of others. When music is not very good, and is indulged in all the
time, it is better that the performer should be alone," said the
Princess.
"I like the Musicker's music," declared the boy, gravely.
"But I don't," said Dorothy.
"Well, there will be plenty of music at my celebration," promised Ozma;
"so I've an idea Button-Bright won't miss the Musicker at all."
Just then Polychrome danced in, and Ozma rose to greet the Rainbow's
Daughter in her sweetest and most cordial manner.
Dorothy thought she had never seen two prettier creatures together than
these lovely maidens; but Polly knew at once her own dainty beauty could
not match that of Ozma, yet was not a bit jealous because this was so.
The Wizard of Oz was announced, and a dried-up, little, old man, clothed
all in black, entered the drawing-room. His face was cheery and his eyes
twinkling with humor, so Polly and Button-Bright were not at all afraid
of the wonderful personage whose fame as a humbug magician had spread
throughout the world. After greeting Dorothy with much affection, he
stood modestly behind Ozma's throne and listened to the lively prattle
of the young people.
Now the shaggy man appeared, and so startling was his appearance, all
clad in shaggy new raiment, that Dorothy cried "Oh!" and clasped her
hands impulsively as she examined her friend with pleased eyes.
[Illustration]
"He's still shaggy, all right," remarked Button-Bright; and Ozma nodded
brightly because she had meant the shaggy man to remain shaggy when she
provided his new clothes for him.
Dorothy led him toward the throne, as he was shy in such fine company,
and presented him gracefully to the Princess, saying:
"This, your Highness, is my friend, the shaggy man, who owns the Love
Magnet."
"You are welcome to Oz," said the girl Ruler, in gracious accents. "But
tell me, sir, where did you get the Love Magnet which you say you own?"
The shaggy man grew red and looked downcast, as he answered in a low
voice:
"I stole it, your Majesty."
"Oh, Shaggy Man!" cried Dorothy. "How dreadful! And you told me the
Eskimo gave you the Love Magnet."
He shuffled first on one foot and then on the other, much embarrassed.
"I told you a falsehood, Dorothy," he said; "but now, having bathed in
the Truth Pond, I must tell nothing but the truth."
"Why did you steal it?" asked Ozma, gently.
"Because no one loved me, or cared for me," said the shaggy man, "and I
wanted to be loved a great deal. It was owned by a girl in Butterfield
who was loved too much, so that the young men quarreled over her, which
made her unhappy. After I had stolen the Magnet from her, only one young
man continued to love the girl, and she married him and regained her
happiness."
"Are you sorry you stole it?" asked the Princess.
"No, your Highness; I'm glad," he answered; "for it has pleased me to be
loved, and if Dorothy had not cared for me I could not have accompanied
her to this beautiful Land of Oz, or met its kind-hearted Ruler. Now
that I'm here, I hope to remain, and to become one of your Majesty's
most faithful subjects."
[Illustration: IN THE ROYAL PALACE OF OZ]
"But in Oz we are loved for ourselves alone, and for our kindness to one
another, and for our good deeds," she said.
"I'll give up the Love Magnet," said the shaggy man, eagerly; "Dorothy
shall have it."
"But every one loves Dorothy already," declared the Wizard.
"Then Button-Bright shall have it."
"Don't want it," said the boy, promptly.
"Then I'll give it to the Wizard, for I'm sure the lovely Princess Ozma
does not need it."
"All my people love the Wizard, too," announced the Princess, laughing;
"so we will hang the Love Magnet over the gates of the Emerald City,
that whoever shall enter or leave the gates may be loved and loving."
"That is a good idea," said the shaggy man; "I agree to it most
willingly."
Those assembled now went in to dinner, which you may imagine was a grand
affair; and afterward Ozma asked the Wizard to give them an exhibition
of his magic.
The Wizard took eight tiny white piglets from an inside pocket and set
them on the table. One was dressed like a clown, and performed funny
antics, and the others leaped over the spoons and dishes and ran around
the table like racehorses, and turned hand-springs and were so
sprightly and amusing that they kept the company in one roar of merry
laughter. The Wizard had trained these pets to do many curious things,
and they were so little and so cunning and soft that Polychrome loved to
pick them up as they passed near her place and fondle them as if they
were kittens.
It was late when the entertainment ended, and they separated to go to
their rooms.
[Illustration]
"To-morrow," said Ozma, "my invited guests will arrive, and you will
find among them some interesting and curious people, I promise you. The
next day will be my birthday, and the festivities will be held on the
broad green just outside the gates of the City, where all my people can
assemble without being crowded."
