by a crooked Sorcerer who lived in the mountains of the North Country. A
Witch named Mombi got some of this powder from the crooked Sorcerer and
took it home with her. Ozma lived with the Witch then, for it was before
she became our Princess, while Mombi had transformed her into the shape
of a boy. Well, while Mombi was gone to the crooked Sorcerer's, the boy
made this pumpkin-headed man to amuse himself, and also with the hope of
frightening the Witch with it when she returned. But Mombi was not
scared, and she sprinkled the Pumpkinhead with her Magic Powder of Life,
to see if the Powder would work. Ozma was watching, and saw the
Pumpkinhead come to life; so that night she took the pepper-box
containing the Powder and ran away with it and with Jack, in search of
adventures."
"Next day they found a wooden Saw-Horse standing by the roadside, and
sprinkled it with the Powder. It came to life at once, and Jack
Pumpkinhead rode the Saw-Horse to the Emerald City."
"What became of the Saw-Horse, afterward?" asked the shaggy man, much
interested in this story.
[Illustration]
"Oh, it's alive yet, and you will probably meet it presently in the
Emerald City. Afterward Ozma used the last of the Powder to bring the
Flying Gump to life; but as soon as it had carried her away from her
enemies the Gump was taken apart, so it doesn't exist any more."
"It's too bad the Powder of Life was all used up," remarked the shaggy
man; "it would be a handy thing to have around."
"I am not so sure of that, sir," answered the Tin Woodman. "A while ago
the crooked Sorcerer who invented the magic Powder fell down a precipice
and was killed. All his possessions went to a relative--an old woman
named Dyna, who lives in the Emerald City. She went to the mountains
where the Sorcerer had lived and brought away everything she thought of
value. Among them was a small bottle of the Powder of Life; but of
course Dyna didn't know it was a magic Powder, at all. It happened she
had once had a big blue bear for a pet; but the bear choked to death on
a fishbone one day, and she loved it so dearly that Dyna made a rug of
its skin, leaving the head and four paws on the hide. She kept the rug
on the floor of her front parlor."
"I've seen rugs like that," said the shaggy man, nodding, "but never one
made from a blue bear."
"Well," continued the Tin Woodman, "the old woman had an idea that the
Powder in the bottle must be moth-powder, because it smelled something
like moth-powder; so one day she sprinkled it on her bear rug to keep
the moths out of it. She said, looking lovingly at the skin: 'I wish my
dear bear were alive again!' To her horror the bear rug at once came to
life, having been sprinkled with the Magic Powder; and now this live
bear rug is a great trial to her, and makes her a lot of trouble."
"Why?" asked the shaggy man.
"Well, it stands up on its four feet and walks all around, and gets in
the way; and that spoils it for a rug. It can't speak, although it is
alive; for, while its head might say words, it has no breath in a solid
body to push the words out of its mouth. It's a very slimpsy affair
altogether, that bear rug, and the old woman is sorry it came to life.
Every day she has to scold it, and make it lie down flat on the parlor
floor to be walked upon; but sometimes when she goes to market the rug
will hump up its back skin, and stand on its four feet, and trot along
after her."
[Illustration]
"I should think Dyna would like that," said Dorothy.
"Well, she doesn't; because every one knows it isn't a real bear, but
just a hollow skin, and so of no actual use in the world except for a
rug," answered the Tin Woodman. "Therefore I believe it is a good thing
that all the magic Powder of Life is now used up, as it cannot cause
any more trouble."
"Perhaps you're right," said the shaggy man, thoughtfully.
At noon they stopped at a farm-house, where it delighted the farmer and
his wife to be able to give them a good luncheon. The farm people knew
Dorothy, having seen her when she was in the country before, and they
treated the little girl with as much respect as they did the Emperor,
because she was a friend of the powerful Princess Ozma.
They had not proceeded far after leaving this farm-house before coming
to a high bridge over a broad river. This river, the Tin Woodman
informed them, was the boundary between the Country of the Winkies and
the territory of the Emerald City. The city itself was still a long way
off, but all around it was a green meadow, as pretty as a well-kept
lawn, and in this were neither houses nor farms to spoil the beauty of
the scene.
From the top of the high bridge they could see far away the magnificent
spires and splendid domes of the superb city, sparkling like brilliant
jewels as they towered above the emerald walls. The shaggy man drew a
deep breath of awe and amazement, for never had he dreamed that such a
grand and beautiful place could exist--even in the fairyland of Oz.
