Oz 03: Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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the yellow hen was publicly presented with a beautiful necklace of pearls and sapphires, as a token of esteem from_the new king .

20 . the emerald city

Dorothy decided to accept Ozma's invitation to return with her to_the land of Oz . there_was no greater chance of her getting home from Ev than from Oz, and_the little girl was anxious to_see once more the country where she had encountered such wonderful adventures . by_this_time uncle Henry would_have reached Australia in_his ship, and had probably given her up for lost; so he couldn't worry any more than he_did if she stayed away from_him a while longer . so she_would go to Oz .

they bade good-bye to_the people of Ev, and_the king promised Ozma that he_would ever be grateful to her and render the land of Oz any service that might lie within his power .

and then they approached the edge of_the dangerous desert, and Ozma threw down the magic carpet, which at once unrolled far enough for all of_them to walk upon it without being crowded .

Tiktok, claiming to_be Dorothy's faithful follower because he belonged to her, had_been permitted to join the party, and before_they started the girl wound up his machinery as far as possible, and_the copper man stepped off as briskly as any_one_of_them .

Ozma also invited Billina to visit the land of Oz, and_the yellow hen was glad enough to_go where new sights and scenes awaited her .

they began the trip across the desert early in_the morning, and as_they stopped only long enough for Billina to lay her daily egg, before sunset they espied the green slopes and wooded hills of_the beautiful land of Oz . they entered it in_the Munchkin territory, and_the king of_the Munchkins met them at_the border and welcomed Ozma with great respect, being very pleased by her safe return . for Ozma of Oz ruled the king of_the Munchkins, the king of_the Winkies, the king of_the Quadlings and_the king of_the Gillikins just as_those kings ruled their own people; and this supreme ruler of_the land of Oz lived in a great town of her own, called the emerald city, which_was in_the exact center of_the four kingdoms of_the land of Oz .

the Munchkin king entertained them at his palace that night, and in_the morning they set out for_the emerald city, travelling over a road of yellow brick that led straight to_the jewel- studded gates . everywhere the people turned out to greet their beloved Ozma, and to hail joyfully the Scarecrow, the tin woodman and_the cowardly lion, who were popular favorites . Dorothy, too, remembered some_of_the people, who had befriended her on_the occasion of her first visit to Oz, and_they were well pleased to_see the little Kansas girl again, and showered her with compliments and good wishes .

at one place, where they stopped to refresh themselves, Ozma accepted a bowl of milk from_the hands of a pretty dairy- maid . then she looked at_the girl more closely, and exclaimed:

" why, it's Jinjur--isn't it ! "

" yes, your highness," was_the reply, as Jinjur dropped a low curtsy . and Dorothy looked wonderingly at_this lively appearing person, who had once assembled an army of women and driven the Scarecrow from_the throne of_the emerald city, and even fought a battle with_the powerful army of Glinda the sorceress .

"I've married a man who owns nine cows," said Jinjur to Ozma, " and now I_am happy and contented and willing to lead a quiet life and mind my own business ."

" where is your husband ? " asked Ozma .

" he_is in_the house, nursing a black eye," replied Jinjur, calmly ." the foolish man would insist upon milking the red cow when i_wanted him to milk the white one; but he_will know better next_time, I_am_sure ."

then the party moved on again, and after crossing a broad river on a ferry and passing many fine farm houses that were dome shaped and painted a pretty green color, they came in sight of a large building that was covered with flags and bunting .

"I don't remember that building," said Dorothy ." what_is it ? "

" that_is_the college of art and athletic perfection," replied Ozma ."I had it built quite recently, and_the Woggle- bug is its president . it keeps him busy, and_the young men who attend the college are no worse off than they were before . you_see, in_this country are a number of youths who_do_not like to work, and_the college is an excellent place for_them ."

and now they came in sight of_the emerald city, and_the people flocked out to greet their lovely ruler . there were several bands and many officers and officials of_the realm, and a crowd of citizens in their holiday attire .

thus the beautiful Ozma was escorted by a brilliant procession to her royal city, and so great was_the cheering that she was obliged to constantly bow to_the right and left to acknowledge the greetings of her subjects .

