The Emerald City of Oz Page 6

  _How_ DOROTHY BECAME A PRINCESS

  CHAPTER FIVE

  When the people of the Emerald City heard that Dorothy had returned tothem every one was eager to see her, for the little girl was a generalfavorite in the Land of Oz. From time to time some of the folk from thegreat outside world had found their way into this fairyland, but allexcept one had been companions of Dorothy and had turned out to be veryagreeable people. The exception I speak of was the wonderful Wizard ofOz, a sleight-of-hand performer from Omaha who went up in a balloon andwas carried by a current of air to the Emerald City. His queer andpuzzling tricks made the people of Oz believe him a great wizard fora time, and he ruled over them until Dorothy arrived on her firstvisit and showed the Wizard to be a mere humbug. He was a gentle,kindly-hearted little man, and Dorothy grew to like him afterward. When,after an absence, the Wizard returned to the Land of Oz, Ozma receivedhim graciously and gave him a home in a part of the palace.

  In addition to the Wizard two other personages from the outside worldhad been allowed to make their home in the Emerald City. The first was aquaint Shaggy Man, whom Ozma had made the Governor of the RoyalStorehouses, and the second a Yellow Hen named Billina, who had a finehouse in the gardens back of the palace, where she looked after a largefamily. Both these had been old comrades of Dorothy, so you see thelittle girl was quite an important personage in Oz, and the peoplethought she had brought them good luck, and loved her next best to Ozma.During her several visits this little girl had been the means ofdestroying two wicked witches who oppressed the people, and she haddiscovered a live scarecrow who was now one of the most popularpersonages in all the fairy country. With the Scarecrow's help she hadrescued Nick Chopper, a Tin Woodman, who had rusted in a lonely forest,and the tin man was now the Emperor of the Country of the Winkies andmuch beloved because of his kind heart. No wonder the people thoughtDorothy had brought them good luck! Yet, strange as it may seem, she hadaccomplished all these wonders not because she was a fairy or had anymagical powers whatever, but because she was a simple, sweet and truelittle girl who was honest to herself and to all whom she met. In thisworld in which we live simplicity and kindness are the only magic wandsthat work wonders, and in the Land of Oz Dorothy found these samequalities had won for her the love and admiration of the people. Indeed,the little girl had made many warm friends in the fairy country, and theonly real grief the Ozites had ever experienced was when Dorothy leftthem and returned to her Kansas home.

  Now she received a joyful welcome, although no one except Ozma knew atfirst that she had finally come to stay for good and all.

  That evening Dorothy had many callers, and among them were suchimportant people as Tiktok, a machine man who thought and spoke andmoved by clockwork; her old companion the genial Shaggy Man; JackPumpkinhead, whose body was brush-wood and whose head was a ripe pumpkinwith a face carved upon it; the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger, twogreat beasts from the forest, who served Princess Ozma, and Professor H.M. Wogglebug, T. E. This wogglebug was a remarkable creature. He hadonce been a tiny little bug, crawling around in a school-room, but hewas discovered and highly magnified so that he could be seen moreplainly, and while in this magnified condition he had escaped. He hadalways remained big, and he dressed like a dandy and was so full ofknowledge and information (which are distinct acquirements), that hehad been made a Professor and the head of the Royal College.

  Dorothy had a nice visit with these old friends, and also talked a longtime with the Wizard, who was little and old and withered and dried up,but as merry and active as a child. Afterward she went to see Billina'sfast growing family of chicks.

  Toto, Dorothy's little black dog, also met with a cordial reception.Toto was an especial friend of the Shaggy Man, and he knew every oneelse. Being the only dog in the Land of Oz, he was highly respected bythe people, who believed animals entitled to every consideration if theybehaved themselves properly.

  Dorothy had four lovely rooms in the palace, which were always reservedfor her use and were called "Dorothy's rooms." These consisted of abeautiful sitting room, a dressing room, a dainty bedchamber and a bigmarble bathroom. And in these rooms were everything that heart coulddesire, placed there with loving thoughtfulness by Ozma for her littlefriend's use. The royal dressmakers had the little girl's measure, sothey kept the closets in her dressing room filled with lovely dresses ofevery description and suitable for every occasion. No wonder Dorothy hadrefrained from bringing with her her old calico and gingham dresses!Here everything that was dear to a little girl's heart was supplied inprofusion, and nothing so rich and beautiful could ever have been foundin the biggest department stores in America. Of course Dorothy enjoyedall these luxuries, and the only reason she had heretofore preferred tolive in Kansas was because her uncle and aunt loved her and needed herwith them.

  Now, however, all was to be changed, and Dorothy was really moredelighted to know that her dear relatives were to share in her goodfortune and enjoy the delights of the Land of Oz, than she was topossess such luxury for herself.

  Next morning, at Ozma's request, Dorothy dressed herself in a prettysky-blue gown of rich silk, trimmed with real pearls. The buckles of hershoes were set with pearls, too, and more of these priceless gems wereon a lovely coronet which she wore upon her forehead.

  "For," said her friend Ozma, "from this time forth, my dear, you mustassume your rightful rank as a Princess of Oz, and being my chosencompanion you must dress in a way befitting the dignity of yourposition."

  Dorothy agreed to this, although she knew that neither gowns nor jewelscould make her anything else than the simple, unaffected little girl shehad always been.

  As soon as they had breakfasted--the girls eating together in Ozma'spretty boudoir--the Ruler of Oz said:

  "Now, dear friend, we will use the Magic Belt to transport your uncleand aunt from Kansas to the Emerald City. But I think it would befitting, in receiving such distinguished guests, for us to sit in myThrone Room."

