Oz 05: The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum
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of button which_is covered with dull cloth, and that_must be the sort your papa meant when he_said you were bright as a button .Don't you_think so ? "

"Don't know," said button- bright .

jack Pumpkinhead arrived, wearing a pair of new, white kid gloves; and he brought a birthday present for Ozma consisting of a necklace of pumpkin-seeds . in each seed was set asparkling carolite, which_is considered the rarest and most beautiful gem that exists . the necklace was in a plush case and Jellia Jamb put it on a table with_the princess Ozma's other presents .

next came a tall, beautiful woman clothed in a splendid trailing gown, trimmed with exquisite lace as fine as cobweb . this_was the important sorceress known as Glinda the good, who had_been of great assistance to both Ozma and Dorothy . there_was no humbug about her magic, you_may_be_sure, and Glinda was as kind as she was powerful . she greeted Dorothy most lovingly, and kissed button- bright and Polly, and smiled upon_the shaggy man, after which Jellia Jamb led the sorceress to one_of_the_most magnificent rooms of_the royal palace and appointed fifty servants to wait upon her .

the next arrival was Mr H .M .Woggle- bug, T .E .; the "H .M ." meaning highly Magnified and_the "T .E ." meaning thoroughly educated . the Woggle- bug was head professor at_the royal college of Oz, and he had composed a fine ode in honor of Ozma's birthday . this he_wanted to read to_them; but the Scarecrow wouldn't let him .

soon they heard aclucking sound and a chorus of "cheep ! cheep ! " and a servant threw open the door to allow Billina and her ten fluffy chicks to enter the throne- room . as_the yellow Hen marched proudly at_the head of her family, Dorothy cried, "Oh, you lovely things ! " and ran down from her seat to pet the little yellow downy balls .Billina wore a pearl necklace, and around the neck of each chicken was a tiny gold chain holding a locket with_the letter "D" engraved upon_the outside .

" open the lockets, Dorothy," said Billina . the girl obeyed and found a picture of herself in each locket ." they were named after you, my dear," continued the yellow Hen, " so i_wanted all my chickens to wear your picture . cluck-- cluck ! come here, Dorothy-- this minute ! " she cried, for_the chickens were scattered and wandering all around the big room .

they obeyed the call at once, and came running as fast as they_could, fluttering their fluffy wings in alaughable way .

it_was lucky that Billina gathered the little ones under her soft breast just then, for Tik-tok came in and tramped up_to_the throne on_his flat copper feet .

" I_am all wound up and work-ing fine-ly," said the clock- work man to Dorothy .

" I_can hear him tick," declared button- bright .

" you_are quite the polished gentleman," said the tin woodman ." stand up here beside the shaggy man, Tik-tok, and help receive the company ."

Dorothy placed soft cushions in a corner for Billina and her chicks, and had just returned to_the throne and seated herself when_the playing of_the royal band outside the palace announced the approach of distinguished guests .

and my, how they_did stare when_the high chamberlain threw open the doors and_the visitors entered the throne- room !

first walked agingerbread man neatly formed and baked to a lovely brown tint . he wore a silk hat and carried a candy cane prettily striped with red and yellow . his shirt- front and cuffs were white frosting, and_the buttons on_his coat were licorice drops .

behind the gingerbread man came a child with flaxen hair and merry blue eyes, dressed in white pajamas, with sandals on_the soles of_its pretty bare feet . the child looked around smiling and thrust its hands into_the pockets of_the pajamas . close after it came a big rubber bear, walking erect on its hind feet . the bear had twinkling black eyes, and its body looked as_if it had_been pumped full of air .

Following these curious visitors were two tall, thin men and two short, fat men, all four dressed in gorgeous uniforms .

Ozma's high chamberlain now hurried forward to announce the names of_the new arrivals, calling out in a loud voice:

" his gracious and most edible majesty, king dough the first, ruler of_the two Kingdoms of Hiland and Loland . also the head Boolywag of_his majesty, known as Chick the cherub, and their faithful friend Para bruin, the rubber bear ."

these great personages bowed low as their names were called, and Dorothy hastened to introduce them to_the assembled company . they were the first foreign arrivals, and_the friends of princess Ozma were polite to_them and tried to_make them feel that_they were welcome .