"I hope the Scarecrow won't be late," said Dorothy, anxiously.
"Oh, he is sure to return to-morrow," answered Ozma. "He wanted new
straw to stuff himself with, so he went to the Munchkin Country, where
straw is plentiful."
With this the Princess bade her guests good night and went to her own
room.
Dorothy Receives the Guests
[Illustration]
Next morning Dorothy's breakfast was served in her own pretty sitting
room, and she sent to invite Polly and the shaggy man to join her and
Button-Bright at the meal. They came gladly, and Toto also had breakfast
with them, so that the little party that had traveled together to Oz was
once more reunited.
No sooner had they finished eating than they heard the distant blast of
many trumpets, and the sound of a brass band playing martial music; so
they all went out upon the balcony. This was at the front of the palace
and overlooked the streets of the City, being higher than the wall that
shut in the palace grounds. They saw approaching down the street a band
of musicians, playing as hard and loud as they could, while the people
of the Emerald City crowded the sidewalks and cheered so lustily that
they almost drowned the noise of the drums and horns.
[Illustration]
Dorothy looked to see what they were cheering at, and discovered that
behind the band was the famous Scarecrow, riding proudly upon the back
of a wooden Saw-Horse which pranced along the street almost as
gracefully as if it had been made of flesh. Its hoofs, or rather the
ends of its wooden legs, were shod with plates of solid gold, and the
saddle strapped to the wooden body was richly embroidered and glittered
with jewels.
As he reached the palace the Scarecrow looked up and saw Dorothy, and at
once waved his peaked hat at her in greeting. He rode up to the front
door and dismounted, and the band stopped playing and went away and the
crowds of people returned to their dwellings.
By the time Dorothy and her friends had re-entered her room the
Scarecrow was there, and he gave the girl a hearty embrace and shook the
hands of the others with his own squashy hands, which were white gloves
filled with straw.
The shaggy man, Button-Bright, and Polychrome stared hard at this
celebrated person, who was acknowledged to be the most popular and most
beloved man in all the Land of Oz.
"Why, your face has been newly painted!" exclaimed Dorothy, when the
first greetings were over.
"I had it touched up a bit by the Munchkin farmer who first made me,"
answered the Scarecrow, pleasantly. "My complexion had become a bit grey
and faded, you know, and the paint had peeled off one end of my mouth,
so I couldn't talk quite straight. Now I feel like myself again, and I
may say without immodesty that my body is stuffed with the loveliest
oat-straw in all Oz." He pushed against his chest. "Hear me crunkle?" he
asked.
"Yes," said Dorothy; "you sound fine."
Button-Bright was wonderfully attracted by the straw man, and so was
Polly. The shaggy man treated him with great respect, because he was so
queerly made.
Jellia Jamb now came to say that Ozma wanted Princess Dorothy to receive
the invited guests in the Throne-Room, as they arrived. The Ruler was
herself busy ordering the preparations for the morrow's festivities, so
she wished her friend to act in her place.
Dorothy willingly agreed, being the only other Princess in the Emerald
City; so she went to the great Throne-Room and sat in Ozma's seat,
placing Polly on one side of her and Button-Bright on the other. The
Scarecrow stood at the left of the throne and the Tin Woodman at the
right, while the Wonderful Wizard and the shaggy man stood behind.
The Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger came in, with bright new bows of
ribbon on their collars and tails. After greeting Dorothy affectionately
the huge beasts lay down at the foot of the throne.
While they waited, the Scarecrow, who was near the little boy, asked:
"Why are you called Button-Bright?"
"Don't know," was the answer.
"Oh yes, you do, dear," said Dorothy. "Tell the Scarecrow how you got
your name."
"Papa always said I was bright as a button, so mamma always called me
Button-Bright," announced the boy.
"Where is your mamma?" asked the Scarecrow.
"Don't know," said Button-Bright.
"Where is your home?" asked the Scarecrow.
"Don't know," said Button-Bright.
"Don't you want to find your mamma again?" asked the Scarecrow.
"Don't know," said Button-Bright, calmly.
The Scarecrow looked thoughtful.
"Your papa may have been right," he observed; "but there are many kinds
of buttons, you see. There are silver and gold buttons, which are highly
polished and glitter brightly. There are pearl and rubber buttons, and
other kinds, with surfaces more or less bright. But there is still
another sort of button which is covered with dull cloth, and that must
be the sort your papa meant when he said you were bright as a button.
