Oz 06: Emerald City of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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I_do . you_would go ahead and march through your tunnel into Oz, and get defeated and driven back .I won't . and_the reason I won't is because when I march I'll have all my plans made, and a host of allies to assist my Nomes ."

" what do_you_mean by_that ? " asked the king .

"I'll explain, king Roquat . you're going to attack a fairy country, and a mighty fairy country, too . they haven't much of an army in Oz, but the princess who ruled them has a fairy wand; and_the little girl Dorothy has your magic belt; and at_the north of_the emerald city lives a clever sorceress called Glinda the good, who commands the spirits of_the air . also I_have heard that_there_is a wonderful wizard in Ozma's palace, who_is so skillful that people used to_pay him money in America to_see him perform . so you_see it_will_be no easy thing to overcome all this magic ."

" we_have fifty thousand soldiers ! " cried the king proudly .

" yes; but they_are Nomes," remarked Guph, taking a silk handkerchief from_the king's pocket and wiping his own pointed shoes with it ."Nomes are immortals, but they_are_not strong on magic . when_you lost your famous belt the greater part of your own power was gone from_you . against Ozma you and your Nomes would_have no show at all ."

Roquat's eyes flashed angrily .

" then away you go to_the slicing machine ! " he cried .

" not yet," said the general, filling his pipe from_the king's private tobacco pouch .

" what do_you propose to_do ? " asked the monarch .

"I propose to obtain the power we_need," answered Guph ." there_are a good_many evil creatures who_have magic powers sufficient to destroy and conquer the land of Oz . we_will get them on_our side, band them all together, and then take Ozma and her people by surprise . it's all very simple and easy when_you know how . alone, we_should_be helpless to injure the ruler of Oz, but with_the aid of_the evil powers we_can summon we_shall easily succeed ."

king Roquat was delighted with_this idea, for he realized how clever it_was .

" surely, Guph, you_are the greatest general I_have ever had ! " he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with joy ." you_must go at once and make arrangements with_the evil powers to assist us, and meantime I'll begin to dig the tunnel ."

" i_thought you'd agree with me, Roquat," replied the new general ."I'll start this very afternoon to visit the chief of_the Whimsies ."

5 . how Dorothy became a princess

when_the people of_the emerald city heard that Dorothy had returned to_them every_one was eager to_see her, for_the little girl was a general favorite in_the land of Oz . from_time to_time some_of_the folk from_the great outside world had found their way into_this fairyland, but all except one had_been companions of Dorothy and had turned out to_be very agreeable people . the exception I speak of was_the wonderful wizard of Oz, a sleight- of- hand performer from Omaha who went up in a balloon and was carried by a current of air to_the emerald city . his queer and puzzling tricks made the people of Oz believe him a great wizard for a time, and he ruled over them until Dorothy arrived on her first visit and showed the wizard to_be amere humbug . he_was a gentle, kind-hearted little man, and Dorothy grew to like him afterward . when, after an absence, the wizard returned to_the land of Oz, Ozma received him graciously and gave him a home in a part of_the palace .

in_addition_to_the wizard two other personages from_the outside world had_been allowed to_make their home in_the emerald city . the first was a quaint shaggy man, whom Ozma had made the governor of_the royal Storehouses, and_the second a yellow Hen named Billina, who had a fine house in_the gardens back of_the palace, where she looked after a large family . both these had_been old comrades of Dorothy, so you_see the little girl was quite an important personage in Oz, and_the people thought she had brought them good luck, and loved her next best to Ozma . during her several visits this little girl had_been the means of destroying two wicked witches who oppressed the people, and she had discovered a live scarecrow who was now one_of_the_most popular personages in all the fairy country . with_the Scarecrow's help she had rescued nick chopper, a tin woodman, who had rusted in a lonely forest, and_the tin man was now the emperor of_the country of_the Winkies and much beloved because of_his kind heart . no wonder the people thought Dorothy had brought them good luck ! yet, strange as it may seem, she had accomplished all these wonders not because she was a fairy or had any magical powers whatever, but because she was a simple, sweet and true little girl who was honest to herself and to all whom she met . in_this world in_which we live simplicity and kindness are the only magic wands that work wonders, and in_the land of Oz Dorothy found these same qualities had won for her the love and admiration of_the people . indeed, the little girl had made many warm friends in_the fairy country, and_the only real grief the Ozites had ever experienced was when Dorothy left them and returned to her Kansas home .

now she received a joyful welcome, although no one except Ozma knew at first that she had finally come to stay for good and all .

that evening Dorothy had many callers, and among them were such important people as Tiktok, a machine man who thought and spoke and moved by clockwork; her old companion the genial shaggy man; jack Pumpkinhead, whose body was brush- wood and whose head was a ripe pumpkin with a face carved upon it; the cowardly lion and_the hungry tiger, two great beasts from_the forest, who served princess Ozma, and professor H .M .Wogglebug, T .E . this wogglebug was a remarkable creature . he had once been a tiny little bug, crawling around in a school- room, but he_was discovered and highly magnified so_that he_could be seen more plainly, and while in_this magnified condition he had escaped . he had always remained big, and he dressed like a dandy and was so full of knowledge and information ( which are distinct acquirements) that he had_been made a professor and_the head of_the royal college .

Dorothy had a nice visit with_these old friends, and also talked a long_time with_the wizard, who was little and old and withered and dried up, but as merry and active as a child .Afterward, she went to_see Billina's fast-growing family of chicks .

Toto, Dorothy's little black dog, also met with a cordial reception .Toto was an especial friend of_the shaggy man, and he_knew every_one else . being the only dog in_the land of Oz, he_was highly respected by_the people, who believed animals entitled to every consideration if_they behaved themselves properly .