Chick the cherub shook hands with every_one, including Billina, and was so joyous and frank and full of good spirits that John dough's head Booleywag at once became a prime favorite .

" is_it a boy or a girl ? " whispered Dorothy .

"Don't know," said button- bright .

" goodness me ! what a queer lot of people you_are," exclaimed the rubber bear, looking at_the assembled company .

" so're you," said button- bright, gravely ." is king dough good to eat ? "

" he's too good to eat," laughed Chick the cherub .

" I_hope none of you_are fond of gingerbread," said the king, rather anxiously .

" we_should never think of eating our visitors, if_we were," declared the Scarecrow; " so please do_not worry, for you_will_be perfectly safe while you remain in Oz ."

" why do they call you Chick ? " the yellow Hen asked the child .

" because I'm an incubator baby, and never had any parents," replied the head Booleywag .

" my chicks have a parent, and I'm it," said Billina .

"I'm glad of_that," answered the cherub, " because they'll have more fun worrying you than if_they were brought up in an incubator . the incubator never worries, you_know ."

king John dough had brought for Ozma's birthday present a lovely gingerbread crown, with rows of small pearls around it and a fine big pearl in each of_its five points . after_this had_been received by Dorothy with proper thanks and placed on_the table with_the other presents, the visitors from Hiland and Loland were escorted to_their rooms by_the high chamberlain .

they had no sooner departed than_the band before_the palace began to play again, announcing more arrivals, and as_these were doubtless from foreign parts the high chamberlain hurried back to receive them in_his most official manner .

22 . important Arrivals

first entered a band of Ryls from_the happy valley, all merry little sprites like fairy elves .a dozen crooked Knooks followed from_the great forest of Burzee . they had long whiskers and pointed caps and curling toes, yet were no taller than button- bright's shoulder . with_this group came a man so easy to recognize and so important and dearly beloved throughout_the known world, that all present rose to_their feet and bowed their heads in respectful homage, even before_the high chamberlain knelt to announce his name .

" the most mighty and loyal friend of children, his supreme highness--Santa Claus ! " said the chamberlain, in an awed voice .

" well, well, well ! glad_to_see you-- glad to meet you all ! " cried Santa Claus, briskly, as he trotted up the long room .

he_was round as an apple, with a fresh rosy face, laughing eyes, and abushy beard as white as snow .a red cloak trimmed with beautiful ermine hung from_his shoulders and upon his back was a basket filled with pretty presents for_the princess Ozma .

"Hello, Dorothy; still having adventures ? " he asked in_his jolly way, as he_took the girl's hand in both his own .

" how did you_know my name, Santa ? " she replied, feeling more shy in_the presence of_this immortal saint than she ever had before in her young life .

" why, don't I_see you every Christmas Eve, when_you're asleep ? " he rejoined, pinching her blushing cheek .

"Oh, do_you ? "

" and here's button- bright, I declare ! " cried Santa Claus, holding up the boy to kiss him ." what a long way from home you_are; dear me ! "

" do_you_know button- bright, too ? " questioned Dorothy, eagerly .

" indeed I_do .I've visited his home several Christmas Eves ."

" and do_you_know his father ? " asked the girl .

" certainly, my dear . who else do_you suppose brings him his Christmas neckties and stockings ? " with a sly wink at_the wizard .

" then where does he live ? we're just crazy to_know, ' cause button- bright's lost," she said .

Santa laughed and laid his finger aside of_his nose as_if thinking what to reply . he leaned over and whispered something in_the wizard's ear, at which the wizard smiled and nodded as_if he understood .

now Santa Claus spied polychrome, and trotted over to where she stood .

"Seems to_me the rainbow's daughter is farther from home than any of you," he observed, looking at_the pretty maiden admiringly ."I'll have to_tell your father where you_are, Polly, and send_him to_get you ."

