Oz 06: Emerald City of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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very welcome here, where I_have brought you for princess Dorothy's sake," she said, graciously, " and I_hope_you_will be quite happy in your new home ." then she turned to her courtiers, who were silently and gravely regarding the scene, and added: "I present to my people our princess Dorothy's beloved uncle Henry and aunt Em, who_will hereafter be subjects of_our kingdom . it_will please me to_have_you show them every kindness and honor in your power, and to join me in making them happy and contented ."

Hearing this, all those assembled bowed low and respectfully to_the old farmer and_his wife, who bobbed their own heads in return .

" and now," said Ozma to_them, " Dorothy will show you the rooms prepared for_you . I_hope_you_will like them, and shall expect you to join me at luncheon ."

so Dorothy led her relatives away, and as_soon_as they were out_of_the throne room and alone in_the corridor, aunt Em squeezed Dorothy's hand and said:

" child, child ! how in_the_world did we ever get here so quick ? and_is it all real ? and_are we to stay here, as she says ? and what does it all mean, anyhow ? "

Dorothy laughed .

" why didn't you tell us what you were goin' to_do ? " inquired uncle Henry, reproachfully ." if I'd known about_it, I'd 'a put on my Sunday clothes ."

"I'll 'splain ever' thing as_soon_as we get to your rooms," promised Dorothy ." you're in great luck, uncle Henry and aunt Em; an' so am I ! and oh ! I'm so happy to_have got you here, at last ! "

as he walked by_the little girl's side, uncle Henry stroked his whiskers thoughtfully ."'Pears to_me, Dorothy, we won't make bang- up fairies," he remarked .

" an' my back hair looks like a fright ! " wailed aunt Em .

" never mind," returned the little girl, reassuringly ." you won't have anything to_do now but to look pretty, aunt Em; an' uncle Henry won't have to work till his back aches, that's certain ."

" sure ? " they asked, wonderingly, and in_the same breath .

" course I'm sure," said Dorothy ." you're in_the fairyland of Oz, now; an' what's more, you belong to_it ! "

6 . how Guph visited the Whimsies

the new general of_the Nome king's army knew perfectly well that to fail in_his plans meant death for him . yet he_was not at all anxious or worried . he hated every_one who was good and longed to_make all who were happy unhappy . therefore he had accepted this dangerous position as general quite willingly, feeling sure in_his evil mind that he_would_be_able to_do alot of mischief and finally conquer the land of Oz .

yet Guph determined to_be careful, and to lay his plans well, so as not to fail . he argued that only careless people fail in what they attempt to_do .

the mountains underneath which the Nome king's extensive caverns were located lay grouped just north of_the land of Ev, which lay directly across the deadly desert to_the east of_the land of Oz . as_the mountains were also on_the edge of_the desert the Nome king found that he had only to tunnel underneath the desert to reach Ozma's dominions . he_did_not wish his armies to appear above ground in_the country of_the Winkies, which_was the part of_the land of Oz nearest to king Roquat's own country, as then the people would give the alarm and enable Ozma to fortify the emerald city and assemble an army . he_wanted to_take all the Oz people by surprise; so he decided to run the tunnel clear through to_the emerald city, where he and_his hosts could break through_the ground without warning and conquer the people before_they had time to defend themselves .

Roquat the red began work at once upon his tunnel, setting a thousand miners at_the task and building it high and broad enough for_his armies to march through it with ease . the Nomes were used to making tunnels, as all the kingdom in_which they lived was under ground; so they made rapid progress .

while this work was going on general Guph started out alone to visit the chief of_the Whimsies .

these Whimsies were curious people who lived in a retired country of_their own . they had large, strong bodies, but heads so small that_they were no bigger than door-knobs . of_course, such tiny heads could_not contain any great amount of brains, and_the Whimsies were so ashamed of_their personal appearance and lack of commonsense that_they wore big heads made of pasteboard, which they fastened over their own little heads . on_these pasteboard heads they sewed sheep's wool for hair, and_the wool was colored many tints-- pink, green and lavender being the favorite colors . the faces of_these false heads were painted in many ridiculous ways, according to_the whims of_the owners, and these big, burly creatures looked so whimsical and absurd in their queer masks that_they were called "Whimsies ." they foolishly imagined that no one would suspect the little heads that were inside the imitation ones, not knowing that_it_is folly to_try to appear otherwise than as nature has_made us .

the chief of_the Whimsies had as little wisdom as_the others, and had_been chosen chief merely because none among them was any wiser or more capable of ruling . the Whimsies were evil spirits and could_not_be killed . they were hated and feared by every_one and were known as terrible fighters because they were so strong and muscular and had_not sense enough to_know when_they were defeated .

general Guph thought the Whimsies would_be a great help to_the Nomes in_the conquest of Oz, for under his leadership they_could be induced to fight as long so they_could stand up . so he traveled to_their country and asked to_see the chief, who lived in a house that had a picture of_his grotesque false head painted over the doorway .

the chief's false head had blue hair, a turned- up nose, and a mouth that stretched half across the face . big green eyes had_been painted upon it, but in_the center of_the chin were two small holes made in_the pasteboard, so that_the chief could_see through them with_his own tiny eyes; for when_the big head was fastened upon his shoulders the eyes in_his own natural head were on a level with_the false chin .

said general Guph to_the chief of_the Whimsies:

" we Nomes are going to conquer the land of Oz and capture our king's magic belt, which the Oz people stole from_him . then we_are going to plunder and destroy the whole country . and we_want the Whimsies to help_us ."

" will there be any fighting ? " asked the chief .

" plenty," replied Guph .

that must_have pleased the chief, for he got up and danced around the room three times . then he seated himself again, adjusted his false head, and said:

" we_have no quarrel with Ozma of Oz ."

