A Great Celebration in Oz
"Why all the crown jewels, old Toz?" Resting his chin on the window
ledge, Highboy looked inquiringly into the dressing room of Joe King,
ruler of the Gillikens and all of the purple countries of Oz. The
King's apartment was on the tenth floor of the royal palace, but this
made no difference to Highboy, for Highboy was a giant horse whose
telescope legs could be raised or lowered to any level, making him one
of the most amazing and amusing animals in Oz. "I say, are we going
anywhere in particular?" he drawled curiously as the King, decked out
in his best braided traveling coat and amethyst crown, surveyed himself
cheerfully in the long mirror.
"WE!" chuckled the merry monarch, turning round with a hearty roar.
"Ho, Ho, HO! And how do you know YOU are going?"
"Well, I see you are wearing your best purple boots, and when the King
of all the Gillikens wears his best purple boots, he usually rides his
best purple horse, does he not?"
"Right," admitted the King good naturedly. "And I might as well tell
you at once that we are going to the capital at the express invitation
of her Imperial Highness, Queen Ozma of Oz!" The King cleared his
throat importantly. "There is to be an immense festival to celebrate
the discovery of Oz by mortals, the honors to be equally divided
between the famous Wizard who arrived here in a balloon from Omaha many
years ago, and little Dorothy, who came by way of a Kansas cyclone
somewhat later. Not only will the rulers of all four Oz Kingdoms be
present, but many other important and Royal personages as well."
"Well? Well, indeed!" trumpeted the giant horse shrilly. "There you
stand all shined up like a door knob and never a word to me. How'll I
look? Why wasn't I told before? When do we start?"
"Just as soon as her Majesty decides what to wear and what to take with
her," answered the King with a solemn wink.
"Oh, then I'll have bushels of time." Highboy sighed heavily with
relief. "So we're invited to the Emerald City, eh? How perfectly perf,
how simply magnif. Billy! Tommy! JIM!!" As he called the name of each
little groom, Highboy let himself down a couple of stories and by the
time he reached a usual horse height and level on the ground, he had
ordered himself a bath, a mane wave, an oil shampoo, and a hooficure.
Indeed, Highboy's plans for the party went on apace and with the three
grooms pattering after him with buckets, brushes, and sponges, he
trotted anxiously up and down his great airy stable picking out his
most splendid saddle and bridle and silver-braided blanket for the
journey. The giant horse wished to make an impression that would uphold
if not enhance the honor and reputation of the Gillikens. He was eager
to renew his friendship with Trot, a little mortal girl who lived
in the palace and with Herby, the Medicine Man, and the many other
interesting characters he had met on a former visit to the capital.
In the Munchkin, Quadling, and Winkie Kingdoms there was also a lively
bustle and stir of preparation, and in many of the lesser Kingdoms the
Kings, Queens, and Potentates made ready for the great spring festival
in the Emerald City. And you can imagine the fun and excitement in
the capital itself. Everyone had some special part in the program,
even the dogs and cats ran importantly about on countless errands
like small messengers, their ears and tails quivering with interest
and expectancy. After the visitors had been officially welcomed at
the gates of the city, there was to be an imperial procession with
bands, floats and favors for everybody. Then there were to be games,
races, and other exciting athletic events and a grand banquet in the
Royal Palace. A magic lantern ball in Ozma's garden would complete the
festivities for the first day. For the second, pageants and tableaux
depicting the important and historical events of Ozian history had
been arranged for the morning. Notta Bit More, a circus clown who had
come to Oz from Philadelphia, was putting on an outdoor circus in the
afternoon, helped by Bob Up, the orphan who had come with him, and all
the famous animals in the Emerald City. From the squeals, shouts, and
hilarious chuckles issuing from the huge white tent set just beyond the
city wall, it promised to be an unqualified success.
After the circus, Ozma had planned a picnic supper on the banks of
the Winkie River, to be followed by demonstrations in magic by the
Wizard of Oz and Glinda, the Good Sorceress of the South, and last,
but not least, a lavish display of fireworks sent especially for the
grand occasion by Happy Toko, Emperor of the Silver Isles. No wonder
the children in the Emerald City could think of nothing but the
coming celebration. No wonder Dorothy, Trot, and Bettsy Bobbin, the
little mortals who lived in the great palace and were Princesses in
their own right, were too busy to think of their titles or bother with
their crowns. Dorothy, the first of the three to reach the capital,
was Ozma's favorite companion, and Dorothy was perhaps the busiest of
all. Not only had she planned all the tableaux and pageants, but had
entire charge of decorating the palace and the Emerald City as well.
The Scarecrow, whom Dorothy had discovered on her earliest trip to Oz,
was her most willing and tireless assistant. This lively straw-stuffed
gentleman had brains given him by the Wizard and was in high favor
and constant demand because of his natural cheerfulness and amiable
disposition.
