The Road to Oz Page 21

  Princess Ozma of Oz

  The royal historians of Oz, who are fine writers and know any number ofbig words, have often tried to describe the rare beauty of Ozma andfailed because the words were not good enough. So of course I can nothope to tell you how great was the charm of this little Princess, or howher loveliness put to shame all the sparkling jewels and magnificentluxury that surrounded her in this her royal palace. Whatever else wasbeautiful or dainty or delightful of itself faded to dullness whencontrasted with Ozma's bewitching face, and it has often been said bythose who know that no other ruler in all the world can ever hope toequal the gracious charm of her manner.

  Everything about Ozma attracted one, and she inspired love and thesweetest affection rather than awe or ordinary admiration. Dorothy threwher arms around her little friend and hugged and kissed her rapturously,and Toto barked joyfully and Button-Bright smiled a happy smile andconsented 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 youwandering 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 andtransport you to the Emerald City. Once was when the Scoodlers caughtyou, and again when you reached the Deadly Desert. But the shaggy manwas 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 inmy Magic Picture."

  "And did you send Polly to us?"

  "No, dear; the Rainbow's Daughter slid from her father's pretty archjust in time to meet you."

  "Well," said Dorothy, "I've promised King Dox of Foxville and KingKik-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 wouldplease you to favor them."

  "Did you 'vite the Musicker?" asked Button-Bright.

  "No; because he would be too noisy, and might interfere with the comfortof others. When music is not very good, and is indulged in all thetime, it is better that the performer should be alone," said thePrincess.

  "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'sDaughter in her sweetest and most cordial manner.

  Dorothy thought she had never seen two prettier creatures together thanthese lovely maidens; but Polly knew at once her own dainty beauty couldnot 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, clothedall in black, entered the drawing-room. His face was cheery and his eyestwinkling with humor, so Polly and Button-Bright were not at all afraidof the wonderful personage whose fame as a humbug magician had spreadthroughout the world. After greeting Dorothy with much affection, hestood modestly behind Ozma's throne and listened to the lively prattleof the young people.

  Now the shaggy man appeared, and so startling was his appearance, allclad in shaggy new raiment, that Dorothy cried "Oh!" and clasped herhands impulsively as she examined her friend with pleased eyes.

  "He's still shaggy, all right," remarked Button-Bright; and Ozma noddedbrightly because she had meant the shaggy man to remain shaggy when sheprovided 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 LoveMagnet."

  "You are welcome to Oz," said the girl Ruler, in gracious accents. "Buttell 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 lowvoice:

  "I stole it, your Majesty."

  "Oh, Shaggy Man!" cried Dorothy. "How dreadful! And you told me theEskimo 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 inthe 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 Iwanted to be loved a great deal. It was owned by a girl in Butterfieldwho was loved too much, so that the young men quarreled over her, whichmade her unhappy. After I had stolen the Magnet from her, only one youngman continued to love the girl, and she married him and regained herhappiness."

  "Are you sorry you stole it?" asked the Princess.

  "No, your Highness; I'm glad," he answered; "for it has pleased me to beloved, and if Dorothy had not cared for me I could not have accompaniedher to this beautiful Land of Oz, or met its kind-hearted Ruler. Nowthat I'm here, I hope to remain, and to become one of your Majesty'smost faithful subjects."

  IN THE ROYAL PALACE OF OZ]

  "But in Oz we are loved for ourselves alone, and for our kindness to oneanother, and for our good deeds," she said.

  "I'll give up the Love Magnet," said the shaggy man, eagerly; "Dorothyshall 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 Ozmadoes 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 mostwillingly."

  Those assembled now went in to dinner, which you may imagine was a grandaffair; and afterward Ozma asked the Wizard to give them an exhibitionof his magic.

  The Wizard took eight tiny white piglets from an inside pocket and setthem on the table. One was dressed like a clown, and performed funnyantics, and the others leaped over the spoons and dishes and ran aroundthe table like racehorses, and turned hand-springs and were sosprightly and amusing that they kept the company in one roar of merrylaughter. The Wizard had trained these pets to do many curious things,and they were so little and so cunning and soft that Polychrome loved topick them up as they passed near her place and fondle them as if theywere kittens.

  It was late when the entertainment ended, and they separated to go totheir rooms.

  "To-morrow," said Ozma, "my invited guests will arrive, and you willfind among them some interesting and curious people, I promise you. Thenext day will be my birthday, and the festivities will be held on thebroad green just outside the gates of the City, where all my people canassemble 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 newstraw to stuff himself with, so he went to the Munchkin Country, wherestraw is plentiful."

  With this the Princess bade her guests good night and went to her ownroom.