" but you Whimsies love to fight, and here_is a splendid chance to_do_so," urged Guph .

" wait till I sing a song," said the chief . then he lay back in_his chair and sang a foolish song that did_not seem to_the general to mean anything, although he listened carefully . when he had finished, the chief Whimsie looked at him through_the holes in_his chin and asked:

" what reward will_you give_us if_we help_you ? "

the general was prepared for_this question, for he had_been thinking the matter over on_his journey . people often do a good deed without hope of reward, but for an evil deed they always demand payment .

" when we get our magic belt," he_made reply, " our king, Roquat the red, will use its power to_give every Whimsie a natural head as big and fine as_the false head he now wears . then you_will no longer be ashamed because your big strong bodies have such teenty-weenty heads ."

"Oh ! will_you do_that ? " asked the chief, eagerly .

" we surely will," promised the general .

"I'll talk to my people," said the chief .

so he_called ameeting of all the Whimsies and told them of_the offer made by_the Nomes . the creatures were delighted with_the bargain, and at once agreed to fight for_the Nome king and help him to conquer Oz .

one Whimsie alone seemed to_have a glimmer of sense, for he asked:

" suppose we fail to capture the magic belt ? what_will happen then, and what good will all our fighting do ? "

but they threw him into_the river for asking foolish questions, and laughed when_the water ruined his pasteboard head before he_could swim out again .

so the compact was_made and general Guph was delighted with_his success in gaining such powerful allies .

but there were other people, too, just as important as_the Whimsies, whom the clever old Nome had determined to win to_his side .

7 . how aunt Em conquered the lion

" these are your rooms," said Dorothy, opening a door .

aunt Em drew back at_the sight of_the splendid furniture and draperies .

"Ain't there any place to wipe my feet ? " she asked .

" you_will soon change your slippers for new shoes," replied Dorothy ."Don't be afraid, aunt Em . here_is where you_are to live, so walk right in and make yourself at home ."

aunt Em advanced hesitatingly .

" it beats the Topeka hotel ! " she cried admiringly ." but this place is too grand for_us, child . can't we_have some back room in_the attic, that's more in_our class ? "

" no," said Dorothy ." you've got to live here, ' cause Ozma says so . and all the rooms in_this palace are just as fine as_these, and some are better . it won't do any good to fuss, aunt Em . you've got to_be swell and high- toned in_the land of Oz, whether you_want to or not; so you_may as_well make up your mind to_it ."

" it's hard luck," replied her aunt, looking around with an awed expression; " but folks can get used to anything, if_they try .Eh, Henry ? "

" why, as_to_that," said uncle Henry, slowly, "I b'lieve in takin' what's pervided us, an' askin' no questions .I've traveled some, Em, in my_time, and you hain't; an' that makes a difference atween us ."

then Dorothy showed them through_the rooms . the first was a handsome sitting- room, with windows opening upon_the rose gardens . then came separate bedrooms for aunt Em and uncle Henry, with a fine bathroom between_them . aunt Em had a pretty dressing room, besides, and Dorothy opened the closets and showed several exquisite costumes that had_been provided for her aunt by_the royal dressmakers, who had worked all night to_get them ready . everything that aunt Em could possibly need was in_the drawers and closets, and her dressing- table was covered with engraved gold toilet articles .

uncle Henry had nine suits of clothes, cut in_the popular Munchkin fashion, with knee-breeches, silk stockings, and low shoes with jeweled buckles . the hats to match these costumes had pointed tops and wide brims with small gold bells around the edges . his shirts were of fine linen with frilled bosoms, and_his vests were richly embroidered with colored silks .

uncle Henry decided that he_would first take a bath and then dress himself in a blue satin suit that had caught his fancy . he accepted his good fortune with calm composure and refused to_have a servant to assist him . but aunt Em was " all of a flutter," as she said, and it took Dorothy and Jellia Jamb, the housekeeper, and two maids a long_time to dress her and do up her hair and get her " rigged like a popinjay," as she quaintly expressed it . she wanted to stop and admire everything that caught her eye, and she sighed continually and declared that such finery was too good for an old country woman, and_that she never thought she would_have to " put on airs" at her time of life .

finally she was dressed, and when she went into_the sitting- room there_was uncle Henry in_his blue satin, walking gravely up and down the room . he had trimmed his beard and mustache and looked very dignified and respectable .

" tell me, Dorothy," he_said; " do all the men here wear duds like these ? "

" yes," she replied; " all 'cept the Scarecrow and_the shaggy man-- and of_course the tin woodman and Tiktok, who_are made of metal . you'll find all the men at Ozma's court dressed just as_you_are-- only perhaps a little finer ."

"Henry, you look like a play- actor," announced aunt Em, looking at her husband critically .

" an' you, Em, look more highfalutin' than a peacock," he replied .

"I guess you're right," she said regretfully; " but we're helpless victims of high- toned royalty ."

Dorothy was much amused .

" come with me," she said, " and I'll show you ' round the palace ."

she took them through_the beautiful rooms and introduced them to all the people they chanced to meet . also she showed them her own pretty rooms, which were_not far from their own .

" so it's all true," said aunt Em, wide- eyed with amazement, " and what Dorothy told us of_this fairy country was plain facts instead of dreams ! but where are all the strange creatures you used to_know here ? "

" yes, where's the Scarecrow ? " inquired uncle Henry .

" why, he's just now away on a visit to_the tin woodman, who_is Emp'ror of_the Winkie country," answered the little girl ." you'll see him when he comes back, and you're sure to like him ."

" and where's the wonderful wizard ? " asked aunt Em .

" you'll see him at Ozma's luncheon, for he lives here in_this palace," was_the reply .

" and jack Pumpkinhead ? "

"Oh, he lives a little way out of town, in_his own pumpkin field

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