 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Osmo Vaz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 20 The Emerald City Dorothy decided to accept Osmo's invitation to return with her to the land of Oz. There was no greater chance of her getting home from Ev than from Oz. And the little girl was anxious to see once more the country where she had encountered such wonderful adventures. By this time Uncle Henry would have reached Australia in his ship, and had probably given her up for lost, so he couldn't worry any more than he did if she stayed away from him a little longer. So she would go to Oz. They bade goodbye to the people of Ev, and the king promised Osmo that he would ever be grateful to her, and render the land of Oz any service that might lie within his power. And then they approached the edge of the dangerous desert, and Osmo threw down the magic carpet, which at once unrolled far enough for all of them to walk upon it without being crowded. Tiktok, claiming to be Dorothy's faithful follower because he belonged to her, had been permitted to join the party, and before they started the girl wound up his machinery as far as possible, and the copper man stepped off as briskly as any one of them. Osmo also invited Belina to visit the land of Oz, and the yellow hen was glad enough to go where new sights and scenes awaited her. They began the trip across the desert early in the morning, and as they stopped only long enough for Belina to lay her daily egg, before sunset they aspired the green slopes and wooded hills of the beautiful land of Oz. They entered it in the Munchkin territory, and the king of the Munchkins met them at the border, and welcomed Osmo with great respect, being very pleased by her safe return. For Osmo 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, traveling over a road of yellow brick that led straight to the jewel-studded gates. Everywhere the people turned out to greet their beloved Osmo, and to hail joyfully the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodmen, 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 compliments and good wishes. At one place where they stopped to refresh themselves, Osmo accepted a bowl of milk from the hands of a pretty dairymaid. Then she looked at the girl more closely and exclaimed, Why, it's ginger, isn't it? Yes, Your Highness, was the reply, as ginger 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 Ginger to Osmo, and now I am happy and contented, and willing to lead a quiet life and mind my own business. Where is your husband, asked Osmo? He is in the house, nursing a black eye, replied Ginger 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 farmhouses 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 Osmo. I had it built quite recently, and the Wogglebug is its 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 Osmo 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 Osmo 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 confection powder. Dorothy was presented with a pretty coronet, and made a princess of Oz, and TikTok received two bracelets set with eight robes of very clear and sparkling emeralds. Afterward they sat down to a splendid feast, and Osmo put Dorothy at her right and Belina 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 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 Jam, whom the scarecrow pinched upon her rosy cheeks and seemed to know very well. During the feast Osmo 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 forth, said the girl ruler. While they waited for this command to be obeyed, she inquired, 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 Osmo very respectfully. What is your name, my man, asked the girl. Ombi Ombi answered the private. Then Ombi Ombi said she, I promote you to be captain general of all the armies of my kingdom, and especially to be commander of my bodyguard 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 Osmo. Then the private was given a seat at the table, where the other officers welcomed him cordially, and the feasting and merriment were resumed. Suddenly Jelia Jam 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 have actually lost my appetite. End of Chapter 20. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Osmo of Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 21. Dorothy's Magic Belt Dorothy passed several very happy weeks in the land of Oz as the guest of the royal Osmo 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 Osmo'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 Osmo, 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 M. said the girl. Instantly the well remembered farmhouse appeared in the picture and Aunt M could be seen quite plainly. She was engaged in washing dishes by the kitchen window and seemed quite well and contented. The hired man 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 Tota 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. Osma, dear, I must go to him at once. How can you ask Osma? 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. Osma readily agreed to this plan and caused the sole horse to be harnessed to a pretty green and pink faton 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 commanded 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 come 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 fairy land. But you would not find the magic belt around you when you arrived at your destination. What would become of it, asked the girl. It would be lost as were your silver shoes when you visited Oz before, and no one would ever see it again. It seems too bad to destroy the use of the magic belt in that way, doesn't it? Then said Dorothy, after a moment's thought, I will give the magic belt to Asma, for she can use it in her own country, and she can wish me transported to Uncle Henry without losing the belt. That is a wise plan, replied Glinda. So they rode back to the Emerald City, and on the way it was arranged that every Saturday morning Asma would look at Dorothy in her magic picture, wherever the little girl might chance to be. And if she saw Dorothy make a certain signal, then Asma would know that the little Kansas girl wanted to revisit the land of Oz, and by means of the Gnome King's magic belt would wish that she might instantly return. This having been agreed upon, Dorothy bade goodbye to all her friends. Tiktok wanted to go to Australia too, but Dorothy knew that the machine man would never do for a servant in a civilized country, and the chances were that his machinery wouldn't work at all. So she left him in Ozma's care. Glinda, on the contrary, preferred the land of Oz to any other country, and refused to accompany Dorothy. The bugs and ants that I find here are the finest flavored in the world, declared the Yellow Hen, and there are plenty of them. So here I shall end my days, and I must say, Dorothy, my dear, that you are very foolish to go back into that stupid humdrum world again. Uncle Henry needs me, said Dorothy, simply, and everyone except Belina thought it was right that she should go. All Dorothy's friends of the land of Oz, both old and new, gathered in a group in front of the palace to bid her a sorrowful goodbye and to wish her long life and happiness. After much handshaking, Dorothy kissed Ozma once more, and then handed her the Gnome King's magic belt, saying, Now, dear princess, when I wave my handkerchief, please wish me with Uncle Henry. I'm awfully sorry to leave you, and the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion, and TikTok, and everybody, but I do want my Uncle Henry. So goodbye, all of you. Then the little girl stood on one of the big emeralds which decorated the courtyard, and after looking once again at each of her friends, waved her handkerchief. No, said Dorothy, I wasn't drowned at all, and I've come to nurse you and take care of you, Uncle Henry, and you must promise to get well as soon as possible. Uncle Henry smiled and cuddled his little niece close in his lap. I'm better already, my darling, said he.