At the moment, he and Dorothy were superintending the erection of a
floral arch over the great jeweled gates of the City. This arch, grown
and tended by the Wizard, was so magically compounded that as each
visitor rode through the gateway a ribbon-tied bouquet of fragrant
spring flowers dropped lightly into his or her lap. Dorothy and the
Scarecrow had tried it out to their complete delight and satisfaction,
and now clasping their large bouquets, watched three energetic little
gardeners tie up the last tendrils of the magic vine to the gaily
painted arbor.
"You know," said Dorothy, peering over the flower tops at the
Scarecrow, "I can hardly wait till tomorrow. To think we'll be seeing
Sir Hokus and Ojo and Unk Nunkie and Urtha and Prince Tatters and all
the others--"
"And they'll be seeing us, too, remember that," beamed the Scarecrow,
closing one cotton eye. "And now, if you think you can manage for a
few minutes without me, I had better go and study up on my speech of
welcome."
"Oh--are YOU making the speech of welcome? How grand! How thrilling!"
Dorothy gazed admiringly up at her oldest friend in Oz.
"Yes, and I'm also making the speech awarding medals to the Discoverers
of our country," confided the Scarecrow, thrusting out his chin and
striking an attitude. "How will you feel when I pin that medal on your
chest, my girl?"
"Well," sighed Dorothy, looking dreamily over her bouquet, "I couldn't
feel any happier than I do now, but it certainly will be a great honor,
Scarecrow."
"A great honor! Well, I should snickerty wicker. But what if I forget
my speech right in the middle of a word!" The Scarecrow pushed back his
old blue hat and puckered up his forehead anxiously. "How will I feel
with all those Kings and Queens staring right at me? Really, I think
Ozma had better have someone else make the speeches."
"Oh, go along with you," laughed Dorothy, giving him a little push.
"Haven't you magic brains? You'll be a splendid speechmaker."
"Do you think so? Well, I'll do my best." Somewhat reassured, the
Scarecrow patted Dorothy on the shoulder and started off through the
park. Dorothy could tell from the way he flung his arms about that he
was rehearsing, and with an amused little smile she hurried back to
the palace to put the finishing touches to the decorations for Ozma's
throne room. Half way there, she met the Hungry Tiger carrying a large
basket in his teeth and followed by ten little kitchen boys, also
bearing enormous baskets.
"Good gracious, Tige, what's this?" Dorothy stared at the little
procession in surprise. The Hungry Tiger and Cowardly Lion have lived
in the Emerald City almost as long as Dorothy and though the tiger's
appetite is tremendous and he is always threatening to eat a fat baby,
he has never yet done it and is tame as Dorothy's pet kitten Eureka.
"Oh, hadn't you heard?" The Hungry Tiger set down his basket and
smoothed back his whiskers complacently. "I'm the head of the
reception committee for all visiting animals and am on my way now to
buy refreshments for the great banquet and picnic. And trust me," he
gave Dorothy a broad wink, "to do it right. Just let me see that list,
Kapo." Taking a long slip from the first kitchen boy, he began to drone
off the names of the capital's famous four-footed citizens and then the
list of visitors.
"Of course, there must be meat for the Cowardly Lion and myself," mused
the Tiger, blinking his eyes sleepily. "Then there's Hank, Bettsy
Bobbin's Mule, and Doubty, that dromedary you and Sir Hokus brought
back from one of those strange journeys; and we mustn't forget Peter's
Iffin, though he doesn't eat much. Put down a box of violets and
geraniums for the Iffin, Kapo, my lad. Ozma's Saw Horse and the Woozy
being of wood don't care for food, but that fine pink pig Pigasus eats
enough for a dozen horses, and Toto, your little dog, and Billina must
be taken care of too, and Scrap's bear, Grumpy."
"Of course," agreed Dorothy, leaning her elbow on the Tiger's back so
she could read the list over his shoulder. "But they all live here.
Who's coming from foreign parts, Tiger?"
"Well," confided the Tiger, "you'll be glad to know our old friend the
Comfortable Camel is making the trip with Hokus, I mean the Yellow
Knight, and Marygolden, the Princess he married, is riding a warhorse
named Stampedro. The King and Queen of the Gillikens will make the trip
on the Giant Horse (quite a lot of horses, aren't there), and I hope
Highboy keeps his legs in bounds. It makes me nervous to see a creature
one height one minute and another height the next. You knew the Prince
of Pumperdink was bringing Kabumpo, the Elegant Elephant?"
"Don't you mean that Kabumpo is bringing him?" put in Dorothy
mischievously, "and won't you be glad to see him again?"
