Oz 05: The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum
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of Merryland, escorted by her wooden soldiers; then king bud of Noland and_his sister, the princess fluff; then the queen of Ev and her ten royal children; then the braided man and_the candy man, side by side; then king Dox of Foxville and king Kik-a- bray of Dunkiton, who by_this_time had become good friends; and finally Johnny Dooit, in_his leather apron, smoking his long pipe .

these wonderful personages were_not more heartily cheered by_the people than were those who followed after them in_the procession . Dorothy was a general favorite, and she walked arm in arm with_the Scarecrow, who was beloved by all . then came polychrome and button- bright, and_the people loved the rainbow's pretty daughter and_the beautiful blue- eyed boy as_soon_as they saw them . the shaggy man in_his shaggy new suit attracted much attention because he_was such a novelty . with regular steps tramped the machine- man Tik-tok, and there_was more cheering when_the wizard of Oz followed in_the procession . the Woggle- bug and jack Pumpkinhead were next, and behind them Glinda the sorceress and_the good witch of_the north . finally came Billina, with her brood of chickens to_whom she clucked anxiously to_keep them together and to hasten them along so they_would not delay the procession .

another band followed, this_time the tin band of_the emperor of_the Winkies, playing a beautiful march called, " there's no plate like tin ." then came the servants of_the royal palace, in a long line, and behind them all the people joined the procession and marched away through_the emerald gates and out upon_the broad green .

here had_been erected a splendid pavilion, with a grandstand big enough to seat all the royal party and those who had taken part in_the procession . over the pavilion, which_was of green silk and cloth of gold, countless banners waved in_the breeze . just in front of_this, and connected with it by a runway had_been built a broad platform, so_that all the spectators could_see plainly the entertainment provided for_them .

the wizard now became master_of_ceremonies, as Ozma had placed the conduct of_the performance in_his hands . after_the people had all congregated about_the platform and_the royal party and_the visitors were seated in_the grandstand, the wizard skillfully performed some feats of juggling glass balls and lighted candles . he tossed a dozen or so of_them high in_the air and caught them one by one as_they came down, without missing any .

then he introduced the Scarecrow, who did a sword-swallowing act that aroused much interest . after_this the tin woodman gave an exhibition of Swinging the Axe, which he_made to whirl around him so rapidly that_the eye could scarcely follow the motion of_the gleaming blade .Glinda the sorceress then stepped upon_the platform, and by her magic made a big tree grow in_the middle of_the space, made blossoms appear upon_the tree, and made the blossoms become delicious fruit called tamornas, and so great was_the quantity of fruit produced that when_the servants climbed the tree and tossed it down to_the crowd, there_was enough to satisfy every person present .

Para bruin, the rubber bear, climbed to a limb of_the big tree, rolled himself into a ball, and dropped to_the platform, whence he bounded up again to_the limb . he repeated this bouncing act several_times, to_the great delight of all the children present . after he had finished, and bowed, and returned to_his seat, Glinda waved her wand and_the tree disappeared; but its fruit still remained to_be eaten .

the good witch of_the north amused the people by transforming ten stones into ten birds, the ten birds into ten lambs, and_the ten lambs into ten little girls, who gave a pretty dance and were then transformed into ten stones again, just as_they were in_the beginning .

Johnny Dooit next came on_the platform with_his tool- chest, and in_a_few_minutes built a great flying machine; then put his chest in_the machine and_the whole thing flew away together--Johnny and all-- after he had bid good-bye to_those present and thanked the princess for her hospitality .

the wizard then announced the last act of all, which_was considered really wonderful . he had invented a machine to blow huge soap-bubbles, as big as balloons, and this machine was hidden under the platform so_that only the rim of_the big clay pipe to_produce the bubbles showed above the flooring . the tank of soapsuds, and_the air-pumps to inflate the bubbles, were out of sight beneath, so_that when_the bubbles began to grow upon_the floor of_the platform it really seemed like magic to_the people of Oz, who knew nothing about even the common soap-bubbles that_our children blow with a penny clay pipe and a basin of soap- and- water .

the wizard had invented another thing . usually, soap-bubbles are frail and burst easily, lasting only a few_moments as_they float in_the air; but the wizard added a sort of glue to_his soapsuds, which made his bubbles tough; and, as_the glue dried rapidly when exposed to_the air, the wizard's bubbles were strong enough to float for hours without breaking .

he began by blowing-- by_means of_his machinery and air-pumps-- several large bubbles which he allowed to float upward into_the sky, where the sunshine fell upon them and gave them iridescent hues that were most beautiful . this aroused much wonder and delight because it_was a new amusement to every_one present-- except perhaps Dorothy and button- bright, and even they had never seen such big, strong bubbles before .

the wizard then blew a bunch of small bubbles and afterward blew a big bubble around them so they were left in_the center of it; then he allowed the whole mass of pretty globes to float into_the air and disappear in_the far distant sky .

" that_is really fine ! " declared Santa Claus, who loved toys and pretty things ." i_think, Mr wizard, I_shall_have you blow a bubble around me; then I_can float away home and_see the country spread out beneath me as I travel . there isn't a spot on earth that I haven't visited, but I usually go in_the night- time, riding behind my swift reindeer . here_is a good chance to observe the country by daylight, while I_am riding slowly and at my ease ."

" do_you_think you_will_be_able to guide the bubble ? " asked the wizard .

