fb.ozmaofoz-第23部分

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ry　pleased　by　her　safe　return。For　Ozma　of　Oz　ruled　the　King　of　the　Munchkins；　the　King　of　the　Winkies；　the　King　of　the　Quadlings　and　the　King　of　the　Gillikins　just　as　those　kings　ruled　their　own　people；　and　this　supreme　ruler　of　the　Land　of　Oz　lived　in　a　great　town　of　her　own；　called　the　Emerald　City；　which　was　in　the　exact　center　of　the　four　kingdoms　of　the　Land　of　Oz。
　　The　Munchkin　king　entertained　them　at　his　palace　that　night；　and　in　the　morning　they　set　out　for　the　Emerald　City；　travelling　over　a　road　of　yellow　brick　that　led　straight　to　the　jewel…studded　gates。　Everywhere　the　people　turned　out　to　greet　their　beloved　Ozma；　and　to　hail　joyfully　the　Scarecrow；　the　Tin　Woodman　and　the　Cowardly　Lion；　who　were　popular　favorites。Dorothy；　too；　remembered　some　of　the　people；　who　had　befriended　her　on　the　occasion　of　her　first　visit　to　Oz；　and　they　were　well　pleased　to　see　the　little　Kansas　girl　again；　and　showered　her　with　pliments　and　good　wishes。
　　At　one　place；　where　they　stopped　to　refresh　themselves；　Ozma　accepted　a　bowl　of　milk　from　the　hands　of　a　pretty　dairy…maid。Then　she　looked　at　the　girl　more　closely；　and　exclaimed：
　　〃Why；　it's　Jinjur…isn't　it！〃
　　〃Yes；　your　Highness；〃　was　the　reply；　as　Jinjur　dropped　a　low　curtsy。　And　Dorothy　looked　wonderingly　at　this　lively　appearing　person；　who　had　once　assembled　an　army　of　women　and　driven　the　Scarecrow　from　the　throne　of　the　Emerald　City；　and　even　fought　a　battle　with　the　powerful　army　of　Glinda　the　Sorceress。
　　〃I've　married　a　man　who　owns　nine　cows；〃　said　Jinjur　to　Ozma；　〃and　now　I　am　happy　and　contented　and　willing　to　lead　a　quiet　life　and　mind　my　own　business。〃
　　〃Where　is　your　husband？〃　asked　Ozma。
　　〃He　is　in　the　house；　nursing　a　black　eye；〃　replied　Jinjur；　calmly。　〃The　foolish　man　would　insist　upon　milking　the　red　cow　when　I　wanted　him　to　milk　the　white　one；　but　he　will　know　better　next　time；　I　am　sure。〃
　　Then　the　party　moved　on　again；　and　after　crossing　a　broad　river　on　a　ferry　and　passing　many　fine　farm　houses　that　were　dome　shaped　and　painted　a　pretty　green　color；　they　came　in　sight　of　a　large　building　that　was　covered　with　flags　and　bunting。
　　〃I　don't　remember　that　building；〃　said　Dorothy。〃What　is　it？〃
　　〃That　is　the　College　of　Art　and　Athletic　Perfection；〃　replied　Ozma。　〃I　had　it　built　quite　recently；　and　the　Woggle…Bug　is　it's　president。　It　keeps　him　busy；　and　the　young　men　who　attend　the　college　are　no　worse　off　than　they　were　before。You　see；　in　this　country　are　a　number　of　youths　who　do　not　like　to　work；　and　the　college　is　an　excellent　place　for　them。〃
　　And　now　they　came　in　sight　of　the　Emerald　City；　and　the　people　flocked　out　to　greet　their　lovely　ruler。There　were　several　bands　and　many　officers　and　officials　of　the　realm；　and　a　crowd　of　citizens　in　their　holiday　attire。
　　Thus　the　beautiful　Ozma　was　escorted　by　a　brilliant　procession　to　her　royal　city；　and　so　great　was　the　cheering　that　she　was　obliged　to　constantly　bow　to　the　right　and　left　to　acknowledge　the　greetings　of　her　subjects。