"Yes, I'll be glad enough to see him," murmured the Tiger, "but feeding
him is quite a big problem."
"Well, you're just the one to do it," said Dorothy, smoothing away the
wrinkle between the Tiger's pointed ears. "You have such a big appetite
yourself, you'd know just how hungry an elephant would feel. I see
you've got Roger down, too."
"I'm pretty sure King Ato will bring his Read Bird, so I'm ordering a
dozen boxes of animal crackers for Roger and a barrel of apples for
Snufferbux."
"I wonder if he'll dance for us." Dorothy's eyes brightened, for she
had taken a great fancy to the faithful bear with whom Ojo had traveled
all over Oz. "He's bound to be jolly and full of fun."
"And hungry as a bear," sighed the Tiger with a worried frown. "But
that is easy compared to a dragon. King Cheeriobed is bringing a
dragon, and this dragon's on a diet of mustard and sulphur--think
of that, my child, and SAY--I'd best get along or I'll never get my
marketing done."
"And I must go, too," said Dorothy, reminded of her many
responsibilities. So, giving the Tiger's ear an affectionate pull, she
ran all the way back to the palace. In the throne room she found Ozma
and Tik Tok in a quiet conference.
"I've made Tik Tok Master of Ceremonies," said Ozma, looking up with
a smile of welcome, "because he never forgets what he's wound up to
remember."
"And I'll be sure to keep him wound up," promised Dorothy, patting the
machine man on his copper shoulder. Tik Tok was another of Dorothy's
discoveries and had been manufactured by a magician to be a slave of
the King of Ev, but here he was, thanks to Dorothy, enjoying a life of
interest and ease in the capital. Tik Tok could talk, think, and move
about as well as anyone when he was wound, and was much more reliable
and tireless than a real person.
"I am to an-nounce the vis-i-tors as they en-ter the pal-ace and
per-son-a-al-ly con-duct them to their roy-al quar-ters," Tik Tok
told Dorothy in his slow and precise manner. "Oz-ma can de-pend on me
ab-so-lute-ly and ev-e-ry thing will go like clock-work." With two
stiff bows and ticking with importance, the metal man marched proudly
from the room.
"Like clock-work. Ha, ha! did you hear that, and why not with a
clock-work man in charge? Oh, Ozma, doesn't it all look grand and
gorgeous?" Clasping the little Queen around her slender waist, Dorothy
gazed around the beautiful throne room. Every window and doorway
was garlanded with flowers, while hundreds of palms, ferns, and
fluttering silk pennants gave it an unwonted look of pomp and ceremony.
"Let--me--see," mused Dorothy, straightening the folds of a white
satin curtain. "I'm to stand on your right, Bettsy Bobbin and Trot on
your left, and the Patchwork Girl is to hold your train at the grand
reception. Do you think you can trust her, Ozma? She'll probably try to
jump rope or wave it like a handkerchief."
"Oh, Scraps is pretty good, considering her giddy make up," observed
Ozma with a little smile, "and she would be so disappointed not to be
with us. I'm sure I can trust her--at least for a little while."
"Trust me? Trust me? You disgust me," shouted a merry voice and Scraps,
who had been peeking through the curtains at the back of the room, took
a long running slide, landing in an unladylike heap at the foot of the
dais leading to the throne. Scraps, made from an old crazy quilt and
stuffed with cotton, had been brought to life by a magician to serve
his wife, but the Patch Work Girl had come to the Emerald City with Ojo
and never returned to her creators, scorning the humble career of a
maid servant. She was so gay and amusing Ozma had allowed her to remain
at the palace.
"Must I go in training to hold a train?" she demanded, springing to her
feet and striking so comical an attitude both Dorothy and Ozma had to
laugh.
"Of course not," said Ozma kindly, "just be careful and do not do any
gymnastics during the reception."
"Oh, I'll be careful and so dignified I'll probably split a seam, but
wait till you see the grand-aerial-balance-defying stunt I'm to put on
for the big show," puffed Scraps, snapping her button eyes boastfully.
"I'm to walk the tight rope in Notta's circus, so SO long, girls, I
must go and practice."
"Well, even if she falls it won't matter," remarked Dorothy with a
slight shudder as the Patch Work Girl jumped recklessly out of the
window, and picking herself up set off for the circus grounds on the
edge of the park.
"Oh, Ozma, with all the interesting people here already and with all
the grand and exciting ones who are coming, I believe we'll have the
best time we've ever had since Oz was discovered."
"Are you glad you discovered us?" Giving her an affectionate squeeze,
Ozma linked her arm through Dorothy's. "Let's see how the Wizard is
getting on with his tricks for the picnic."
Dorothy nodded eagerly, and hand in hand the two girls hurried across
the corridor to the laboratory of the wonderful Wizard of Oz.