"Oh yes; I_know enough magic to do_that," replied Santa Claus ." you blow the bubble, with me inside of it, and I'll be_sure to_get home in safety ."

" please send me home in a bubble, too ! " begged the queen of Merryland .

" very_well, madam; you shall try the journey first," politely answered old Santa .

the pretty wax doll bade good-bye to_the princess Ozma and_the others and stood on_the platform while the wizard blew a big soap- bubble around her . when completed, he allowed the bubble to float slowly upward, and there could_be seen the little queen of Merryland standing in_the middle of it and blowing kisses from her fingers to_those below . the bubble took a southerly direction, quickly floating out of sight .

" that's a very nice way to travel," said princess fluff ."I'd like to_go home in a bubble, too ."

so the wizard blew a big bubble around princess fluff, and another around king bud, her brother, and a third one around queen Zixi; and soon these three bubbles had mounted into_the sky and were floating off in a group in_the direction of_the kingdom of Noland .

the success of_these ventures induced the other guests from foreign lands to undertake bubble journeys, also; so the wizard put them one by one inside his bubbles, and Santa Claus directed the way they should go, because he_knew exactly where everybody lived .

finally, button- bright said:

" i_want to_go home, too ."

" why, so you shall ! " cried Santa; " for I'm sure your father and mother will be_glad_to_see you again .Mr wizard, please blow a big, fine bubble for button- bright to ride in, and I'll agree to send_him home to_his family as safe as safe can_be ."

"I'm sorry," said Dorothy with a sigh, for she was fond of her little comrade; " but p'raps it's best for button- bright to_get home; ' cause his folks must_be worrying just dreadful ."

she kissed the boy, and Ozma kissed him, too, and all the others waved their hands and said good-bye and wished him a pleasant journey .

" are_you glad to leave us, dear ? " asked Dorothy, a little wistfully .

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

he sat down cross-legged on_the platform, with_his sailor hat tipped back on_his head, and_the wizard blew a beautiful bubble all around him .

a minute later it had mounted into_the sky, sailing toward the west, and_the last they saw of button- bright he_was still sitting in_the middle of_the shining globe and waving his sailor hat at those below .

" will_you ride in a bubble, or shall I send_you and Toto home by_means of_the magic belt ? " the princess asked Dorothy .

" guess I'll use the belt," replied the little girl ."I'm sort of 'fraid of_those bubbles ."

" bow-wow ! " said Toto, approvingly . he loved to bark at_the bubbles as_they sailed away, but he didn't care to ride in one .

Santa Claus decided to_go next . he thanked Ozma for her hospitality and wished her many happy returns of_the day . then the wizard blew a bubble around his chubby little body and smaller bubbles around each of_his Ryls and Knooks .

as_the kind and generous friend of children mounted into_the air the people all cheered at_the top of_their voices, for they loved Santa Claus dearly; and_the little man heard them through_the walls of_his bubble and waved his hands in return as he smiled down upon them . the band played bravely while every_one watched the bubble until it_was completely out of sight .

" how ' bout you, Polly ? " Dorothy asked her friend ." are_you 'fraid of bubbles, too ? "

" no," answered polychrome, smiling; " but Santa Claus promised to_speak to my father as he passed through_the sky . so perhaps I_shall get home an easier way ."

indeed, the little maid had scarcely made this speech when a sudden radiance filled the air, and while the people looked on in wonder the end of a gorgeous rainbow slowly settled down upon_the platform .

with a glad cry, the rainbow's daughter sprang from her seat and danced along the curve of_the bow, mounting gradually upward, while the folds of her gauzy gown whirled and floated around her like a cloud and blended with_the colors of_the rainbow itself .

" good-bye Ozma ! good-bye Dorothy ! " cried a voice they knew belonged to polychrome; but now the little maiden's form had melted wholly into_the rainbow, and their eyes could no longer see her .

suddenly, the end of_the rainbow lifted and its colors slowly faded like mist before a breeze . Dorothy sighed deeply and turned to Ozma .

"I'm sorry to lose Polly," she said; " but I guess she's better off with her father; ' cause even the land of Oz couldn't be like home to a cloud fairy ."

" no indeed," replied the princess; " but it_has_been delightful for_us to_know polychrome for a little while, and-- who knows ? -- perhaps we_may meet the rainbow's daughter again, some day ."

the entertainment being now ended, all left the pavilion and formed their gay procession back to_the emerald city again . of Dorothy's recent traveling companions only Toto and_the shaggy man remained, and Ozma had decided to allow the latter to live in Oz for a time, at_least . if he proved honest and true she promised to let him live there always, and_the shaggy man was anxious to earn this reward .

they had a nice quiet dinner together and passed a pleasant evening with_the Scarecrow, the tin woodman, Tik-tok, and_the yellow Hen for company .

when Dorothy bade them good- night, she kissed them all good-bye at_the same time . for Ozma had agreed that while Dorothy slept she and Toto should_be transported by_means of_the magic belt to her own little bed in_the Kansas farm- house and_the little girl laughed as she thought how astonished uncle Henry and aunt Em would_be when she came down to breakfast with_them next morning .

quite content to have_had so pleasant an adventure, and a little tired by all the day's busy scenes, Dorothy clasped Toto in her arms and lay down upon_the pretty white bed in her room in Ozma's royal palace .

presently she was sound asleep .

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