Ozma's Birthday Party
CHAPTER 22
It seems odd that a fairy should have a birthday, for fairies, they say,were born at the beginning of time and live forever. Yet, on the otherhand, it would be a shame to deprive a fairy, who has so many other goodthings, of the delights of a birthday. So we need not wonder that thefairies keep their birthdays just as other folks do, and consider themoccasions for feasting and rejoicing.
Ozma, the beautiful girl Ruler of the Fairyland of Oz, was a real fairy,and so sweet and gentle in caring for her people that she was greatlybeloved by them all. She lived in the most magnificent palace in themost magnificent city in the world, but that did not prevent her frombeing the friend of the most humble person in her dominions. She wouldmount her wooden Sawhorse, and ride out to a farm house and sit in thekitchen to talk with the good wife of the farmer while she did herfamily baking; or she would play with the children and give them rideson her famous wooden steed; or she would stop in a forest to speak to acharcoal burner and ask if he was happy or desired anything to make himmore content; or she would teach young girls how to sew and plan prettydresses, or enter the shops where the jewelers and craftsmen were busyand watch them at their work, giving to each and all a cheering word orsunny smile.
And then Ozma would sit in her jeweled throne, with her chosen courtiersall about her, and listen patiently to any complaint brought to her byher subjects, striving to accord equal justice to all. Knowing she wasfair in her decisions, the Oz people never murmured at her judgments,but agreed, if Ozma decided against them, she was right and they wrong.
When Dorothy and Trot and Betsy Bobbin and Ozma were together, one wouldthink they were all about of an age, and the fairy Ruler no older and nomore "grown up" than the other three. She would laugh and romp with themin regular girlish fashion, yet there was an air of quiet dignity aboutOzma, even in her merriest moods, that, in a manner, distinguished herfrom the others. The three girls loved her devotedly, but they werenever able to quite forget that Ozma was the Royal Ruler of thewonderful fairyland of Oz, and by birth belonged to a powerful race.
Ozma's palace stood in the center of a delightful and extensive garden,where splendid trees and flowering shrubs and statuary and fountainsabounded. One could walk for hours in this fascinating park and seesomething interesting at every step. In one place was an aquarium, wherestrange and beautiful fish swam; at another spot all the birds of theair gathered daily to a great feast which Ozma's servants provided forthem, and were so fearless of harm that they would alight upon one'sshoulders and eat from one's hand. There was also the Fountain of theWater of Oblivion, but it was dangerous to drink of this water, becauseit made one forget everything he had ever before known, even to his ownname, and therefore Ozma had placed a sign of warning upon the fountain.But there were also fountains that were delightfully perfumed, andfountains of delicious nectar, cool and richly flavored, where all werewelcome to refresh themselves.
Around the palace grounds was a great wall, thickly encrusted withglittering emeralds, but the gates stood open and no one was forbiddenentrance. On holidays the people of the Emerald City often took theirchildren to see the wonders of Ozma's gardens, and even entered theRoyal Palace, if they felt so inclined, for they knew that they andtheir Ruler were friends, and that Ozma delighted to give them pleasure.
When all this is considered, you will not be surprised that the peoplethroughout the Land of Oz, as well as Ozma's most intimate friends andher royal courtiers, were eager to celebrate her birthday, and madepreparations for the festival weeks in advance. All the brass bandspracticed their nicest tunes, for they were to march in the numerousprocessions to be made in the Winkie Country, the Gillikin Country, theMunchkin Country and the Quadling Country, as well as in the EmeraldCity. Not all the people could go to congratulate their Ruler, but allcould celebrate her birthday, in one way or another, however far distantfrom her palace they might be. Every home and building throughout theLand of Oz was to be decorated with banners and bunting, and there wereto be games, and plays, and a general good time for every one.
It was Ozma's custom on her birthday to give a grand feast at thepalace, to which all her closest friends were invited. It was a queerlyassorted company, indeed, for there are more quaint and unusualcharacters in Oz than in all the rest of the world, and Ozma was moreinterested in unusual people than in ordinary ones--just as you and Iare.
On this especial birthday of the lovely girl Ruler, a long table was setin the royal Banquet Hall of the palace, at which were place-cards forthe invited guests, and at one end of the great room was a smallertable, not so high, for Ozma's animal friends, whom she never forgot,and at the other end was a big table where all of the birthday giftswere to be arranged.
When the guests arrived, they placed their gifts on this table and thenfound their places at the banquet table. And, after the guests were allplaced, the animals entered in a solemn procession and were placed attheir table by Jellia Jamb. Then, while an orchestra hidden by a bank ofroses and ferns played a march composed for the occasion, the Royal Ozmaentered the Banquet Hall, attended by her Maids of Honor, and took herseat at the head of the table.
She was greeted by a cheer from all the assembled company, the animalsadding their roars and growls and barks and mewing and cackling to swellthe glad tumult, and then all seated themselves at their tables.
At Ozma's right sat the famous Scarecrow of Oz, whose straw-stuffed bodywas not beautiful, but whose happy nature and shrewd wit had made him ageneral favorite. On the left of the Ruler was placed the Tin Woodman,whose metal body had been brightly polished for this event. The TinWoodman was the Emperor of the Winkie Country and one of the mostimportant persons in Oz.
