Billina at her left, where the hen sat upon a golden roost andate from a jeweled platter. Then were placed the Scarecrow, the TinWoodman and Tiktok, with baskets of lovely flowers before them, becausethey did not require food. The twenty-six officers were at the lower endof the table, and the Lion and the Tiger also had seats, and were servedon golden platters, that held a half a bushel at one time.

  The wealthiest and most important citizens of the Emerald City wereproud to wait upon these famous adventurers, and they were assisted by asprightly little maid named Jellia Jamb, whom the Scarecrow pinched uponher rosy cheeks and seemed to know very well.

  During the feast Ozma grew thoughtful, and suddenly she asked:

  "Where is the private?"

  "Oh, he is sweeping out the barracks," replied one of the generals, whowas busy eating a leg of a turkey. "But I have ordered him a dish ofbread and molasses to eat when his work is done."

  "Let him be sent for," said the girl ruler.

  While they waited for this command to be obeyed, she enquired:

  "Have we any other privates in the armies?"

  "Oh, yes," replied the Tin Woodman, "I believe there are three,altogether."

  The private now entered, saluting his officers and the royal Ozma veryrespectfully.

  "What is your name, my man?" asked the girl.

  "Omby Amby," answered the private.

  "Then, Omby Amby," said she, "I promote you to be Captain General of allthe armies of my kingdom, and especially to be Commander of my BodyGuard at the royal palace."

  "It is very expensive to hold so many offices," said the private,hesitating. "I have no money with which to buy uniforms."

  "You shall be supplied from the royal treasury," said Ozma.

  Then the private was given a seat at the table, where the other officerswelcomed him cordially, and the feasting and merriment were resumed.

  Suddenly Jellia Jamb exclaimed:

  "There is nothing more to eat! The Hungry Tiger has consumedeverything!"

  "But that is not the worst of it," declared the Tiger, mournfully."Somewhere or somehow, I've actually lost my appetite!"

  Dorothy's Magic Belt

  Dorothy passed several very happy weeks in the Land of Oz as the guestof the royal Ozma, who delighted to please and interest the littleKansas girl. Many new acquaintances were formed and many old onesrenewed, and wherever she went Dorothy found herself among friends.

  One day, however, as she sat in Ozma's private room, she noticed hangingupon the wall a picture which constantly changed in appearance, at onetime showing a meadow and at another time a forest, a lake or avillage.

  "How curious!" she exclaimed, after watching the shifting scenes for afew moments.

  "Yes," said Ozma, "that is really a wonderful invention in magic. If Iwish to see any part of the world or any person living, I
need onlyexpress the wish and it is shown in the picture."

  "May I use it?" asked Dorothy, eagerly.

  "Of course, my dear."

  "Then I'd like to see the old Kansas farm, and Aunt Em," said the girl.

  Instantly the well remembered farmhouse appeared in the picture, andAunt Em could be seen quite plainly. She was engaged in washing dishesby the kitchen window and seemed quite well and contented. The hired menand the teams were in the harvest fields behind the house, and the cornand wheat seemed to the child to be in prime condition. On the sideporch Dorothy's pet dog, Toto, was lying fast asleep in the sun, and toher surprise old Speckles was running around with a brood of twelve newchickens trailing after her.

  "Everything seems all right at home," said Dorothy, with a sigh ofrelief. "Now I wonder what Uncle Henry is doing."

  The scene in the picture at once shifted to Australia, where, in apleasant room in Sydney, Uncle Henry was seated in an easy chair,solemnly smoking his briar pipe. He looked sad and lonely, and his hairwas now quite white and his hands and face thin and wasted.

  "Oh!" cried Dorothy, in an anxious voice, "I'm sure Uncle Henry isn'tgetting any better, and it's because he is worried about me. Ozma, dear,I must go to him at once!"

  "How can you?" asked Ozma.

  "I don't know," replied Dorothy; "but let us go to Glinda the Good. I'msure she will help me, and advise me how to get to Uncle Henry."

  Ozma readily agreed to this plan and caused the Sawhorse to be harnessedto a pretty green and pink phaeton, and the two girls rode away to visitthe famous sorceress.

  Glinda received them graciously, and listened to Dorothy's story withattention.

  "I have the magic belt, you know," said the little girl. "If I buckledit around my waist and commanded it to take me to Uncle Henry, wouldn'tit do it?"

  "I think so," replied Glinda, with a smile.

  "And then," continued Dorothy, "if I ever wanted to come back hereagain, the belt would bring me."

  "THAT IS A WISE PLAN," REPLIED GLINDA]

  "In that you are wrong," said the sorceress. "The belt has magicalpowers only while it is in some fairy country, such as the Land of Oz,or the Land of Ev. Indeed, my little friend, were you to wear it andwish yourself in Australia, with your uncle, the wish would doubtless befulfilled, because it was made in fairyland. But you would not find themagic belt around you when you arrived at your destination."