that evening there_was a grand reception in_the royal palace, attended by_the most important persons of Oz, and jack Pumpkinhead, who was a little overripe but still active, read an address congratulating Ozma of Oz upon_the success of her generous mission to rescue the royal family of aneighboring kingdom .

then magnificent gold medals set with precious stones were presented to each of_the twenty-six officers; and_the tin woodman was given a new axe studded with diamonds; and_the Scarecrow received a silver jar of complexion powder . Dorothy was presented with a pretty coronet and made a princess of Oz, and Tiktok received two bracelets set with eight rows of very clear and sparkling emeralds .

Afterward they sat down to a splendid feast, and Ozma put Dorothy at her right and Billina at her left, where the hen sat upon a golden roost and ate from a jeweled platter . then were placed the Scarecrow, the tin woodman and Tiktok, with baskets of lovely flowers before them, because they_did_not require food . the twenty-six officers were at_the lower end of_the table, and_the lion and_the tiger also had seats, and were served on golden platters, that held a half a bushel at one_time .

the wealthiest and most important citizens of_the emerald city were proud to wait upon these famous adventurers, and_they were assisted by a sprightly little maid named Jellia Jamb, whom the Scarecrow pinched upon her rosy cheeks and seemed to_know very_well .

during the feast Ozma grew thoughtful, and suddenly she asked:

" where is_the private ? "

"Oh, he_is sweeping out the barracks," replied one_of_the generals, who was busy eating a leg of a turkey ." but I_have ordered him a dish of bread and molasses to eat when his work is done ."

" let him be sent for," said the girl ruler .

while they waited for_this command to_be obeyed, she enquired:

" have we any_other privates in_the armies ? "

"Oh, yes," replied the tin woodman, "I believe there_are three, altogether ."

the private now entered, saluting his officers and_the royal Ozma very respectfully .

" what_is your_name, my man ? " asked the girl .

"Omby Amby," answered the private .

" then, Omby Amby," said she, "I promote you to_be captain general of all the armies of_my kingdom, and especially to_be commander of_my body guard at_the royal palace ."

" it_is very expensive to hold so_many offices," said the private, hesitating ." I_have no money with_which to_buy uniforms ."

" you shall be supplied from_the royal treasury," said Ozma .

then the private was given a seat at_the table, where the other officers welcomed him cordially, and_the feasting and merriment were resumed .

suddenly Jellia Jamb exclaimed:

" there_is nothing more to eat ! the hungry tiger has consumed everything ! "

" but that_is_not the worst of it," declared the tiger, mournfully ." somewhere or somehow, I've actually lost my appetite ! "

21 . Dorothy's magic belt

Dorothy passed several very happy weeks in_the land of Oz as_the guest of_the royal Ozma, who delighted to_please and interest the little Kansas girl . many new acquaintances were formed and many old ones renewed, and wherever she went Dorothy found herself among friends .

one day, however, as she sat in Ozma's private room, she noticed hanging upon_the wall a picture which constantly changed in appearance, at one_time showing a meadow and at another time a forest, a lake or a village .

" how curious ! " she exclaimed, after watching the shifting scenes for a few_moments .

" yes," said Ozma, " that_is really a wonderful invention in magic . if i_wish to_see any part of_the world or any person living, I_need only express the wish and it_is shown in_the picture ."

" may I use it ? " asked Dorothy, eagerly .

" of_course, my dear ."

" then I'd like to_see the old Kansas farm, and aunt Em," said the girl .

instantly the well remembered farmhouse appeared in_the picture, and aunt Em could_be seen quite plainly . she was engaged in washing dishes by_the kitchen window and seemed quite well and contented . the hired men and_the teams were in_the harvest fields behind the house, and_the corn and wheat seemed to_the child to_be in prime condition . on_the side porch Dorothy's pet dog, Toto, was lying fast asleep in_the sun, and to her surprise old Speckles was running around with a brood of twelve new chickens trailing after her .