" please do, dear Santa Claus," implored the little maid, beseechingly .

" but just now we_must all have a jolly good_time at Ozma's party," said the old gentleman, turning to_put his presents on_the table with_the others already there ." it isn't often I_find time to leave my castle, as_you_know; but Ozma invited me and I just couldn't help coming to celebrate the happy occasion ."

"I'm so glad ! " exclaimed Dorothy .

" these are my Ryls," pointing to_the little sprites squatting around him ." their business is to paint the colors of_the flowers when_they bud and bloom; but I brought the merry fellows along to_see Oz, and_they've left their paint-pots behind them . also I brought these crooked Knooks, whom I love . my dears, the Knooks are much nicer than they look, for their duty is to water and care for_the young trees of_the forest, and_they do their work faithfully and well . it's hard work, though, and it makes my Knooks crooked and gnarled, like the trees themselves; but their hearts are big and kind, as are the hearts of all who do good in_our beautiful world ."

"I've read of_the Ryls and Knooks," said Dorothy, looking upon these little workers with interest .

Santa Claus turned to_talk with_the Scarecrow and_the tin woodman, and he also said a kind word to_the shaggy man, and afterward went away to ride the saw- horse around the emerald city ." for," said he, " I_must see all the grand sights while I_am here and_have the chance, and Ozma has promised to let me ride the saw- horse because I'm getting fat and short of breath ."

" where are your reindeer ? " asked polychrome .

"I left them at home, for_it is too warm for_them in_this sunny country," he answered ." they're used to winter weather when_they travel ."

in a flash he_was gone, and_the Ryls and Knooks with_him; but they_could all hear the golden hoofs of_the saw- horse ringing on_the marble pavement outside, as he pranced away with_his noble rider .

presently the band played again, and_the high chamberlain announced:

" her gracious majesty, the queen of Merryland ."

they looked earnestly to discover whom this queen might_be, and saw advancing up the room an exquisite wax doll dressed in dainty fluffs and ruffles and spangled gown . she was almost as big as button- bright, and her cheeks and mouth and eyebrow were prettily painted in delicate colors . her blue eyes stared a bit, being of glass, yet the expression upon her majesty's face was quite pleasant and decidedly winning . with_the queen of Merryland were four wooden soldiers, two stalking ahead of her with much dignity and two following behind, like a royal bodyguard . the soldiers were painted in bright colors and carried wooden guns, and after them came a fat little man who attracted attention at once, although he_seemed modest and retiring . for he was_made of candy, and carried a tin sugar-sifter filled with powdered sugar, with_which he dusted himself frequently so_that he wouldn't stick to things if he touched them . the high chamberlain had called him " the candy man of Merryland," and Dorothy saw that one of_his thumbs looked as_if it had_been bitten off by some one who was fond of candy and couldn't resist the temptation .

the wax doll queen spoke prettily to Dorothy and_the others, and sent her loving greetings to Ozma before she retired to_the rooms prepared for her . she had brought a birthday present wrapped in tissue paper and tied with pink and blue ribbons, and one_of_the wooden soldiers placed it on_the table with_the other gifts . but the candy man did_not go to_his room, because he_said he preferred to stay and talk with_the Scarecrow and Tik-tok and_the wizard and tin woodman, whom he declared the queerest people he had ever met . button- bright was glad the candy man stayed in_the throne room, because the boy thought this guest smelled deliciously of wintergreen and maple sugar .

the braided man now entered the room, having been fortunate enough to receive an invitation to_the princess Ozma's party . he_was from a cave halfway between_the invisible valley and_the country of_the Gargoyles, and_his hair and whiskers were so_long that he_was obliged to plait them into many braids that hung to_his feet, and every braid was tied with a bow of colored ribbon .

"I've brought princess Ozma a box of flutters for her birthday," said the braided man, earnestly; " and I_hope she will like them, for they_are the finest quality I_have ever made ."

"I'm sure she will_be greatly pleased," said Dorothy, who remembered the braided man well; and_the wizard introduced the guest to_the rest of_the company and made him sit down in a chair and keep quiet, for,

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