  "What would become of it?" asked the girl.

  "It would be lost, as were your silver shoes when you visited Oz before,and no one would ever see it again. It seems too bad to destroy the useof the magic belt in that way, doesn't it?"

  "Then," said Dorothy, after a moment's thought, "I will give the magicbelt to Ozma, for she can use it in her own country. And she can wish metransported to Uncle Henry without losing the belt."

  "That is a wise plan," replied Glinda.

  So they rode back to the Emerald City, and on the way it was arrangedthat every Saturday morning Ozma would look at Dorothy in her magicpicture, wherever the little girl might chance to be. And, if she sawDorothy make a certain signal, then Ozma would know that the littleKansas girl wanted to revisit the Land of Oz, and by means of the NomeKing's magic belt would wish that she might instantly return.

  This having been agreed upon, Dorothy bade good-bye to all her friends.Tiktok wanted to go to Australia, too; but Dorothy knew that the machineman would never do for a servant in a civilized country, and the chanceswere that his machinery wouldn't work at all. So she left him in Ozma'scare.

  Billina, on the contrary, preferred the Land of Oz to any other country,and refused to accompany Dorothy.

  "The bugs and ants that I find here are the finest flavored in theworld," declared the yellow hen, "and there are plenty of them. So hereI shall end my days; and I must say, Dorothy, my dear, that you are veryfoolish to go back into that stupid, humdrum world again."

  "Uncle Henry needs me," said Dorothy, simply; and every one exceptBillina thought it was right that she should go.

  All Dorothy's friends of the Land of Oz--both old and new--gathered in agroup in front of the palace to bid her a sorrowful good-bye and to wishher long life and happiness. After much hand shaking, Dorothy kissedOzma once more, and then handed her the Nome King's magic belt, saying:

  "Now, dear Princess, when I wave my handkerchief, please wish me withUncle Henry. I'm aw'fly sorry to leave you--and the Scarecrow--and theTin Woodman--and the Cowardly Lion--and Tiktok--and--and everybody--butI do want my Uncle Henry! So good-bye, all of you."

  Then the little girl stood on one of the big emeralds which decoratedthe courtyard, and after looking once again at each of her friends,waved her handkerchief.

  * * * * *

  "No," said Dorothy, "I wasn't drowned at all. And I've come to nurse youand take care of you, Uncle Henry, and you must promise to get well assoon as poss'ble."

  Uncle Henry smiled and cuddled his little niece close in his lap.

  "I'm better already, my darling," said he.

  * * * * *

  Books by L. Frank Baum

  Illustrated by John R. Neill

  Each book handsomely bound in artistic pictorial cover. $1.25 pervolume.

  THE LAND OF OZ

  An account of the adventures of the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, JackPunpkinhead, the Animated Saw-Horse, the Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug,the Gump and many other delightful characters.

  Nearly 150 black-and-white illustrations and sixteen full-page pictures in color.

  OZMA OF OZ

  The story tells "more about Dorothy," as well as those famouscharacters, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion, andsomething of several new creations equally delightful, including Tiktokthe machine man, the Yellow Hen, the Nome King and the Hungry Tiger.

  Forty-one full-page colored pictures; twenty-two half pages in color and fifty black-and-white text pictures.

  DOROTHY AND THE WIZARD IN OZ

  In this book Dorothy, with Zeb, a little boy friend, and Jim, the CabHorse, are swallowed up in an earthquake and reach a strange vegetableland, whence they escape to the land of Oz, and meet all their oldfriends. Among the new characters are Eureka, Dorothy's Pink Kitten, andthe Nine Tiny Piglets.

  Gorgeously illustrated with sixteen full color pages and numerous black-and-white pictures.

  THE ROAD TO OZ

  Tells how to reach the Magic City of Oz over a road leading throughlands of many colors, peopled with odd characters, surcharged withadventure suitable for the minds and imaginations of young children. Themanufacture represents an entirely new idea--the paper used is ofvarious colors to indicate the several countries traversed by the roadleading to Oz and the Emerald City.

  Unique and gorgeous Jacket in colors and gold.

  THE EMERALD CITY OF OZ

  In this story, the Nome King threatens to capture the Emerald City. Ozmaand Dorothy, with the help of Glinda the Good defeat his plan. All theold characters and many new ones enliven this story.

  16 full-page pictures in four colors and green bronze. 100 black-and-white illustrations. Jacket in four colors and aluminum and green bronze.

  THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ

  In many ways the most successful of the Oz Books. A new and fascinatingcharacter, the Patchwork Girl, and Ojo, a new boy, have adventures oflively interest.

  Over 100 full-page pictures in full color and in black and white. Full-length chapter heads in full color. Jacket in four colors; cover in four stampings.