The Emerald City of Oz | Page 9

afterward
draw them back again to their shoulders. The Hammer-Heads were
called the "Wild People," but never harmed any but those who
disturbed them in the mountains where they lived.
In some of the dense forests there lived great beasts of every sort; yet
these were for the most part harmless and even sociable, and conversed
agreeably with those who visited their haunts. The Kalidahs--beasts
with bodies like bears and heads like tigers--had once been fierce and
bloodthirsty, but even they were now nearly all tamed, although at
times one or another of them would get cross and disagreeable.
Not so tame were the Fighting Trees, which had a forest of their own. If
any one approached them these curious trees would bend down their
branches, twine them around the intruders, and hurl them away.
But these unpleasant things existed only in a few remote parts of the
Land of Oz. I suppose every country has some drawbacks, so even this
almost perfect fairyland could not be quite perfect. Once there had been
wicked witches in the land, too; but now these had all been destroyed;
so, as I said, only peace and happiness reigned in Oz.

For some time Ozma had ruled over this fair country, and never was
Ruler more popular or beloved. She is said to be the most beautiful girl
the world has ever known, and her heart and mind are as lovely as her
person.
Dorothy Gale had several times visited the Emerald City and
experienced adventures in the Land of Oz, so that she and Ozma had
now become firm friends. The girl Ruler had even made Dorothy a
Princess of Oz, and had often implored her to come to Ozma's stately
palace and live there always; but Dorothy had been loyal to her Aunt
Em and Uncle Henry, who had cared for her since she was a baby, and
she had refused to leave them because she knew they would be lonely
without her.
However, Dorothy now realized that things were going to be different
with her uncle and aunt from this time forth, so after giving the matter
deep thought she decided to ask Ozma to grant her a very great favor.
A few seconds after she had made the secret signal in her little
bedchamber, the Kansas girl was seated in a lovely room in Ozma's
palace in the Emerald City of Oz. When the first loving kisses and
embraces had been exchanged, the fair Ruler inquired:
"What is the matter, dear? I know something unpleasant has happened
to you, for your face was very sober when I saw it in my Magic Picture.
And whenever you signal me to transport you to this safe place, where
you are always welcome, I know you are in danger or in trouble."
Dorothy sighed.
"This time, Ozma, it isn't I," she replied. "But it's worse, I guess, for
Uncle Henry and Aunt Em are in a heap of trouble, and there seems no
way for them to get out of it--anyhow, not while they live in Kansas."
"Tell me about it, Dorothy," said Ozma, with ready sympathy.
"Why, you see Uncle Henry is poor; for the farm in Kansas doesn't
'mount to much, as farms go. So one day Uncle Henry borrowed some

money, and wrote a letter saying that if he didn't pay the money back
they could take his farm for pay. Course he 'spected to pay by making
money from the farm; but he just couldn't. An' so they're going to take
the farm, and Uncle Henry and Aunt Em won't have any place to live.
They're pretty old to do much hard work, Ozma; so I'll have to work for
them, unless--"
Ozma had been thoughtful during the story, but now she smiled and
pressed her little friend's hand.
"Unless what, dear?" she asked.
Dorothy hesitated, because her request meant so much to them all.
"Well," said she, "I'd like to live here in the Land of Oz, where you've
often 'vited me to live. But I can't, you know, unless Uncle Henry and
Aunt Em could live here too."
"Of course not," exclaimed the Ruler of Oz, laughing gaily. "So, in
order to get you, little friend, we must invite your Uncle and Aunt to
live in Oz, also."
"Oh, will you, Ozma?" cried Dorothy, clasping her chubby little hands
eagerly. "Will you bring them here with the Magic Belt, and give them
a nice little farm in the Munchkin Country, or the Winkie Country--or
some other place?"
"To be sure," answered Ozma, full of joy at the chance to please her
little friend. "I have long been thinking of this very thing, Dorothy dear,
and often I have had it in my mind to propose it to you. I