Oz 05: The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum
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after admiring the pretty things, he_took out a fine golden watch with a big chain, several handsome finger-rings, and an ornament of rubies to pin upon_the breast of_his shaggy shirt- bosom .Having carefully brushed his hair and whiskers all the wrong way to_make them look as shaggy as possible, the shaggy man breathed a deep sigh of joy and decided he_was ready to meet the royal princess as_soon_as she sent for him . while he waited he returned to_the beautiful sitting room and ate several of_the red-cheeked apples to_pass away the time .

meanwhile, Dorothy had dressed herself in a pretty gown of soft grey embroidered with silver, and put a blue- and- gold suit of satin upon little button- bright, who looked as sweet as a cherub in_it . followed by_the boy and Toto-- the dog with a new green ribbon around his neck-- she hastened down to_the splendid drawing- room of_the palace, where, seated upon an exquisite throne of carved malachite and nestled amongst its green satin cushions was_the lovely princess Ozma, waiting eagerly to welcome her friend .

20 . princess Ozma of Oz

the royal historians of Oz, who_are fine writers and know any number of big words, have often tried to describe the rare beauty of Ozma and failed because the words were_not good enough . so of_course I_cannot hope to_tell you how great was_the charm of_this little princess, or how her loveliness put to shame all the sparkling jewels and magnificent luxury that surrounded her in_this her royal palace . whatever else was beautiful or dainty or delightful of itself faded to dullness when contrasted with Ozma's bewitching face, and it has often been said by_those who_know that no other ruler in all the world can ever hope to equal the gracious charm of her manner .

everything about Ozma attracted one, and she inspired love and_the sweetest affection rather than awe or ordinary admiration . Dorothy threw her arms around her little friend and hugged and kissed her rapturously, and Toto barked joyfully and button- bright smiled a happy smile and consented to sit on_the soft cushions close beside the princess .

" why didn't you send me word you were going to_have a birthday party ? " asked the little Kansas girl, when_the first greetings were over .

"Didn't I ? " asked Ozma, her pretty eyes dancing with merriment .

" did you ? " replied Dorothy, trying to_think .

" who do_you imagine, dear, mixed up those roads, so as_to start you wandering in_the direction of Oz ? " inquired the princess .

"Oh ! I never 'spected you of_that," cried Dorothy .

"I've watched you in my magic picture all the way here," declared Ozma, " and twice i_thought i_should_have to use the magic belt to save you and transport you to_the emerald city . once was when_the Scoodlers caught you, and again when_you reached the deadly desert . but the shaggy man was able to help_you out both times, so I_did_not interfere ."

" do_you_know who button- bright is ? " asked Dorothy .

" no; I never saw him until you found him in_the road, and then only in my magic picture ."

" and did you send Polly to_us ? "

" no, dear; the rainbow's daughter slid from her father's pretty arch just in_time to meet you ."

" well," said Dorothy, "I've promised king Dox of Foxville and king Kik-a- bray of Dunkiton that I'd ask_you to invite them to your party ."

" I_have already done that," returned Ozma, " because i_thought it would please you to favor them ."

" did you 'vite the Musicker ? " asked button- bright .

" no; because he_would_be too noisy, and might interfere with_the comfort 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 rainment, that Dorothy cried "Oh ! " and clasped her hands impulsively as she examined her friend with pleased eyes .

" 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 ."

" 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_can 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 race-horses, 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 .

" 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 .

21 . Dorothy Receives the Guests

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 .

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 glistened 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 strawman, 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 mama always called me button- bright," announced the boy .

" where is your mama ? " 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 mama 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

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