Polly was so pleased that her violet eyes sparkled like amethysts, and
she danced away from her companions across the bridge and into a group
of feathery trees lining both the roadsides. These trees she stopped to
look at with pleasure and surprise, for their leaves were shaped like
ostrich plumes, their feather edges beautifully curled; and all the
plumes were tinted in the same dainty rainbow hues that appeared in
Polychrome's own pretty gauze gown.
"Father ought to see these trees," she murmured; "they are almost as
lovely as his own rainbows."
Then she gave a start of terror, for beneath the trees came stalking two
great beasts, either one big enough to crush the little Daughter of the
Rainbow with one blow of his paws, or to eat her up with one snap of his
enormous jaws. One was a tawny lion, as tall as a horse, nearly; the
other a striped tiger almost the same size.
Polly was too frightened to scream or to stir; she stood still with a
wildly beating heart until Dorothy rushed past her and with a glad cry
threw her arms around the huge lion's neck, hugging and kissing the
beast with evident joy.
"Oh, I'm _so_ glad to see you again!" cried the little Kansas girl. "And
the Hungry Tiger, too! How fine you're both looking. Are you well and
happy?"
[Illustration: DOROTHY THREW HER ARMS AROUND THE LION'S NECK]
"We certainly are, Dorothy," answered the Lion, in a deep voice that
sounded pleasant and kind; "and we are greatly pleased that you have
come to Ozma's party. It's going to be a grand affair, I promise you."
"There will be lots of fat babies at the celebration, I hear," remarked
the Hungry Tiger, yawning so that his mouth opened dreadfully wide and
showed all his big, sharp teeth; "but of course I can't eat any of 'em."
"Is your Conscience still in good order?" asked Dorothy, anxiously.
"Yes; it rules me like a tyrant," answered the Tiger, sorrowfully. "I
can imagine nothing more unpleasant than to own a Conscience," and he
winked slyly at his friend the Lion.
"You're fooling me!" said Dorothy, with a laugh. "I don't b'lieve you'd
eat a baby if you lost your Conscience. Come here, Polly," she called,
"and be introduced to my friends."
Polly advanced rather shyly.
"You have some queer friends, Dorothy," she said.
"The queerness doesn't matter, so long as they're friends," was the
answer. "This is the Cowardly Lion, who isn't a coward at all, but just
thinks he is. The Wizard gave him some courage once, and he has part of
it left."
The Lion bowed with great dignity to Polly.
"You are very lovely, my dear," said he. "I hope we shall be friends
when we are better acquainted."
"And this is the Hungry Tiger," continued Dorothy. "He says he longs to
eat fat babies; but the truth is he is never hungry at all, 'cause he
gets plenty to eat; and I don't s'pose he'd hurt anybody even if he was
hungry."
"Hush, Dorothy," whispered the Tiger; "you'll ruin my reputation if you
are not more discreet. It isn't what we are, but what folks think we
are, that counts in this world. And come to think of it Miss Polly would
make a fine variegated breakfast, I'm sure."
[Illustration]
The Emerald City
[Illustration]
The others now came up, and the Tin Woodman greeted the Lion and the
Tiger cordially. Button-Bright yelled with fear when Dorothy first took
his hand and led him toward the great beasts; but the girl insisted they
were kind and good, and so the boy mustered up courage enough to pat
their heads; after they had spoken to him gently and he had looked into
their intelligent eyes his fear vanished entirely and he was so
delighted with the animals that he wanted to keep close to them and
stroke their soft fur every minute.
As for the shaggy man, he might have been afraid if he had met the
beasts alone, or in any other country; but so many were the marvels in
the Land of Oz that he was no longer easily surprised, and Dorothy's
friendship for the Lion and Tiger was enough to assure him they were
safe companions. Toto barked at the Cowardly Lion in joyous greeting,
for he knew the beast of old and loved him, and it was funny to see how
gently the Lion raised his huge paw to pat Toto's head. The little dog
smelled of the Tiger's nose and the Tiger politely shook paws with him;
so they were quite likely to become firm friends.
Tik-tok and Billina knew the beasts well, so merely bade them good day
and asked after their healths and inquired about the Princess Ozma.
Now it was seen that the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger were drawing
behind them a splendid golden chariot, to which they were harnessed by
golden cords. The body of the chariot was decorated on the outside with
designs in clusters of sparkling emeralds, while inside it was lined
with a green and gold satin, and the cushions of the seats were of green
plush embroidered in gold with a crown, underneath which was a monogram.
