The Magic of Oz

gloriously and the mammoth blossoms that quickly succeeded one another

on the plant were beautiful to view and filled the entire room with their

delicate fragrance. Ozma wanted to look, too, to see what all were staring

at, but she controlled her curiosity because it was not proper that she

should yet view her birthday gifts.

So the sweet and lovely Ruler devoted herself to her guests, several of

whom, such as the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Patchwork Girl, Tik-

Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead and the Tin Soldier, never ate anything but sat

very politely in their places and tried to entertain those of the guests who

did eat.

And, at the animal table, there was another interesting group,

consisting of the Cowardly Lion, the Hungry Tiger, Toto--Dorothy's little

shaggy black dog--Hank the Mule, the Pink Kitten, the Wooden Sawhorse,

the Yellow Hen, and the Glass Cat. All of these had good appetites except

the Sawhorse and the Glass Cat, and each was given a plentiful supply of

the food it liked best.

Finally, when the banquet was nearly over and the ice-cream was to be

served, four servants entered bearing a huge cake, all frosted and

decorated with candy flowers. Around the edge of the cake was a row of

lighted candles, and in the center were raised candy letters that spelled the

words:

OZMA'S Birthday Cake

from Dorothy and the Wizard

Oh, how beautiful!" cried Ozma, greatly delighted, and Dorothy said

eagerly: "Now you must cut the cake, Ozma, and each of us will eat a

piece with our ice-cream."

Jellia Jamb brought a large golden knife with a jeweled handle, and

Ozma stood up in her place and attempted to cut the cake. But as soon as

the frosting in the center broke under the pressure of the knife there leaped

from the cake a tiny monkey three inches high, and he was followed by

another and another, until twelve monkeys stood on the tablecloth and

bowed low to Ozma.

Congratulations to our gracious Ruler!" they exclaimed in a chorus,

and then they began a dance, so droll and amusing that all the company

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