" everything seems all right at home," said Dorothy, with a sigh of relief ." now I wonder what uncle Henry is doing ."

the scene in_the picture at once shifted to Australia, where, in a pleasant room in Sydney, uncle Henry was seated in an easy chair, solemnly smoking his briar pipe . he looked sad and lonely, and_his hair was now quite white and_his hands and face thin and wasted .

"Oh ! " cried Dorothy, in an anxious voice, "I'm sure uncle Henry isn't getting any better, and it's because he_is worried about me .Ozma, dear, I_must go to him at once ! "

" how can_you ? " asked Ozma .

"I don't know," replied Dorothy; " but let_us go to Glinda the good .I'm sure she will help me, and advise me how to_get to uncle Henry ."

Ozma readily agreed to_this plan and caused the sawhorse to_be harnessed to a pretty green and pink phaeton, and_the two girls rode away to visit the famous sorceress .

Glinda received them graciously, and listened to Dorothy's story with attention .

" I_have the magic belt, you_know," said the little girl ." if I buckled it around my waist and commanded it to_take me to uncle Henry, wouldn't it do_it ? "

" i_think so," replied Glinda, with a smile .

" and then," continued Dorothy, " if I ever wanted to_come back here again, the belt would bring me ."

" in_that you_are wrong," said the sorceress ." the belt has magical powers only while it_is in some fairy country, such as_the land of Oz, or the land of Ev . indeed, my little friend, were you to wear it and wish yourself in Australia, with your uncle, the wish would doubtless be fulfilled, because it was_made in fairyland . but you_would_not find the magic belt around you when_you arrived at your destination ."

" what would become of it ? " asked the girl .

" it would_be lost, as were your silver shoes when_you visited Oz before, and no one would ever see it again . it seems too bad to destroy the use of_the magic belt in_that way, doesn't it ? "

" then," said Dorothy, after a moment's thought, " i_will give the magic belt to Ozma, for she_can use it in her own country . and she_can wish me transported to uncle Henry without losing the belt ."

" that_is a wise plan," replied Glinda .

so they rode back to_the emerald city, and on_the way it_was arranged that every Saturday morning Ozma would look at Dorothy in her magic picture, wherever the little girl might chance to_be . and, if she saw Dorothy make a certain signal, then Ozma would know that_the little Kansas girl wanted to revisit the land of Oz, and by_means of_the Nome king's magic belt would wish that she might instantly return .

this having been agreed upon, Dorothy bade good-bye to all her friends .Tiktok wanted to_go to Australia; too, but Dorothy knew that_the machine man would never do for a servant in a civilized country, and_the chances were that his machinery wouldn't work at all . so she left him in Ozma's care .

Billina, on_the contrary, preferred the land of Oz to any_other country, and refused to accompany Dorothy .

" the bugs and ants that I_find here are the finest flavored in_the_world," declared the yellow hen, " and there_are plenty of_them . so here I_shall end my days; and I_must say, Dorothy, my dear, that you_are very foolish to_go back into that stupid, humdrum world again ."

" uncle Henry needs me," said Dorothy, simply; and every_one except Billina thought it_was right that she should go .

all Dorothy's friends of_the land of Oz-- both old and new-- gathered in a group in front of_the palace to bid her a sorrowful good-bye and to wish her long life and happiness . after much hand shaking, Dorothy kissed Ozma once more, and then handed her the Nome king's magic belt, saying:

" now, dear princess, when I wave my handkerchief, please wish me with uncle Henry .I'm aw' fly sorry to leave you-- and_the Scarecrow-- and_the tin woodman-- and_the cowardly lion-- and Tiktok-- and-- and everybody-- but I_do want my uncle Henry ! so good-bye, all of you ."

then the little girl stood on one_of_the big emeralds which decorated the courtyard, and after looking once again at each of her friends, waved her handkerchief .

" no," said Dorothy, "I wasn't drowned at all . and I've come to nurse you and take care of you, uncle Henry, and you_must promise to_get well as_soon_as poss'ble ."

uncle Henry smiled and cuddled his little niece close in_his lap .

"I'm better already, my darling," said he .

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