"Why, it's Ozma's own royal chariot!" exclaimed Dorothy.
"Yes," said the Cowardly Lion; "Ozma sent us to meet you here, for she
feared you would be weary with your long walk and she wished you to
enter the City in a style becoming your exalted rank."
"What!" cried Polly, looking at Dorothy curiously. "Do you belong to the
nobility?"
[Illustration]
"Just in Oz I do," said the child, "'cause Ozma made me a Princess, you
know. But when I'm home in Kansas I'm only a country girl, and have to
help with the churning and wipe the dishes while Aunt Em washes 'em. Do
you have to help wash dishes on the rainbow, Polly?"
"No, dear," answered Polychrome, smiling.
"Well, I don't have to work any in Oz, either," said Dorothy. "It's kind
of fun to be a Princess once in a while; don't you think so?"
"Dorothy and Polychrome and Button-Bright are all to ride in the
chariot," said the Lion. "So get in, my dears, and be careful not to mar
the gold or put your dusty feet on the embroidery."
Button-Bright was delighted to ride behind such a superb team, and he
told Dorothy it made him feel like an actor in a circus. As the strides
of the animals brought them nearer to the Emerald City every one bowed
respectfully to the children, as well as to the Tin Woodman, Tik-tok,
and the shaggy man, who were following behind.
The Yellow Hen had perched upon the back of the chariot, where she could
tell Dorothy more about her wonderful chickens as they rode. And so the
grand chariot came finally to the high wall surrounding the City, and
paused before the magnificent jewel-studded gates.
These were opened by a cheerful looking little man who wore green
spectacles over his eyes. Dorothy introduced him to her friends as the
Guardian of the Gates, and they noticed a big bunch of keys suspended on
the golden chain that hung around his neck. The chariot passed through
the outer gates into a fine arched chamber built in the thick wall, and
through the inner gates into the streets of the Emerald City.
Polychrome exclaimed in rapture at the wondrous beauty that met her eyes
on every side as they rode through this stately and imposing City, the
equal of which has never been discovered, even in Fairyland.
Button-Bright could only say "My!" so amazing was the sight; but his
eyes were wide open and he tried to look in every direction at the same
time, so as not to miss anything.
[Illustration]
The shaggy man was fairly astounded at what he saw, for the graceful and
handsome buildings were covered with plates of gold and set with
emeralds so splendid and valuable that in any other part of the world
any one of them would have been worth a fortune to its owner. The
sidewalks were superb marble slabs polished as smooth as glass, and the
curbs that separated the walks from the broad street were also set thick
with clustered emeralds. There were many people on these walks--men,
women, and children--all dressed in handsome garments of silk or satin
or velvet, with beautiful jewels. Better even than this: all seemed
happy and contented, for their faces were smiling and free from care,
and music and laughter might be heard on every side.
"Don't they work, at all?" asked the shaggy man.
"To be sure they work," replied the Tin Woodman; "this fair city could
not be built or cared for without labor, nor could the fruit and
vegetables and other food be provided for the inhabitants to eat. But no
one works more than half his time, and the people of Oz enjoy their
labors as much as they do their play."
"It's wonderful!" declared the shaggy man. "I do hope Ozma will let me
live here."
The chariot, winding through many charming streets, paused before a
building so vast and noble and elegant that even Button-Bright guessed
at once that it was the Royal Palace. Its gardens and ample grounds were
surrounded by a separate wall, not so high or thick as the wall around
the City, but more daintily designed and built all of green marble. The
gates flew open as the chariot appeared before them, and the Cowardly
Lion and Hungry Tiger trotted up a jeweled driveway to the front door of
the palace and stopped short.
"Here we are!" said Dorothy, gaily, and helped Button-Bright from the
chariot. Polychrome leaped out lightly after them, and they were greeted
by a crowd of gorgeously dressed servants who bowed low as the visitors
mounted the marble steps. At their head was a pretty little maid with
dark hair and eyes, dressed all in green embroidered with silver.
Dorothy ran up to her with evident pleasure, and exclaimed:
"O Jellia Jamb! I'm so glad to see you again. Where's Ozma?"
"In her room, your Highness," replied the little maid demurely, for this
was Ozma's favorite attendant. "She wishes you to come to her as soon as
you have rested and changed your dress, Princess Dorothy. And you and
your friends are to dine with her this evening."
"When is her birthday, Jellia?" asked the girl.
"Day after to-morrow, your Highness."
"And where's the Scarecrow?"