Don't you think so?"
"Don't know," said Button-Bright.
Jack Pumpkinhead arrived, wearing a pair of new white kid gloves; and he
brought a birthday present for Ozma consisting of a necklace of
pumpkin-seeds. In each seed was set a sparkling carolite, which is
considered the rarest and most beautiful gem that exists. The necklace
was in a plush case and Jellia Jamb put it on a table with the Princess
Ozma's other presents.
Next came a tall, beautiful woman clothed in a splendid trailing gown,
trimmed with exquisite lace as fine as cobweb. This was the important
Sorceress known as Glinda the Good, who had been of great assistance to
both Ozma and Dorothy. There was no humbug about her magic, you may be
sure, and Glinda was as kind as she was powerful. She greeted Dorothy
most lovingly, and kissed Button-Bright and Polly, and smiled upon the
shaggy man, after which Jellia Jamb led the Sorceress to one of the most
magnificent rooms of the royal palace and appointed fifty servants to
wait upon her.
[Illustration]
The next arrival was Mr. H. M. Woggle-Bug, T. E.; the "H. M." meaning
Highly Magnified and the "T. E." meaning Thoroughly Educated. The
Woggle-Bug was head professor at the Royal College of Oz, and he had
composed a fine Ode in honor of Ozma's birthday. This he wanted to read
to them; but the Scarecrow wouldn't let him.
Soon they heard a clucking sound and a chorus of "cheep! cheep!" and a
servant threw open the door to allow Billina and her ten fluffy chicks
to enter the Throne-Room. As the Yellow Hen marched proudly at the head
of her family, Dorothy cried, "Oh, you lovely things!" and ran down from
her seat to pet the little yellow downy balls. Billina wore a pearl
necklace, and around the neck of each chicken was a tiny gold chain
holding a locket with the letter "D" engraved upon the outside.
"Open the lockets, Dorothy," said Billina. The girl obeyed and found a
picture of herself in each locket. "They were named after you, my dear,"
continued the Yellow Hen, "so I wanted all my chickens to wear your
picture. Cluck--cluck! come here, Dorothy--this minute!" she cried, for
the chickens were scattered and wandering all around the big room.
They obeyed the call at once, and came running as fast as they could,
fluttering their fluffy wings in a laughable way.
It was lucky that Billina gathered the little ones under her soft breast
just then, for Tik-tok came in and tramped up to the throne on his flat
copper feet.
"I am all wound up and work-ing fine-ly," said the clockwork man to
Dorothy.
"I can hear him tick," declared Button-Bright.
"You are quite the polished gentleman," said the Tin Woodman. "Stand up
here beside the shaggy man, Tik-tok, and help receive the company."
Dorothy placed soft cushions in a corner for Billina and her chicks, and
had just returned to the Throne and seated herself when the playing of
the royal band outside the palace announced the approach of
distinguished guests.
And my, how they did stare when the High Chamberlain threw open the
doors and the visitors entered the Throne-Room!
First walked a gingerbread man, neatly formed and baked to a lovely
brown tint. He wore a silk hat and carried a candy cane prettily striped
with red and yellow. His shirt-front and cuffs were white frosting, and
the buttons on his coat were licorice drops.
Behind the gingerbread man came a child with flaxen hair and merry blue
eyes, dressed in white pajamas, with sandals on the soles of its pretty
bare feet. The child looked around smiling and thrust its hands into the
pockets of the pajamas. Close after it came a big rubber bear, walking
erect on its hind feet. The bear had twinkling black eyes and its body
looked as if it had been pumped full of air.
Following these curious visitors were two tall, thin men and two short,
fat men, all four dressed in gorgeous uniforms.
[Illustration: KING DOUGH, THE HEAD BOOLEYWAG, AND PARA BRUIN]
Ozma's High Chamberlain now hurried forward to announce the names of the
new arrivals, calling out in a loud voice:
"His Gracious and Most Edible Majesty, King Dough the First, Ruler of
the Two Kingdoms of Hiland and Loland. Also the Head Booleywag of his
Majesty, known as Chick the Cherub, and their faithful friend Para
Bruin, the rubber bear."
These great personages bowed low as their names were called, and Dorothy
hastened to introduce them to the assembled company. They were the first
foreign arrivals, and the friends of Princess Ozma were polite to them
and tried to make them feel that they were welcome.