  "Oh, they're not very 'stinguished, Ozma," said Dorothy. "They're justplain people, like me."

  "Being your friends and relatives, Princess Dorothy, they are certainlydistinguished," replied the Ruler, with a smile.

  "They--they won't hardly know what to make of all your splendidfurniture and things," protested Dorothy, gravely. "It may scare 'em tosee your grand Throne Room, an' p'raps we'd better go into the backyard, Ozma, where the cabbages grow an' the chickens are playing. Thenit would seem more natural to Uncle Henry and Aunt Em."

  "No; they shall first see me in my Throne Room," replied Ozma,decidedly; and when she spoke in that tone Dorothy knew it was not wiseto oppose her, for Ozma was accustomed to having her own way.

  So together they went to the Throne Room, an immense domed chamber inthe center of the palace. Here stood the royal throne, made of solidgold and encrusted with enough precious stones to stock a dozen jewelrystores in our country.

  Ozma, who was wearing the Magic Belt, seated herself in the throne, andDorothy sat at her feet. In the room were assembled many ladies andgentlemen of the court, clothed in rich apparel and wearing finejewelry. Two immense animals squatted, one on each side of thethrone--the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger. In a balcony high up inthe dome an orchestra played sweet music, and beneath the dome twoelectric fountains sent sprays of colored perfumed water shooting upnearly as high as the arched ceiling.

  "Are you ready, Dorothy?" asked the Ruler.

  "I am," replied Dorothy; "but I don't know whether Aunt Em and UncleHenry are ready."

  "That won't matter," declared Ozma. "The old life can have very littleto interest them, and the sooner they begin the new life here thehappier they will be. Here they come, my dear!"

  As she spoke, there before the throne appeared Uncle Henry and Aunt Em,who for a moment stood motionless, glaring with white and startled facesat the scene that confronted them. If the ladies and gentlemen presenthad not been so polite I am sure they would have laughed at the twostrangers.

  Aunt Em
had her calico dress skirt "tucked up," and she wore a fadedblue-checked apron. Her hair was rather straggly and she had on a pairof Uncle Henry's old slippers. In one hand she held a dish-towel and inthe other a cracked earthenware plate, which she had been engaged inwiping when so suddenly transported to the Land of Oz.

  Uncle Henry, when the summons came, had been out in the barn "doin'chores." He wore a ragged and much soiled straw hat, a checked shirtwithout any collar and blue overalls tucked into the tops of his oldcowhide boots.

  "By gum!" gasped Uncle Henry, looking around as if bewildered.

  "Well, I swan!" gurgled Aunt Em, in a hoarse, frightened voice. Then hereyes fell upon Dorothy, and she said: "D-d-d-don't that look like ourlittle girl--our Dorothy, Henry?"

  "Hi, there--look out, Em!" exclaimed the old man, as Aunt Em advanced astep; "take care o' the wild beastses, or you're a goner!"

  But now Dorothy sprang forward and embraced and kissed her aunt anduncle affectionately, afterward taking their hands in her own.

  "Don't be afraid," she said to them. "You are now in the Land of Oz,where you are to live always, and be comfer'ble an' happy. You'll neverhave to worry over anything again, 'cause there won't be anything toworry about. And you owe it all to the kindness of my friend PrincessOzma."

  Here she led them before the throne and continued:

  "Your Highness, this is Uncle Henry. And this is Aunt Em. They want tothank you for bringing them here from Kansas."

  Aunt Em tried to "slick" her hair, and she hid the dish-towel and dishunder her apron while she bowed to the lovely Ozma. Uncle Henry took offhis straw hat and held it awkwardly in his hands.

  But the Ruler of Oz rose and came from her throne to greet her newlyarrived guests, and she smiled as sweetly upon them as if they had beena king and a queen.

  "You are very welcome here, where I have brought you for PrincessDorothy's sake," she said, graciously, "and I hope you will be quitehappy in your new home." Then she turned to her courtiers, who weresilently and gravely regarding the scene, and added: "I present to mypeople our Princess Dorothy's beloved Uncle Henry and Aunt Em, who willhereafter be subjects of our kingdom. It will please me to have you showthem every kindness and honor in your power, and to join me in makingthem happy and contented."

  Hearing this, all those assembled bowed low and respectfully to the oldfarmer and his wife, who bobbed their own heads in return.

  "And now," said Ozma to them, "Dorothy will show you the rooms preparedfor you. I hope you will like them, and shall expect you to join me atluncheon."

  So Dorothy led her relatives away, and as soon as they were out of theThrone Room and alone in the corridor Aunt Em squeezed Dorothy's handand said:

  "Child, child! How in the world did we ever get here so quick? And is itall real? And are we to stay here, as she says? And what does it allmean, anyhow?"

  Dorothy laughed.

  "Why didn't you tell us what you were goin' to do?" inquired UncleHenry, reproachfully. "If I'd known about it I'd 'a put on my Sundayclothes."

  "I'll 'splain ever'thing as soon as we get to your rooms," promisedDorothy. "You're in great luck, Uncle Henry and Aunt Em; an' so am I!And oh! I'm so happy to have got you here, at last!"

  As he walked by the little girl's side Uncle Henry stroked his whiskersthoughtfully.

  "'Pears to me, Dorothy, we won't make bang-up fairies," he remarked.

  "An' my back hair looks like a fright!" wailed Aunt Em.

  "Never mind," returned the little girl, reassuringly. "You won't haveanything to do now but to look pretty, Aunt Em; an' Uncle Henry won'thave to work till his back aches, that's certain."

  "Sure?" they asked, wonderingly, and in the same breath.

  "Course I'm sure," said Dorothy. "You're in the Fairyland of Oz, now;an' what's more, you belong to it!"