"He's gone into the Munchkin country to get some fresh straw to stuff
himself with, in honor of Ozma's celebration," replied the maid. "He
returns to the Emerald City to-morrow, he said."
By this time Tik-tok, the Tin Woodman, and the shaggy man had arrived
and the chariot had gone around to the back of the palace, Billina going
with the Lion and Tiger to see her chickens after her absence from them.
But Toto stayed close beside Dorothy.
[Illustration: "O, JELLIA JAMB! I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU"]
"Come in, please," said Jellia Jamb; "it shall be our pleasant duty to
escort all of you to the rooms prepared for your use."
The shaggy man hesitated. Dorothy had never known him to be ashamed of
his shaggy looks before, but now that he was surrounded by so much
magnificence and splendor the shaggy man felt sadly out of place.
Dorothy assured him that all her friends were welcome at Ozma's palace,
so he carefully dusted his shaggy shoes with his shaggy handkerchief and
entered the grand hall after the others.
[Illustration]
Tik-tok lived at the Royal Palace and the Tin Woodman always had the
same room whenever he visited Ozma, so these two went at once to remove
the dust of the journey from their shining bodies. Dorothy also had a
pretty suite of rooms which she always occupied when in the Emerald
City; but several servants walked ahead politely to show the way,
although she was quite sure she could find the rooms herself. She took
Button-Bright with her, because he seemed too small to be left alone in
such a big palace; but Jellia Jamb herself ushered the beautiful
Daughter of the Rainbow to her apartments, because it was easy to see
that Polychrome was used to splendid palaces and was therefore entitled
to especial attention.
The Shaggy Man's Welcome
[Illustration]
The shaggy man stood in the great hall, his shaggy hat in his hands,
wondering what would become of him. He had never been a guest in a fine
palace before; perhaps he had never been a guest anywhere. In the big,
cold, outside world people did not invite shaggy men to their homes, and
this shaggy man of ours had slept more in hay-lofts and stables than in
comfortable rooms. When the others left the great hall he eyed the
splendidly dressed servants of the Princess Ozma as if he expected to be
ordered out; but one of them bowed before him as respectfully as if he
had been a prince, and said:
"Permit me, sir, to conduct you to your apartments."
The shaggy man drew a long breath and took courage.
"Very well," he answered; "I'm ready."
[Illustration]
Through the big hall they went, up the grand staircase carpeted thick
with velvet, and so along a wide corridor to a carved doorway. Here the
servant paused, and opening the door said with polite deference:
"Be good enough to enter, sir, and make yourself at home in the rooms
our Royal Ozma has ordered prepared for you. Whatever you see is for you
to use and enjoy, as if your own. The Princess dines at seven, and I
shall be here in time to lead you to the drawing-room, where you will be
privileged to meet the lovely Ruler of Oz. Is there any command, in the
meantime, with which you desire to honor me?"
"No," said the shaggy man; "but I'm much obliged."
He entered the room and shut the door, and for a time stood in
bewilderment, admiring the grandeur before him.
He had been given one of the handsomest apartments in the most
magnificent palace in the world, and you can not wonder that his good
fortune astonished and awed him until he grew used to his surroundings.
The furniture was upholstered in cloth of gold, with the royal crown
embroidered upon it in scarlet. The rug upon the marble floor was so
thick and soft that he could not hear the sound of his own footsteps,
and upon the walls were splendid tapestries woven with scenes from the
Land of Oz. Books and ornaments were scattered about in profusion, and
the shaggy man thought he had never seen so many pretty things in one
place before. In one corner played a tinkling fountain of perfumed
water, and in another was a table bearing a golden tray loaded with
freshly gathered fruit, including several of the red-cheeked apples that
the shaggy man loved.
At the farther end of this charming room was an open doorway, and he
crossed over to find himself in a bedroom containing more comforts than
the shaggy man had ever before imagined. The bedstead was of gold and
set with many brilliant diamonds, and the coverlet had designs of
pearls and rubies sewed upon it. At one side of the bedroom was a dainty
dressing-room, with closets containing a large assortment of fresh
clothing; and beyond this was the bath--a large room having a marble
pool big enough to swim in, with white marble steps leading down to the
water. Around the edge of the pool were set rows of fine emeralds as
large as door-knobs, while the water of the bath was clear as crystal.
