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He had thought the live Scarecrow about as curious as anyone could be, but
now he met the Tin Woodman, who was all made of tin, even to his heart, and
carried a gleaming axe over his shoulder wherever he went. Then there was
Jack Pumpkinhead, whose head was a real pumpkin with the face carved
upon it; and Professor Wogglebug, who had the shape of an enormous bug but
was dressed in neat fitting garments. The Professor was an interesting talker
and had very polite manners, but his face was so comical that it made Cap'n
Bill smile to look at it. A great friend of Dorothy and Ozma seemed to be a
machine man called Tik-Tok, who ran down several times during the evening
and had to be wound up again by someone before he could move or speak.
At the reception appeared the Shaggy Man and his brother, both very popular
in Oz, as well as Dorothy's Uncle Henry and Aunt Em, two happy old people
who lived in a pretty cottage near the palace.
But what perhaps seemed most surprising to both Trot and Cap'n Bill was the
number of peculiar animals admitted into Ozma's parlors, where they not only
conducted themselves quite properly but were able to talk as well as anyone.
There was the Cowardly Lion, an immense beast with a beautiful mane; and
the Hungry Tiger, who smiled continually; and Eureka the Pink Kitten, who
lay curled upon a cushion and had rather supercilious manners; and the
wooden Sawhorse; and nine tiny piglets that belonged to the Wizard; and a
mule named Hank, who belonged to Betsy Bobbin. A fuzzy little terrier dog,
named Toto, lay at Dorothy's feet but seldom took part in the conversation,
although he listened to every word that was said. But the most wonderful of
all to Trot was a square beast with a winning smile, that squatted in a corner
of the room and wagged his square head at everyone in quite a jolly way. Betsy
told Trot that this unique beast was called the Woozy, and there was no other
like him in all the world.
Cap'n Bill and Trot had both looked around expectantly for the Wizard of Oz,
but the evening was far advanced before the famous little man entered the
room. But he went up to the strangers at once and said:
"
I know you, but you don't know me; so let's get acquainted."
And they did get acquainted, in a very short time, and before the evening was
over Trot felt that she knew every person and animal present at the reception,
and that they were all her good friends.
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