Oz 13: The Magic of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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to accord equal justice to all .Knowing she was fair in her decisions, the Oz people never murmured at her judgments, but agreed, if Ozma decided against them, she was right and_they wrong .

when Dorothy and trot and Betsy bobbin and Ozma were together, one would think they were all about of an age, and_the fairy ruler no older and no more " grown up" than_the other three . she_would laugh and romp with_them in regular girlish fashion, yet there_was an air of quiet dignity about Ozma, even in her merriest moods, that, in a manner, distinguished her from_the others . the three girls loved her devotedly, but they were never able to quite forget that Ozma was_the royal ruler of_the wonderful fairyland of Oz, and by birth belonged to a powerful race .

Ozma's palace stood in_the center of a delightful and extensive garden, where splendid trees and flowering shrubs and statuary and fountains abounded . one could walk for hours in_this fascinating park and_see something interesting at every step . in one place was an aquarium, where strange and beautiful fish swam; at another spot all the birds of_the air gathered daily to a great feast which Ozma's servants provided for_them, and were so fearless of harm that they_would alight upon one's shoulders and eat from one's hand . there_was also the fountain of_the water of oblivion, but it_was dangerous to drink of_this water, because it made one forget everything he had ever before known, even to_his own name, and therefore Ozma had placed a sign of warning upon_the fountain . but there were also fountains that were delightfully perfumed, and fountains of delicious nectar, cool and richly flavored, where all were welcome to refresh themselves .

around the palace grounds was a great wall, thickly encrusted with glittering emeralds, but the gates stood open and no one was forbidden entrance . on holidays the people of_the emerald city often took their children to_see the wonders of Ozma's gardens, and even entered the royal palace, if_they felt so inclined, for they knew that_they and their ruler were friends, and_that Ozma delighted to_give them pleasure .

when all this_is considered, you_will_not_be surprised that_the people throughout_the land of Oz, as_well as Ozma's most intimate friends and her royal courtiers, were eager to celebrate her birthday, and made preparations for_the festival weeks in advance . all the brass bands practiced their nicest tunes, for they were to march in_the numerous processions to_be made in_the Winkie country, the Gillikin country, the Munchkin country and_the Quadling country, as_well as in_the emerald city . not all the people could go to congratulate their ruler, but all could celebrate her birthday, in one_way or another, however far distant from her palace they_might_be . every home and building throughout_the land of Oz was to_be decorated with banners and bunting, and there were to_be games, and plays, and a general good_time for every_one .

it_was Ozma's custom on her birthday to_give a grand feast at_the palace, to_which all her closest friends were invited . it_was aqueerly assorted company, indeed, for there_are more quaint and unusual characters in Oz than in all the rest of_the world, and Ozma was more interested in unusual people than in ordinary ones-- just as_you and I are .

on_this especial birthday of_the lovely girl ruler, a long table was set in_the royal banquet hall of_the palace, at which were place-cards for_the invited guests, and at one end of_the great room was a smaller table, not so high, for Ozma's animal friends, whom she never forgot, and at_the other end was a big table where all of_the birthday gifts were to_be arranged .

when_the guests arrived, they placed their gifts on_this table and then found their places at_the banquet table . and, after_the guests were all placed, the animals entered in a solemn procession and were placed at their table by Jellia Jamb . then, while an orchestra hidden by a bank of roses and ferns played a march composed for_the occasion, the royal Ozma entered the banquet hall, attended by her Maids of honor, and took her seat at_the head of_the table .

she was greeted by a cheer from all the assembled company, the animals adding their roars and growls and barks and mewing and cackling to swell the glad tumult, and then all seated themselves at their tables .

at Ozma's right sat the famous Scarecrow of Oz, whose straw- stuffed body was not beautiful, but whose happy nature and shrewd wit had made him a general favorite . on_the left of_the ruler was placed the tin woodman, whose metal body had_been brightly polished for_this event . the tin woodman was_the emperor of_the Winkie country and one_of_the_most important persons in Oz .