Dorothy had four lovely rooms in_the palace, which were always reserved for her use and were called " Dorothy's rooms ." these consisted of a beautiful sitting room, adressing room, a dainty bedchamber and a big marble bathroom . and in_these rooms were everything that heart could desire, placed there with loving thoughtfulness by Ozma for her little friend's use . the royal dressmakers had the little girl's measure, so they kept the closets in her dressing room filled with lovely dresses of every description and suitable for every occasion . no wonder Dorothy had refrained from bringing with her her old calico and gingham dresses ! here everything that was dear to a little girl's heart was supplied in profusion, and nothing so rich and beautiful could ever have_been found in_the biggest department stores in America . of_course Dorothy enjoyed all these luxuries, and_the only reason she had heretofore preferred to live in Kansas was because her uncle and aunt loved her and needed her with_them .

now, however, all was to_be changed, and Dorothy was really more delighted to_know that her dear relatives were to share in her good fortune and enjoy the delights of_the land of Oz, than she was to possess such luxury for herself .

next morning, at Ozma's request, Dorothy dressed herself in a pretty sky- blue gown of rich silk, trimmed with real pearls . the buckles of her shoes were set with pearls, too, and more of_these priceless gems were on a lovely coronet which she wore upon her forehead ." for," said her friend Ozma, " from this_time forth, my dear, you_must assume your rightful rank as a princess of Oz, and being my chosen companion you_must dress in a way befitting the dignity of your position ."

Dorothy agreed to_this, although she knew that neither gowns nor jewels could make her anything else than_the simple, unaffected little girl she had always been .

as_soon_as they had breakfasted-- the girls eating together in Ozma's pretty boudoir-- the ruler of Oz said:

" now, dear friend, we_will use the magic belt to transport your uncle and aunt from Kansas to_the emerald city . but i_think it would_be fitting, in receiving such distinguished guests, for_us to sit in my throne room ."

"Oh, they're not very 'stinguished, Ozma," said Dorothy ." they're just plain people, like me ."

" being your friends and relatives, princess Dorothy, they_are certainly distinguished," replied the ruler, with a smile .

" they-- they won't hardly know what to_make of all your splendid furniture and things," protested Dorothy, gravely ." it may scare 'em to_see your grand throne room, an' p'raps we'd better go into_the back yard, Ozma, where the cabbages grow an' the chickens are playing . then it would seem more natural to uncle Henry and aunt Em ."

" no; they shall first see me in my throne room," replied Ozma, decidedly; and when she spoke in_that tone Dorothy knew it_was not wise to oppose her, for Ozma was accustomed to having her own way .

so together they went to_the throne room, an immense domed chamber in_the center of_the palace . here stood the royal throne, made of solid gold and encrusted with enough precious stones to stock a dozen jewelry stores in_our country .

Ozma, who was wearing the magic belt, seated herself in_the throne, and Dorothy sat at her feet . in_the room were assembled many ladies and gentlemen of_the court, clothed in rich apparel and wearing fine jewelry . two immense animals squatted, one on each side of_the throne-- the cowardly lion and_the hungry tiger . in a balcony high up in_the dome an orchestra played sweet music, and beneath the dome two electric fountains sent sprays of colored perfumed water shooting up nearly as high as_the arched ceiling .

" are_you ready, Dorothy ? " asked the ruler .

" I_am," replied Dorothy; " but I don't know whether aunt Em and uncle Henry are ready ."

" that won't matter," declared Ozma ." the old life can_have very little to interest them, and_the sooner they begin the new life here the happier they_will_be . here they_come, my dear ! "

as she spoke, there before_the throne appeared uncle Henry and aunt Em, who for a moment stood motionless, glaring with white and startled faces at_the scene that confronted them . if_the ladies and gentlemen present had_not_been so polite I_am_sure they_would_have laughed at_the two strangers .

aunt Em had her calico dress skirt " tucked up," and she wore a faded, blue- checked apron . her hair was rather straggly and she had on a pair of uncle Henry's old slippers . in one hand she held a dish- towel and in_the other a cracked earthenware plate, which she had_been engaged in wiping when so suddenly transported to_the land of Oz .

uncle Henry, when_the summons came, had_been out in_the barn "doin' chores ." he wore a ragged and much soiled straw hat, a checked shirt without any collar and blue overalls tucked into_the tops of_his old cowhide boots .

" by gum ! " gasped uncle Henry, looking around as_if bewildered .

" well, I swan ! " gurgled aunt Em in a hoarse, frightened voice . then her eyes fell upon Dorothy, and she said: "D-d-d-don't that look like our little girl-- our Dorothy, Henry ? "

"Hi, there-- look out, Em ! " exclaimed the old man, as aunt Em advanced a step; " take care o' the wild beastses, or you're agoner ! "

but now Dorothy sprang forward and embraced and kissed her aunt and uncle affectionately, afterward taking their hands in her own .

"Don't be afraid," she said to_them ." you_are now in_the land of Oz, where you_are to live always, and be comfer'ble an' happy . you'll never have to worry over anything again, ' cause there won't be anything to worry about . and you owe it all to_the kindness of_my friend princess Ozma ."

here she led them before_the throne and continued:

" your highness, this_is uncle Henry . and this_is aunt Em . they_want to_thank_you_for bringing them here from Kansas ."

aunt Em tried to " slick" her hair, and she hid the dish- towel and dish under her apron while she bowed to_the lovely Ozma . uncle Henry took off his straw hat and held it awkwardly in_his hands .

but the ruler of Oz rose and came from her throne to greet her newly arrived guests, and she smiled as sweetly upon them as if_they had_been a king and queen .

" you_are very

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