The Magic of Oz

palace they might be. Every home and building throughout the Land of Oz

was to be decorated with banners and bunting, and there were to be games,

and plays, and a general good time for every one.

It was Ozma's custom on her birthday to give a grand feast at the

palace, to which all her closest friends were invited. It was a queerly

assorted company, indeed, for there are more quaint and unusual

characters in Oz than in all the rest of the world, and Ozma was more

interested in unusual people than in ordinary ones--just as you and I are.

On this especial birthday of the lovely girl Ruler, a long table was set

in the royal Banquet Hall of the palace, at which were place-cards for the

invited guests, and at one end of the great room was a smaller table, not so

high, for Ozma's animal friends, whom she never forgot, and at the other

end was a big table where all of the birthday gifts were to be arranged.

When the guests arrived, they placed their gifts on this table and then

found their places at the banquet table. And, after the guests were all

placed, the animals entered in a solemn procession and were placed at

their table by Jellia Jamb. Then, while an orchestra hidden by a bank of

roses and ferns played a march composed for the occasion, the Royal

Ozma entered the Banquet Hall, attended by her Maids of Honor, and took

her seat at the head of the table.

She was greeted by a cheer from all the assembled company, the

animals adding their roars and growls and barks and mewing and cackling

to swell the glad tumult, and then all seated themselves at their tables.

At Ozma's right sat the famous Scarecrow of Oz, whose straw-stuffed

body was not beautiful, but whose happy nature and shrewd wit had made

him a general favorite. On the left of the Ruler was placed the Tin

Woodman, whose metal body had been brightly polished for this event.

The Tin Woodman was the Emperor of the Winkie Country and one of the

most important persons in Oz.

Next to the Scarecrow, Dorothy was seated, and next to her was Tik-

Tok, the Clockwork Man, who had been wound up as tightly as his

clockwork would permit, so he wouldn't interrupt the festivities by

running down. Then came Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, Dorothy's own

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