next to_the Scarecrow, Dorothy was seated, and next to her was Tik-Tok, the clockwork man, who had_been wound up as tightly as his clockwork would permit, so he wouldn't interrupt the festivities by running down . then came aunt Em and uncle Henry, Dorothy's own relations, two kindly old people who had a cozy home in_the emerald city and were very happy and contented there . then Betsy bobbin was seated, and next to her the droll and delightful shaggy man, who was a favorite wherever he went .

on_the other side of_the table, opposite the tin woodman was placed trot, and next to her, Cap'n bill . then was seated button- bright and Ojo the lucky, and Dr .Pipt and_his good wife Margalot, and_the astonishing Frogman, who had come from_the Yip country to_be present at Ozma's birthday feast .

at_the foot of_the table, facing Ozma, was seated the queenly Glinda, the good sorceress of Oz, for_this was really the place of honor next to_the head of_the table where Ozma herself sat . on Glinda's right was_the little wizard of Oz, who owed to Glinda all of_the magical arts he_knew . then came Jinjur, a pretty girl farmer of whom Ozma and Dorothy were quite fond . the adjoining seat was occupied by_the tin soldier, and next to him was professor H .M .Wogglebug, T .E ., of_the royal athletic college .

on Glinda's left was placed the jolly patchwork girl, who was a little afraid of_the sorceress and so was likely to behave herself pretty well . the shaggy man's brother was beside the patchwork girl, and then came that interesting personage, jack Pumpkinhead, who had grown a splendid big pumpkin for a new head to_be worn on Ozma's birthday, and had carved a face on_it that was even jollier in expression than_the one he had last worn . new heads were_not unusual with jack, for_the pumpkins did_not keep long, and when_the seeds-- which served him as brains-- began to_get soft and mushy, he realized his head would soon spoil, and so he procured a new one from_his great field of pumpkins-- grown by him so_that he need never lack a head .

you_will_have noticed that_the company at Ozma's banquet table was somewhat mixed, but every_one invited was a tried and trusted friend of_the girl ruler, and their presence made her quite happy .

no sooner had Ozma seated herself, with her back to_the birthday table, than she noticed that all present were eyeing with curiosity and pleasure something behind her, for_the gorgeous magic flower was blooming gloriously and_the mammoth blossoms that quickly succeeded one another on_the plant were beautiful to view and filled the entire room with their delicate fragrance .Ozma wanted to look, too, to_see what all were staring at, but she controlled her curiosity because it_was not proper that she should yet view her birthday gifts .

so the sweet and lovely ruler devoted herself to her guests, several of whom, such as_the Scarecrow, the tin woodman, the patchwork girl, Tik-Tok, jack Pumpkinhead and_the tin soldier, never ate anything but sat very politely in their places and tried to entertain those of_the guests who did eat .

and, at_the animal table, there_was another interesting group, consisting of_the cowardly lion, the hungry tiger, Toto-- Dorothy's little shaggy black dog--Hank the mule, the pink kitten, the wooden sawhorse, the yellow Hen, and_the glass Cat . all of_these had good appetites except the sawhorse and_the glass Cat, and each was given a plentiful supply of_the food it liked best .

finally, when_the banquet was nearly over and_the ice- cream was to_be served, four servants entered bearing a huge cake, all frosted and decorated with candy flowers . around the edge of_the cake was a row of lighted candles, and in_the center were raised candy letters that spelled the words:

OZMA'S birthday cake from Dorothy and_the wizard

"Oh, how beautiful ! " cried Ozma, greatly delighted, and Dorothy said eagerly: " now you_must cut the cake, Ozma, and each of us will eat a piece with_our ice- cream ."

Jellia Jamb brought a large golden knife with a jeweled handle, and Ozma stood up in her place and attempted to cut the cake . but as_soon_as_the frosting in_the center broke under the pressure of_the knife there leaped from_the cake a tiny monkey three inches high, and he_was followed by another and another, until twelve monkeys stood on_the tablecloth and bowed low to Ozma .

