OZMA AND HER FRIENDS
CHAP. 17
The Shaggy Man had a room of his own in the royal palace, so there hewent to change his shaggy suit of clothes for another just as shaggy butnot so dusty from travel. He selected a costume of pea-green and pinksatin and velvet, with embroidered shags on all the edges and iridescentpearls for ornaments. Then he bathed in an alabaster pool and brushedhis shaggy hair and whiskers the wrong way to make them still moreshaggy. This accomplished, and arrayed in his splendid shaggy garments,he went to Ozma's banquet hall and found the Scarecrow, the Wizard andDorothy already assembled there. The Scarecrow had made a quick trip andreturned to the Emerald City with his left ear freshly painted.
A moment later, while they all stood in waiting, a servant threw open adoor, the orchestra struck up a tune and Ozma of Oz entered.
Much has been told and written concerning the beauty of person andcharacter of this sweet girl Ruler of the Land of Oz--the richest, thehappiest and most delightful fairyland of which we have any knowledge.Yet with all her queenly qualities Ozma was a real girl and enjoyed thethings in life that other real girls enjoy. When she sat on her splendidemerald throne in the great Throne Room of her palace and made laws andsettled disputes and tried to keep all her subjects happy and contented,she was as dignified and demure as any queen might be; but when she hadthrown aside her jeweled robe of state and her sceptre, and had retiredto her private apartments, the girl--joyous, light-hearted andfree--replaced the sedate Ruler.
In the banquet hall to-night were gathered only old and trusted friends,so here Ozma was herself--a mere girl. She greeted Dorothy with a kiss,the Shaggy Man with a smile, the little old Wizard with a friendlyhandshake and then she pressed the Scarecrow's stuffed arm and criedmerrily:
"What a lovely left ear! Why, it's a hundred times better than the oldone."
"I'm glad you like it," replied the Scarecrow, well pleased. "Jinjur dida neat job, didn't she? And my hearing is now perfect. Isn't itwonderful what a little paint will do, if it's properly applied?"
"It really _is_ wonderful," she agreed, as they all took their seats;"but the Sawhorse must have made his legs twinkle to have carried you sofar in one day. I didn't expect you back before to-morrow, at theearliest."
"Well," said the Scarecrow, "I met a charming girl on the road andwanted to see more of her, so I hurried back."
Ozma laughed.
"I know," she returned; "it's the Patchwork Girl. She is certainlybewildering, if not strictly beautiful."
"Have you seen her, then?" the straw man eagerly asked.
"Only in my Magic Picture, which shows me all scenes of interest in theLand of Oz."
"I fear the picture didn't do her justice," said the Scarecrow.
"It seemed to me that nothing could be more gorgeous," declared Ozma."Whoever made that patchwork quilt, from which Scraps was formed, musthave selected the gayest and brightest bits of cloth that ever werewoven."
"I am glad you like her," said the Scarecrow in a satisfied tone.Although the straw man did not eat, not being made so he could, he oftendined with Ozma and her companions, merely for the pleasure of talkingwith them. He sat at the table and had a napkin and plate, but theservants knew better than to offer him food. After a little while heasked: "Where is the Patchwork Girl now?"
"In my room," replied Dorothy. "I've taken a fancy to her; she's soqueer and--and--uncommon."
"She's half crazy, I think," added the Shaggy Man.
"But she is so beautiful!" exclaimed the Scarecrow, as if that factdisarmed all criticism. They all laughed at his enthusiasm, but theScarecrow was quite serious. Seeing that he was interested in Scrapsthey forbore to say anything against her. The little band of friendsOzma had gathered around her was so quaintly assorted that much caremust be exercised to avoid hurting their feelings or making any one ofthem unhappy. It was this considerate kindness that held them closefriends and enabled them to enjoy one another's society.
Another thing they avoided was conversing on unpleasant subjects, andfor that reason Ojo and his troubles were not mentioned during thedinner. The Shaggy Man, however, related his adventures with themonstrous plants which had seized and enfolded the travelers, and toldhow he had robbed Chiss, the giant porcupine, of the quills which it wasaccustomed to throw at people. Both Dorothy and Ozma were pleased withthis exploit and thought it served Chiss right.
Then they talked of the Woozy, which was the most remarkable animal anyof them had ever before seen--except, perhaps, the live Sawhorse. Ozmahad never known that her dominions contained such a thing as a Woozy,there being but one in existence and this being confined in his forestfor many years. Dorothy said she believed the Woozy was a good beast,honest and faithful; but she added that she did not care much for theGlass Cat.
"Still," said the Shaggy Man, "the Glass Cat is very pretty and if shewere not so conceited over her pink brains no one would object to her asa companion."
The Wizard had been eating silently until now, when he looked up andremarked:
"That Powder of Life which is made by the Crooked Magician is really awonderful thing. But Dr. Pipt does not know its true value and he usesit in the most foolish ways."
"I must see about that," said Ozma, gravely. Then she smiled again andcontinued in a lighter tone: "It was Dr. Pipt's famous Powder of Lifethat enabled me to become the Ruler of Oz."
"I've never heard that story," said the Shaggy Man, looking at Ozmaquestioningly.
"Well, when I was a baby girl I was stolen by an old Witch named Mombiand transformed into a boy," began the girl Ruler. "I did not know who Iwas and when I grew big enough to work, the Witch made me wait upon herand carry wood for the fire and hoe in the garden. One day she came backfrom a journey bringing some of the Powder of Life, which Dr. Pipt hadgiven her. I had made a pumpkin-headed man and set it up in her path tofrighten her, for I was fond of fun and hated the Witch. But she knewwhat the figure was and to test her Powder of Life she sprinkled some ofit on the man I had made. It came to life and is now our dear friendJack Pumpkinhead. That night I ran away with Jack to escape punishment,and I took old Mombi's Powder of Life with me. During our journey wecame upon a wooden Sawhorse standing by the road and I used the magicpowder to bring it to life. The Sawhorse has been with me ever since.When I got to the Emerald City the good Sorceress, Glinda, knew who Iwas and restored me to my proper person, when I became the rightfulRuler of this land. So you see had not old Mombi brought home the Powderof Life I might never have run away from her and become Ozma of Oz, norwould we have had Jack Pumpkinhead and the Sawhorse to comfort and amuseus."
That story interested the Shaggy Man very much, as well as the others,who had often heard it before. The dinner being now concluded, they allwent to Ozma's drawing-room, where they passed a pleasant evening beforeit came time to retire.
GLINDA]
The Patchwork Girl of Oz Page 18