The Royal Reception
At about four o'clock of that same day the Red Wagon drew up at the
entrance to Glinda's palace and Dorothy and Betsy jumped out. Ozma's Red
Wagon was almost a chariot, being inlaid with rubies and pearls, and it
was drawn by Ozma's favorite steed, the wooden Sawhorse.
"Shall I unharness you," asked Dorothy, "so you can come in and visit?"
"No," replied the Sawhorse. "I'll just stand here and think. Take your
time. Thinking doesn't seem to bore me at all."
"What will you think of?" inquired Betsy.
"Of the acorn that grew the tree from which I was made."
So they left the wooden animal and went in to see Glinda, who welcomed
the little girls in her most cordial manner.
"I knew you were on your way," said the good Sorceress when they were
seated in her library, "for I learned from my Record Book that you
intended to meet Trot and Button-Bright on their arrival here."
"Is the strange little girl named Trot?' asked Dorothy.
"Yes; and her companion, the old sailor, is named Cap'n Bill. I think we
shall like them very much, for they are just the kind of people to enjoy
and appreciate our fairyland and I do not see any way, at present, for
them to return again to the outside world."
"Well, there's room enough here for them, I'm sure," said Dorothy. "Betsy
and I are already eager to welcome Trot. It will keep us busy for a year,
at least, showing her all the wonderful things in Oz."
Glinda smiled.
"I have lived here many years," said she, "and I have not seen all the
wonders of Oz vet."
Meantime the travelers were drawing near to the palace, and when they
first caught sight of its towers Trot realized that it was far more
grand and imposing than was the King's castle in Jinxland. The nearer
they came, the more beautiful the palace appeared, and when finally the
Scarecrow led them up the great marble steps, even Button-Bright was
filled with awe.
"I don't see any soldiers to guard the place," said the little girl.
"There is no need to guard Glinda's palace," replied the Scarecrow. "We
have no wicked people in Oz, that we know of, and even if there were any,
Glinda's magic would be powerful enough to protect her."
Button-Bright was now standing on the top steps of the entrance, and he
suddenly exclaimed:
"Why, there's the Sawhorse and the Red Wagon! Hip, hooray!" and next
moment he was rushing down to throw his arms around the neck of the
wooden horse, which good-naturedly permitted this familiarity when it
recognized in the boy an old friend.
Button-Bright's shout had been heard inside the palace, so now Dorothy
and Betsy came running out to embrace their beloved friend, the
Scarecrow, and to welcome Trot and Cap'n Bill to the Land of Oz.
"We've been watching you for a long time, in Ozma's Magic Picture," said
Dorothy, "and Ozma has sent us to invite you to her own palace in the
Em'rald City. I don't know if you realize how lucky you are to get that
invitation, but you'll understand it better after you've seen the royal
palace and the Em'rald City."
Glinda now appeared in person to lead all the party into her Azure
Reception Room. Trot was a little afraid of the stately Sorceress, but
gained courage by holding fast to the hands of Betsy and Dorothy. Cap'n
Bill had no one to help him feel at ease, so the old sailor sat stiffly
on the edge of his chair and said: "Yes, ma'am," or "No, ma'am," when he
was spoken to, and was greatly embarrassed by so much splendor.
The Scarecrow had lived so much in palaces that he felt quite at home,
and he chatted to Glinda and the Oz girls in a merry, light-hearted way.
He told all about his adventures in Jinxland, and at the Great Waterfall,
and on the journey hither--most of which his hearers knew already--and
then he asked Dorothy and Betsy what had happened in the Emerald City
since he had left there.
They all passed the evening and the night at Glinda's palace, and the
Sorceress was so gracious to Cap'n Bill that the old man by degrees
regained his self-possession and began to enjoy himself. Trot had
already come to the conclusion that in Dorothy and Betsy she had found
two delightful comrades, and Button-Bright was just as much at home here
as he had been in the fields of Jinxland or when he was buried in the
popcorn snow of the Land of Mo.
The next morning they arose bright and early and after breakfast bade
good-bye to the kind Sorceress, whom Trot and Cap'n Bill thanked
earnestly for sending the Scarecrow to Jinxland to rescue them. Then they
all climbed into the Red Wagon.