　　That　evening　there　was　a　grand　reception　in　the　royal　palace；　attended　by　the　most　important　persons　of　Oz；　and　Jack　Pumpkinhead；　who　was　a　little　overripe　but　still　active；　read　an　address　congratulating　Ozma　of　Oz　upon　the　success　of　her　generous　mission　to　rescue　the　royal　family　of　a　neighboring　kingdom。
　　Then　magnificent　gold　medals　set　with　precious　stones　were　presented　to　each　of　the　twenty…six　officers；　and　the　Tin　Woodman　was　given　a　new　axe　studded　with　diamonds；　and　the　Scarecrow　received　a　silver　jar　of　plexion　powder。Dorothy　was　presented　with　a　pretty　coronet　and　made　a　Princess　of　Oz；　and　Tiktok　received　two　bracelets　set　with　eight　rows　of　very　clear　and　sparkling　emeralds。
　　Afterward　they　sat　down　to　a　splendid　feast；　and　Ozma　put　Dorothy　at　her　right　and　Billina　at　her　left；　where　the　hen　sat　upon　a　golden　roost　and　ate　from　a　jeweled　platter。Then　were　placed　the　Scarecrow；　the　Tin　Woodman　and　Tiktok；　with　baskets　of　lovely　flowers　before　them；　because　they　did　not　require　food。The　twenty…six　officers　were　at　the　lower　end　of　the　table；　and　the　Lion　and　the　Tiger　also　had　seats；　and　were　served　on　golden　platters；　that　held　a　half　a　bushel　at　one　time。
　　The　wealthiest　and　most　important　citizens　of　the　Emerald　City　were　proud　to　wait　upon　these　famous　adventurers；　and　they　were　assisted　by　a　sprightly　little　maid　named　Jellia　Jamb；　whom　the　Scarecrow　pinched　upon　her　rosy　cheeks　and　seemed　to　know　very　well。
　　During　the　feast　Ozma　grew　thoughtful；　and　suddenly　she　asked：
　　〃Where　is　the　private？〃
　　〃Oh；　he　is　sweeping　out　the　barracks；〃　replied　one　of　the　generals；　who　was　busy　eating　a　leg　of　a　turkey。〃But　I　have　ordered　him　a　dish　of　bread　and　molasses　to　eat　when　his　work　is　done。〃
　　〃Let　him　be　sent　for；〃　said　the　girl　ruler。
　　While　they　waited　for　this　mand　to　be　obeyed；　she　enquired：
　　〃Have　we　any　other　privates　in　the　armies？〃
　　〃Oh；　yes；〃　replied　the　Tin　Woodman；　〃I　believe　there　are　three；　altogether。〃
　　The　private　now　entered；　saluting　his　officers　and　the　royal　Ozma　very　respectfully。
　　〃What　is　your　name；　my　man？〃　asked　the　girl。
　　〃Omby　Amby；〃　answered　the　private。
　　〃Then；　Omby　Amby；〃　said　she；　〃I　promote　you　to　be　Captain　General　of　all　the　armies　of　my　kingdom；　and　especially　to　be　mander　of　my　Body　Guard　at　the　royal　palace。〃
　　〃It　is　very　expensive　to　hold　so　many　offices；〃　said　the　private；　hesitating。〃I　have　no　money　with　which　to　buy　uniforms。〃
　　〃You　shall　be　supplied　from　the　royal　treasury；〃　said　Ozma。
　　Then　the　private　was　given　a　seat　at　the　table；　where　the　other　officers　weled　him　cordially；　and　the　feasting　and　merriment　were　resumed。
　　Suddenly　Jellia　Jamb　exclaimed：
　　〃There　is　nothing　more　to　eat！The　Hungry　Tiger　has　consumed　everything！〃
　　〃But　that　is　not　the　worst　of　it；〃　declared　the　Tiger；　mournfully。
　　〃Somewhere　or　somehow；　I've　actually　lost　my　appetite！〃
　　
　　　21。Dorothy's　Magic　Belt
　　
　　Dorothy　passed　several　very　happy　weeks　in　the　Land　of　Oz　as　the　guest　of　the　royal　Ozma；　who　delighted　to　please　and　interest　the　little　Kansas　girl。Many　new　acquaintances　were　formed　and　many　old　ones　renewed；　and　wherever　she　went　Dorothy　found　herself　among　friends。