[Illustration: THE SHAGGY MAN ADMIRES HIS NEW CLOTHES]
For a time the shaggy man gazed upon all this luxury with silent
amazement. Then he decided, being wise in his way, to take advantage of
his good fortune. He removed his shaggy boots and his shaggy clothing,
and bathed in the pool with rare enjoyment. After he had dried himself
with the soft towels he went into the dressing-room and took fresh linen
from the drawers and put it on, finding that everything fitted him
exactly. He examined the contents of the closets and selected an elegant
suit of clothing. Strangely enough, everything about it was shaggy,
although so new and beautiful, and he sighed with contentment to realize
that he could now be finely dressed and still be the Shaggy Man. His
coat was of rose-colored velvet, trimmed with shags and bobtails, with
buttons of blood-red rubies and golden shags around the edges. His vest
was a shaggy satin of a delicate cream color, and his knee-breeches of
rose velvet trimmed like the coat. Shaggy creamy stockings of silk, and
shaggy slippers of rose leather with ruby buckles, completed his
costume, and when he was thus attired the shaggy man looked at himself
in a long mirror with great admiration. On a table he found a
mother-of-pearl chest decorated with delicate silver vines and flowers
of clustered rubies, and on the cover was a silver plate engraved with
these words:
THE SHAGGY MAN:
HIS BOX OF ORNAMENTS
The chest was not locked, so he opened it and was almost dazzled by the
brilliance of the rich jewels it contained. After admiring the pretty
things, he took out a fine golden watch with a big chain, several
handsome finger-rings, and an ornament of rubies to pin upon the breast
of his shaggy shirt-bosom. Having carefully brushed his hair and
whiskers all the wrong way, to make them look as shaggy as possible, the
shaggy man breathed a deep sigh of joy and decided he was ready to meet
the Royal Princess as soon as she sent for him. While he waited he
returned to the beautiful sitting room and ate several of the
red-cheeked apples to pass away the time.
Meanwhile Dorothy had dressed herself in a pretty gown of soft grey
embroidered with silver, and put a blue-and-gold suit of satin upon
little Button-Bright, who looked as sweet as a cherub in it. Followed
by the boy and Toto--the dog with a new green ribbon around his
neck--she hastened down to the splendid drawing-room of the palace,
where, seated upon an exquisite throne of carved malachite and nestled
amongst its green satin cushions was the lovely Princess Ozma, waiting
eagerly to welcome her friend.
[Illustration]
Princess Ozma of Oz
[Illustration]
The royal historians of Oz, who are fine writers and know any number of
big words, have often tried to describe the rare beauty of Ozma and
failed because the words were not good enough. So of course I can not
hope to tell you how great was the charm of this little Princess, or how
her loveliness put to shame all the sparkling jewels and magnificent
luxury that surrounded her in this her royal palace. Whatever else was
beautiful or dainty or delightful of itself faded to dullness when
contrasted with Ozma's bewitching face, and it has often been said by
those who know that no other ruler in all the world can ever hope to
equal the gracious charm of her manner.
Everything about Ozma attracted one, and she inspired love and the
sweetest affection rather than awe or ordinary admiration. Dorothy threw
her arms around her little friend and hugged and kissed her rapturously,
and Toto barked joyfully and Button-Bright smiled a happy smile and
consented to sit on the soft cushions close beside the Princess.
"Why didn't you send me word you were going to have a birthday party?"
asked the little Kansas girl, when the first greetings were over.
"Didn't I?" asked Ozma, her pretty eyes dancing with merriment.
"Did you?" replied Dorothy, trying to think.
"Who do you imagine, dear, mixed up those roads, so as to start you
wandering in the direction of Oz?" inquired the Princess.
"Oh! I never 'spected _you_ of that," cried Dorothy.
"I've watched you in my Magic Picture all the way here," declared Ozma,
"and twice I thought I should have to use the Magic Belt to save you and
transport you to the Emerald City. Once was when the Scoodlers caught
you, and again when you reached the Deadly Desert. But the shaggy man
was able to help you out both times, so I did not interfere."
"Do you know who Button-Bright is?" asked Dorothy.
[Illustration]
"No; I never saw him until you found him in the road, and then only in
my Magic Picture."
"And did you send Polly to us?"
"No, dear; the Rainbow's Daughter slid from her father's pretty arch
just in time to meet you."
"Well," said Dorothy, "I've promised King Dox of Foxville and King
Kik-a-bray of Dunkiton that I'd ask you to invite them to your party."
"I have already done that," returned Ozma, "because I thought it would
please you to favor them."
"Did you 'vite the Musicker?" asked Button-Bright.