A clear, perfect day, with
a gentle breeze and a sunny
sky, greeted Princess Ozma
as she wakened next morning,
the anniversary of her
birth. While it was yet early all the city was astir and crowds of
people came from all parts of the Land of Oz to witness the
festivities in honor of their girl Ruler's birthday.
The noted visitors from foreign
countries, who had all been
transported to the Emerald
City by means of the Magic
Belt, were as much a show to
the Ozites as were their own
familiar celebrities, and the
streets leading from the royal
palace to the jeweled gates
were thronged with men, women,
and children to see the procession
as it passed out to the green
fields where the ceremonies
were to take place.
And what a great procession
it was!
First came a thousand young
girls--the prettiest in the
land--dressed in white muslin,
with green sashes and hair
ribbons, bearing green baskets
of red roses. As they walked
they scattered these flowers
upon the marble pavements,
so that the way was carpeted
thick with roses for the procession
to walk upon.
Then came the Rulers of the
four Kingdoms of Oz: the Emperor
of the Winkies, the Monarch
of the Munchkins, the King
of the Quadlings and the Sovereign
of the Gillikins, each wearing
a long chain of emeralds around
his neck to show that he was
a vassal of the Ruler of the
Emerald City.
Next
marched
the Emerald
City Cornet Band, clothed in
green-and-gold uniforms and
playing the "Ozma Two-Step." The
Royal Army of Oz followed,
consisting of twenty-seven
officers, from the Captain-General
down to the Lieutenants. There
were no privates in Ozma's
Army because soldiers were
not needed to fight battles,
but only to look important,
and an officer always looks
more imposing than a private.
While the people cheered
and waved their hats and handkerchiefs,
there came walking the Royal
Princess Ozma, looking so pretty
and sweet that it is no wonder
her people love her so dearly.
She had decided she would not
ride in her chariot that day,
as she preferred to walk in
the procession with her favored
subjects and her guests. Just
in front of her trotted the
living Blue Bear Rug owned
by old Dyna, which wobbled
clumsily on its four feet because
there was nothing but the skin
to support them, with a stuffed
head at one end and a stubby
tail at the other. But whenever
Ozma paused in her walk the
Bear Rug would flop down flat
upon the ground for the princess
to stand upon until she resumed
her progress.
Following the Princess stalked
her two enormous beasts, the
Cowardly Lion and the Hungry
Tiger, and even if the Army
had not been there these two
would have been powerful enough
to guard their mistress from
any harm.
Next marched the invited
guests, who were loudly cheered
by the people of Oz along the
road, and were therefore obliged
to bow to right and left almost
every step of the way. First
was Santa Claus, who, because
he was fat and not used to
walking, rode the wonderful
Saw-Horse. The merry old gentleman
had a basket of small toys
with him, and he tossed the
toys one by one to the children
as he passed by. His Ryls and
Knooks marched close behind
him.
Queen Zixi of Ix came after;
then John Dough and the Cherub,
with the rubber bear named
Para Bruin strutting between
them on its hind legs; then
the Queen 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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