Chick the Cherub shook hands with every one, including Billina, and was
so joyous and frank and full of good spirits that John Dough's Head
Booleywag at once became a prime favorite.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" whispered Dorothy.
"Don't know," said Button-Bright.
"Goodness me! what a queer lot of people you are," exclaimed the rubber
bear, looking at the assembled company.
"So're you," said Button-Bright, gravely. "Is King Dough good to eat?"
"He's too good to eat," laughed Chick the Cherub.
"I hope none of you are fond of gingerbread," said the King, rather
anxiously.
"We should never think of eating our visitors, if we were," declared the
Scarecrow; "so please do not worry, for you will be perfectly safe while
you remain in Oz."
"Why do they call you Chick?" the Yellow Hen asked the child.
"Because I'm an Incubator Baby, and never had any parents," replied the
Head Booleywag.
"My chicks have a parent, and I'm it," said Billina.
"I'm glad of that," answered the Cherub, "because they'll have more fun
worrying you than if they were brought up in an Incubator. The Incubator
never worries, you know."
[Illustration]
King John Dough had brought for Ozma's birthday present a lovely
gingerbread crown, with rows of small pearls around it and a fine big
pearl in each of its five points. After this had been received by
Dorothy with proper thanks and placed on the table with the other
presents, the visitors from Hiland and Loland were escorted to their
rooms by the High Chamberlain.
They had no sooner departed than the band before the palace began to
play again, announcing more arrivals, and as these were doubtless from
foreign parts the High Chamberlain hurried back to receive them in his
most official manner.
Important Arrivals
[Illustration]
First entered a band of Ryls from the Happy Valley, all merry little
sprites like fairy elves. A dozen crooked Knooks followed from the great
Forest of Burzee. They had long whiskers and pointed caps and curling
toes, yet were no taller than Button-Bright's shoulder. With this group
came a man so easy to recognize and so important and dearly beloved
throughout the known world, that all present rose to their feet and
bowed their heads in respectful homage, even before the High Chamberlain
knelt to announce his name.
"The most Mighty and Loyal Friend of Children, His Supreme
Highness--Santa Claus!" said the Chamberlain, in an awed voice.
"Well, well, well! Glad to see you--glad to meet you all!" cried Santa
Claus, briskly, as he trotted up the long room.
He was round as an apple, with a fresh rosy face, laughing eyes, and a
bushy beard as white as snow. A red cloak trimmed with beautiful ermine
hung from his shoulders and upon his back was a basket filled with
pretty presents for the Princess Ozma.
"Hello, Dorothy; still having adventures?" he asked in his jolly way, as
he took the girl's hand in both his own.
"How did you know my name, Santa?" she replied, feeling more shy in the
presence of this immortal saint than she ever had before in her young
life.
"Why, don't I see you every Christmas Eve, when you're asleep?" he
rejoined, pinching her blushing cheek.
"Oh; do you?"
"And here's Button-Bright, I declare!" cried Santa Claus, holding up the
boy to kiss him. "What a long way from home you are; dear me!"
"Do you know Button-Bright, too?" questioned Dorothy, eagerly.
"Indeed I do. I've visited his home several Christmas Eves."
"And do you know his father?" asked the girl.
[Illustration: MERRY RYLS AND CROOKED KNOOKS]
"Certainly, my dear. Who else do you suppose brings him his Christmas
neckties and stockings?" with a sly wink at the Wizard.
"Then where does he live? We're just crazy to know, 'cause
Button-Bright's lost," she said.
Santa laughed and laid his finger aside of his nose as if thinking what
to reply. He leaned over and whispered something in the Wizard's ear, at
which the Wizard smiled and nodded as if he understood.
Now Santa Claus spied Polychrome, and trotted over to where she stood.
"Seems to me the Rainbow's Daughter is farther from home than any of
you," he observed, looking at the pretty maiden admiringly. "I'll have
to tell your father where you are, Polly, and send him to get you."
"Please do, dear Santa Claus," implored the little maid, beseechingly.
"But just now we must all have a jolly good time at Ozma's party," said
the old gentlemen, turning to put his presents on the table with the
others already there. "It isn't often I find time to leave my castle, as
you know; but Ozma invited me and I just couldn't help coming to
celebrate the happy occasion."
"I'm so glad!" exclaimed Dorothy.