There was room for all on the broad seats, and when all had taken
their places--Dorothy, Trot and Betsy on the rear seat and Cap'n Bill,
Button-Bright and the Scarecrow in front--they called "Gid-dap!" to the
Sawhorse and the wooden steed moved briskly away, pulling the Red Wagon
with ease.
It was now that the strangers began to perceive the real beauties of the
Land of Oz, for they were passing through a more thickly settled part
of the country and the population grew more dense as they drew nearer
to the Emerald City. Everyone they met had a cheery word or a smile for
the Scarecrow, Dorothy and Betsy Bobbin, and some of them remembered
Button-Bright and welcomed him back to their country.
It was a happy party, indeed, that journeyed in the Red Wagon to the
Emerald City, and Trot already began to hope that Ozma would permit her
and Cap'n Bill to live always in the Land of Oz.
When they reached the great city they were more amazed than ever, both by
the concourse of people in their quaint and picturesque costumes, and by
the splendor of the city itself. But the magnificence of the Royal Palace
quite took their breath away, until Ozma received them in her own pretty
apartment and by her charming manners and assuring smiles made them feel
they were no longer strangers.
Trot was given a lovely little room next to that of Dorothy, while Cap'n
Bill had the cosiest sort of a room next to Trot's and overlooking the
gardens. And that evening Ozma gave a grand banquet and reception in
honor of the new arrivals. While Trot had read of many of the people she
then met, Cap'n Bill was less familiar with them and many of the unusual
characters introduced to him that evening caused the old sailor to open
his eyes wide in astonishment.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
He had thought the live Scarecrow about as curious as anyone could be,
but now he met the Tin Woodman, who was all made of tin, even to his
heart, and carried a gleaming axe over his shoulder wherever he went.
Then there was Jack Pumpkinhead, whose head was a real pumpkin with the
face carved upon it; and Professor Wogglebug, who had the shape of an
enormous bug but was dressed in neat fitting garments. The Professor was
an interesting talker and had very polite manners, but his face was so
comical that it made Cap'n Bill smile to look at it. A great friend of
Dorothy and Ozma seemed to be a machine man called Tik-Tok, who ran down
several times during the evening and had to be wound up again by someone
before he could move or speak.
At the reception appeared the Shaggy Man and his brother, both very
popular in Oz, as well as Dorothy's Uncle Henry and Aunt Em, two happy
old people who lived in a pretty cottage near the palace.
But what perhaps seemed most surprising to both Trot and Cap'n Bill was
the number of peculiar animals admitted into Ozma's parlors, where they
not only conducted themselves quite properly but were able to talk as
well as anyone.
There was the Cowardly Lion, an immense beast with a beautiful mane; and
the Hungry Tiger, who smiled continually; and Eureka the Pink Kitten, who
lay curled upon a cushion and had rather supercilious manners; and the
wooden Sawhorse; and nine tiny piglets that belonged to the Wizard; and
a mule named Hank, who belonged to Betsy Bobbin. A fuzzy little terrier
dog, named Toto, lay at Dorothy's feet but seldom took part in the
conversation, although he listened to every word that was said. But the
most wonderful of all to Trot was a square beast with a winning smile,
that squatted in a corner of the room and wagged his square head at
everyone in quite a jolly way. Betsy told Trot that this unique beast was
called the Woozy, and there was no other like him in all the world.
Cap'n Bill and Trot had both looked around expectantly for the Wizard of
Oz, but the evening was far advanced before the famous little man entered
the room. But he went up to the strangers at once and said:
"I know you, but you don't know me; so let's get acquainted."
And they did get acquainted, in a very short time, and before the evening
was over Trot felt that she knew every person and animal present at the
reception, and that they were all her good friends.
Suddenly they looked around for Button-Bright, but he was nowhere to be
found.
"Dear me!" cried Trot. "He's lost again."
"Never mind, my dear," said Ozma, with her charming smile, "no one
can go far astray in the Land of Oz, and if Button-Bright isn't lost
occasionally, he isn't happy."
[Illustration]
* * * * *
Transcriber Notes
All illustrations were placed so as to not split paragraphs. The color
illustrations were grouped together (between pages 32 and 33) in the
printed version; but have been moved to the relevent point within the
story. Minor typos corrected.