Fantasy fiction; Oz (Imaginary place) -- Juvenile fiction
It was noon time when they dropped down lightly in the gardens of
Ozma's castle. "Let's dance!" proposed Benny, blinking across the
vistas of velvet lawns, flowering arches and sparkling fountains.
"Why, Benny!" exclaimed Trot, "do you really feel like dancing?"
"Don't you?" questioned the stone man, smiling down at the little
girl with whom he had come through so many exciting adventures. Trot
nodded delightedly and, as the royal band grouped on the castle steps
to welcome them home broke into a lively tune, the whole company, still
in the ring they had formed in Cheeriobed's garden, danced 'round and
'round and 'round, High Boy cavorting hilariously in the center.
Benny could have danced tirelessly on for hours, but Cheeriobed and
Sir Hokus were soon out of breath. So Ozma clapped her hands and,
bidding them form in a long line, placed herself at the head and
marched merrily into the palace. There, drawn up to meet them were all
the celebrities they had not already met. Jack Pumpkin Head, stiffly
extending his arms, Tik Tok, clicking off short sentences of pleasure,
The Soldier with the Green Whiskers, bowing almost to the ground,
the Cowardly Lion and Dorothy's small dog, Toto, not to mention the
famous Saw Horse and so many more I could not begin to name them all.
Philador kept close to Trot, for he wanted to hear about each one and
the Scarecrow, taking Benny and the medicine man under his wing, saw
that they were everywhere introduced. Ozma herself, with the King of
the Ozure Isles on one arm and the Queen on the other, led the way to
the grand banquet hall. The Hungry Tiger, peering in from the castle
kitchen, where he had been anxiously awaiting their return, sprang out
joyously as they entered.
"This party's been ready since last night," he roared accusingly.
"Where have you been?" While High Boy dropped down a few pegs to
explain, the great company seated itself at the long green banquet
table. Soon dishes and silver began to clink merrily, footmen to rush
to and fro with delicious trays of goodies, while the Oz orchestra
struck up that good old favorite, "Oz and Ozma, forever." Benny, to his
great satisfaction, sat next to the Wizard of Oz, and between courses
the little man explained that he was a native of Omaha and had first
come to Oz in a circus balloon. The inhabitants had immediately taken
him for a wizard, so he had decided to stay and be a wizard. For many
years he had ruled over Oz, practicing the trick magic he had learned
in the circus and superintending the building of the Emerald City.
Later he returned to America and Ozma, the rightful ruler of the fairy
kingdom was disenchanted by Glinda and placed upon the throne. When the
Wizard returned to Oz, the little fairy made him Royal Wizard of the
realm and by hard study and constant practice he had become the most
famous magician in any country out of the world.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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