"Congratulations to our gracious ruler ! " they exclaimed in a chorus, and then they began a dance, so droll and amusing that all the company roared with laughter and even Ozma joined in_the merriment . but after_the dance the monkeys performed some wonderful acrobatic feats, and then they ran to_the hollow of_the cake and took out some band instruments of burnished gold--cornets, horns, drums, and_the like-- and forming into a procession the monkeys marched up and down the table playing a jolly tune with_the ease of skilled musicians .

Dorothy was delighted with_the success of her " surprise cake," and after_the monkeys had finished their performance, the banquet came to an end .

now was_the time for Ozma to_see her other presents, so Glinda the good rose and, taking the girl ruler by her hand, led her to_the table where all her gifts were placed in magnificent array . the magic flower of_course attracted her attention first, and trot had to_tell her the whole story of_their adventures in getting it . the little girl did_not forget to_give due credit to_the glass Cat and_the little wizard, but it_was really Cap'n bill who had bravely carried the golden flower- pot away from_the enchanted isle .

Ozma thanked them all, and said she_would place the magic flower in her boudoir where she might enjoy its beauty and fragrance continually . but now she discovered the marvelous gown woven by Glinda and her maidens from strands drawn from pure emeralds, and being a girl who loved pretty clothes, Ozma's ecstasy at being presented with_this exquisite gown may well be imagined . she_could hardly wait to_put it on, but the table was loaded with other pretty gifts and_the night was far spent before_the happy girl ruler had examined all her presents and thanked those who had lovingly donated them .

23 . the fountain of oblivion

the morning after_the birthday fete, as_the wizard and Dorothy were walking in_the grounds of_the palace, Ozma came out and joined them, saying:

" i_want to hear more of your adventures in_the forest of Gugu, and how you were able to_get those dear little monkeys to use in Dorothy's surprise cake ."

so they sat down on a marble bench near to_the fountain of_the water of oblivion, and between_them Dorothy and_the wizard related their adventures .

" i_was dreadfully fussy while i_was a woolly lamb," said Dorothy, " for_it didn't feel good, a bit . and I wasn't quite_sure, you_know, that I'd ever get to_be a girl again ."

" you might_have_been a woolly lamb yet, if I hadn't happened to_have discovered that magic transformation word," declared the wizard .

" but what became of_the walnut and_the hickory- nut into which you transformed those dreadful beast magicians ? " inquired Ozma .

" why, I'd almost forgotten them," was_the reply; " but I believe they_are still here in my pocket ."

then he searched in_his pockets and brought out the two nuts and showed them to her .

Ozma regarded them thoughtfully .

" it isn't right to leave any living creatures in_such helpless forms," said she ." i_think, wizard, you ought to transform them into their natural shapes again ."

" but I don't know what their natural shapes are," he objected, " for of_course the forms of mixed animals which they had assumed were_not natural to_them . and you_must not forget, Ozma, that their natures were cruel and mischievous, so if I bring them back to life they_might cause us a great deal of trouble ."

" nevertheless," said the ruler of Oz, " we_must free them from their present enchantments . when_you restore them to_their natural forms we_will discover who they really are, and surely we_need not fear any two people, even though they prove to_be magicians and_our enemies ."

" I_am not so sure of_that," protested the wizard, with a shake of_his bald head ." the one bit of magic I robbed them of-- which_was the word of transformation-- is so simple, yet so powerful, that neither Glinda nor I_can equal it . it isn't all in_the word, you_know, it's the way the word is pronounced . so if_the two strange magicians have other magic of_the same sort, they_might prove very dangerous to_us, if_we liberated them ."

"I've an idea ! " exclaimed Dorothy ."I'm no wizard, and no fairy, but if_you_do as I_say, we needn't fear these people at all ."

" what_is your thought, my dear ? " asked Ozma .

" well," replied the girl, " here_is this fountain of_the water of oblivion, and_that's what

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