"These are my Ryls," pointing to the little sprites squatting around
him. "Their business is to paint the colors of the flowers when they
bud and bloom; but I brought the merry fellows along to see Oz, and
they've left their paint-pots behind them. Also I brought these crooked
Knooks, whom I love. My dears, the Knooks are much nicer than they look,
for their duty is to water and care for the young trees of the forest,
and they do their work faithfully and well. It's hard work, though, and
it makes my Knooks crooked and gnarled, like the trees themselves; but
their hearts are big and kind, as are the hearts of all who do good in
our beautiful world."
"I've read of the Ryls and Knooks," said Dorothy, looking upon these
little workers with interest.
Santa Claus turned to talk with the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, and
he also said a kind word to the shaggy man, and afterward went away to
ride the Saw-horse around the Emerald City. "For," said he, "I must see
all the grand sights while I am here and have the chance, and Ozma has
promised to let me ride the Saw-Horse because I'm getting fat and short
of breath."
"Where are your reindeer?" asked Polychrome.
"I left them at home, for it is too warm for them in this sunny
country," he answered. "They're used to winter weather when they
travel."
In a flash he was gone, and the Ryls and Knooks with him; but they could
all hear the golden hoofs of the Saw-Horse ringing on the marble
pavement outside, as he pranced away with his noble rider.
Presently the band played again, and the High Chamberlain announced:
[Illustration]
"Her Gracious Majesty, the Queen of Merryland."
They looked earnestly to discover whom this queen might be, and saw
advancing up the room an exquisite wax doll, dressed in dainty fluffs
and ruffles and spangled gown. She was almost as big as Button-Bright,
and her cheeks and mouth and eyebrow were prettily painted in delicate
colors. Her blue eyes stared a bit, being of glass, yet the expression
upon her Majesty's face was quite pleasant and decidedly winning. With
the Queen of Merryland were four wooden soldiers, two stalking ahead of
her with much dignity and two following behind, like a royal bodyguard.
The soldiers were painted in bright colors and carried wooden guns, and
after them came a fat little man who attracted attention at once,
although he seemed modest and retiring. For he was made of candy, and
carried a tin sugar-sifter filled with powdered sugar, with which he
dusted himself frequently so that he wouldn't stick to things if he
touched them. The High Chamberlain had called him "The Candy Man of
Merryland," and Dorothy saw that one of his thumbs looked as if it had
been bitten off by some who was fond of candy and couldn't resist the
temptation.
The wax doll Queen spoke prettily to Dorothy and the others, and sent
her loving greetings to Ozma before she retired to the rooms prepared
for her. She had brought a birthday present wrapped in tissue paper and
tied with pink and blue ribbons, and one of the wooden soldiers placed
it on the table with the other gifts. But the Candy Man did not go to
his room, because he said he preferred to stay and talk with the
Scarecrow and Tik-tok and the Wizard and Tin Woodman, whom he declared
the queerest people he had ever met. Button-Bright was glad the Candy
Man stayed in the Throne-room, because the boy thought this guest
smelled deliciously of wintergreen and maple sugar.
The Braided Man now entered the room, having been fortunate enough to
receive an invitation to the Princess Ozma's party. He was from a cave
halfway between the Invisible Valley and the Country of the Gargoyles,
and his hair and whiskers were so long that he was obliged to plait them
into many braids that hung to his feet, and every braid was tied with a
bow of colored ribbon.
"I've brought Princess Ozma a box of flutters for her birthday," said
the Braided Man, earnestly; "and I hope she will like them, for they are
the finest quality I have ever made."
[Illustration]
"I'm sure she will be greatly pleased," said Dorothy, who remembered
the Braided Man well; and the Wizard introduced the guest to the rest of
the company and made him sit down in a chair and keep quiet, for, if
allowed, he would talk continually about his flutters.
The band then played a welcome to another set of guests, and into the
Throne-Room swept the handsome and stately Queen of Ev. Beside her was
young King Evardo, and following them came the entire royal family of
five Princesses and four Princes of Ev. The Kingdom of Ev lay just
across the Deadly Desert to the North of Oz, and once Ozma and her
people had rescued the Queen of Ev and her ten children from the Nome
King, who had enslaved them. Dorothy had been present on this adventure,
so she greeted the royal family cordially; and all the visitors were
delighted to meet the little Kansas girl again. They knew Tik-tok and
Billina, too, and the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman, as well as the Lion and
Tiger; so there was a joyful reunion, as you may imagine, and it was
fully an hour before the Queen and her train retired to their rooms.
Perhaps they would not have gone then had not the band begun to play to
announce new arrivals; but before they left the great Throne-Room King
Evardo added to Ozma's birthday presents a diadem of diamonds set in
radium.