　　One　day；　however；　as　she　sat　in　Ozma's　private　room；　she　noticed　hanging　upon　the　wall　a　picture　which　constantly　changed　in　appearance；　at　one　time　showing　a　meadow　and　at　another　time　a　forest；　a　lake　or　a　village。
　　〃How　curious！〃　she　exclaimed；　after　watching　the　shifting　scenes　for　a　few　moments。
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Ozma；　〃that　is　really　a　wonderful　invention　in　magic。If　I　wish　to　see　any　part　of　the　world　or　any　person　living；　I　need　only　express　the　wish　and　it　is　shown　in　the　picture。〃
　　〃May　I　use　it？〃　asked　Dorothy；　eagerly。
　　〃Of　course；　my　dear。〃
　　〃Then　I'd　like　to　see　the　old　Kansas　farm；　and　Aunt　Em；〃　said　the　girl。
　　Instantly　the　well　remembered　farmhouse　appeared　in　the　picture；　and　Aunt　Em　could　be　seen　quite　plainly。She　was　engaged　in　washing　dishes　by　the　kitchen　window　and　seemed　quite　well　and　contented。The　hired　men　and　the　teams　were　in　the　harvest　fields　behind　the　house；　and　the　corn　and　wheat　seemed　to　the　child　to　be　in　prime　condition。　On　the　side　porch　Dorothy's　pet　dog；　Toto；　was　lying　fast　asleep　in　the　sun；　and　to　her　surprise　old　Speckles　was　running　around　with　a　brood　of　twelve　new　chickens　trailing　after　her。
　　〃Everything　seems　all　right　at　home；〃　said　Dorothy；　with　a　sigh　of　relief。〃Now　I　wonder　what　Uncle　Henry　is　doing。〃
　　The　scene　in　the　picture　at　once　shifted　to　Australia；　where；　in　a　pleasant　room　in　Sydney；　Uncle　Henry　was　seated　in　an　easy　chair；　solemnly　smoking　his　briar　pipe。He　looked　sad　and　lonely；　and　his　hair　was　now　quite　white　and　his　hands　and　face　thin　and　wasted。
　　〃Oh！〃　cried　Dorothy；　in　an　anxious　voice；　〃I'm　sure　Uncle　Henry　isn't　getting　any　better；　and　it's　because　he　is　worried　about　me。Ozma；　dear；　I　must　go　to　him　at　once！〃
　　〃How　can　you？〃　asked　Ozma。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　replied　Dorothy；　〃but　let　us　go　to　Glinda　the　Good。　I'm　sure　she　will　help　me；　and　advise　me　how　to　get　to　Uncle　Henry。〃
　　Ozma　readily　agreed　to　this　plan　and　caused　the　Sawhorse　to　be　harnessed　to　a　pretty　green　and　pink　phaeton；　and　the　two　girls　rode　away　to　visit　the　famous　sorceress。
　　Glinda　received　them　graciously；　and　listened　to　Dorothy's　story　with　attention。
　　〃I　have　the　magic　belt；　you　know；〃　said　the　little　girl。〃If　I　buckled　it　around　my　waist　and　manded　it　to　take　me　to　Uncle　Henry；　wouldn't　it　do　it？〃
　　〃I　think　so；〃　replied　Glinda；　with　a　smile。
　　〃And　then；〃　continued　Dorothy；　〃if　I　ever　wanted　to　e　back　here　again；　the　belt　would　bring　me。〃
　　〃In　that　you　are　wrong；〃　said　the　sorceress。〃The　belt　has　magical　powers　only　while　it　is　in　some　fairy　country；　such　as　the　Land　of　Oz；　or　the　Land　of　Ev。Indeed；　my　little　friend；　were　you　to　wear　it　and　wish　yourself　in　Australia；　with　your　uncle；　the　wish　would　doubtless　be　fulfilled；　because　it　was　made　in　fairyland。But　you　would　not　find　the　magic　belt　around　you　when　you　arrived　at　your　destination。〃
　　〃What　would　bee　of　it？〃　asked　the　girl。
　　〃It　would　be　lost；　as　were　your　silver　shoes　when　you　visited　O