Next to the Scarecrow, Dorothy was seated, and next to her was Tik-Tok,the Clockwork Man, who had been wound up as tightly as his clockworkwould permit, so he wouldn't interrupt the festivities by running down.Then came Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, Dorothy's own relations, two kindlyold people who had a cozy home in the Emerald City and were very happyand contented there. Then Betsy Bobbin was seated, and next to her thedroll and delightful Shaggy Man, who was a favorite wherever he went.
On the other side of the table, opposite the Tin Woodman was placedTrot, and next to her, Cap'n Bill. Then was seated Button Bright and Ojothe Lucky, and Dr. Pipt and his good wife Margalot, and the astonishingFrogman, who had come from the Yip country to be present at Ozma'sbirthday feast.
At the foot of the table, facing Ozma, was seated the queenly Glinda,the good Sorceress of Oz, for this was really the place of honor next tothe head of the table where Ozma herself sat. On Glinda's right was theLittle Wizard of Oz, who owed to Glinda all of the magical arts he knew.Then came Jinjur, a pretty girl farmer of whom Ozma and Dorothy werequite fond. The adjoining seat was occupied by the Tin Soldier, and nextto him was Professor H. M. Wogglebug, T.E., of the Royal AthleticCollege.
On Glinda's left was placed the jolly Patchwork Girl, who was a littleafraid of the Sorceress and so was likely to behave herself pretty well.The Shaggy Man's brother was beside the Patchwork Girl, and then camethat interesting personage, Jack Pumpkinhead, who had grown a splendidbig pumpkin for a new head to be worn on Ozma's birthday, and had carveda face on it that was even jollier in expression than the one he hadlast worn. New heads were not unusual with Jack, for the pumpkins didnot keep long, and when the seeds--which served him as brains--began toget soft and mushy, he realized his head would soon spoil, and so heprocured a new one from his great field of pumpkins--grown by him sothat he need never lack a head.
You will have noticed that the company at Ozma's banquet table wassomewhat mixed, but every one invited was a tried and trusted friend ofthe girl Ruler, and their presence made her quite happy.
No sooner had Ozma seated herself, with her
back to the birthday table,than she noticed that all present were eyeing with curiosity andpleasure something behind her, for the gorgeous Magic Flower wasblooming gloriously and the mammoth blossoms that quickly succeeded oneanother on the plant were beautiful to view and filled the entire roomwith their delicate fragrance. Ozma wanted to look, too, to see what allwere staring at, but she controlled her curiosity because it was notproper that she should yet view her birthday gifts.
So the sweet and lovely Ruler devoted herself to her guests, several ofwhom, as the Sorcerer, the Tin Woodman, the Patchwork Girl, Tik-Tok,Jack Pumpkinhead and the Tin Soldier, never ate anything but sat verypolitely in their places and tried to entertain those of the guests whodid eat.
And, at the animal table, there was another interesting group,consisting of the Cowardly Lion, the Hungry Tiger, Toto--Dorothy'slittle shaggy black dog--Hank the Mule, the Pink Kitten, the WoodenSawhorse, the Yellow Hen, and the Glass Cat. All of these had goodappetites except the Sawhorse and the Glass Cat, and each was given aplentiful supply of the food it liked best.
Finally, when the banquet was nearly over and the ice-cream was to beserved, four servants entered bearing a huge cake, all frosted anddecorated with candy flowers. Around the edge of the cake was a row oflighted candles, and in the center were raised candy letters thatspelled the words:
OZMA'S Birthday Cake from Dorothy and the Wizard
"Oh, how beautiful!" cried Ozma, greatly delighted, and Dorothy saideagerly: "Now you must cut the cake, Ozma, and each of us will eat apiece with our ice-cream."
Jellia Jamb brought a large golden knife with a jeweled handle, and Ozmastood up in her place and attempted to cut the cake. But as soon as thefrosting in the center broke under the pressure of the knife thereleaped from the cake a tiny monkey three inches high, and he wasfollowed by another and another, until twelve monkeys stood on thetablecloth and bowed low to Ozma.
"Congratulations to our gracious Ruler!" they exclaimed in a chorus, andthen they began a dance, so droll and amusing that all the companyroared with laughter and even Ozma joined in the merriment. But afterthe dance the monkeys performed some wonderful acrobatic feats, and thenthey ran to the hollow of the cake and took out some band instruments ofburnished gold--cornets, horns, drums, and the like--and forming into aprocession the monkeys marched up and down the table playing a jollytune with the ease of skilled musicians.
Dorothy was delighted with the success of her "Surprise Cake," and afterthe monkeys had finished their performance, the banquet came to an end.
Now was the time for Ozma to see her other presents, so Glinda the Goodrose and, taking the girl Ruler by her hand, led her to the table whereall her gifts were placed in magnificent array. The Magic Flower ofcourse attracted her attention first, and Trot had to tell her the wholestory of their adventures in getting it. The little girl did not forgetto give due credit to the Glass Cat and the little Wizard, but it wasreally Cap'n Bill who bravely carried the golden flowerpot away from theenchanted Isle.
Ozma thanked them all, and said she would place the Magic Flower in herboudoir where she might enjoy its beauty and fragrance continually. Butnow she discovered the marvelous gown woven by Glinda and her maidensfrom strands drawn from pure emeralds, and being a girl who loved prettyclothes, Ozma's ecstasy at being presented with this exquisite gown maywell be imagined. She could hardly wait to put it on, but the table wasloaded with other pretty gifts and the night was far spent before thehappy girl Ruler had examined all her presents and thanked those who hadlovingly donated them.
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