I suppose you have read so much about the magnificent Emerald Citythat there is little need for me to describe it here. It is theCapital City of the Land of Oz, which is justly considered the mostattractive and delightful fairyland in all the world.

The Emerald City is built all of beautiful marbles in which are set aprofusion of emeralds, every one exquisitely cut and of very greatsize. There are other jewels used in the decorations inside thehouses and palaces, such as rubies, diamonds, sapphires, amethystsand turquoises. But in the streets and upon the outside of thebuildings only emeralds appear, from which circumstance the place isnamed the Emerald City of Oz. It has nine thousand, six hundred andfifty-four buildings, in which lived fifty-seven thousand threehundred and eighteen people, up to the time my story opens.

All the surrounding country, extending to the borders of the desertwhich enclosed it upon every side, was full of pretty and comfortablefarmhouses, in which resided those inhabitants of Oz who preferredcountry to city life.

Altogether there were more than half a million people in the Land ofOz--although some of them, as you will soon learn, were not made offlesh and blood as we are--and every inhabitant of that favoredcountry was happy and prosperous.

No disease of any sort was ever known among the Ozites, and so no oneever died unless he met with an accident that prevented him fromliving. This happened very seldom, indeed. There were no poor peoplein the Land of Oz, because there was no such thing as money, and allproperty of every sort belonged to the Ruler. The people were herchildren, and she cared for them. Each person was given freely by hisneighbors whatever he required for his use, which is as much as any onemay reasonably desire. Some tilled the lands and raised great cropsof grain, which was divided equally among the entire population, sothat all had enough. There were many tailors and dressmakers andshoemakers and the like, who made things that any who desired themmight wear. Likewise there were jewelers who made ornaments for theperson, which pleased and beautified the people, and these ornamentsalso were free to those who asked for them. Each man and woman, nomatter what he or she produced for the good of the community, wassupplied by the neighbors with food and clothing and a house andfurniture and ornaments and games. If by chance the supply ever ranshort, more was taken from the great storehouses of the Ruler, whichwere afterward filled up again when there was more of any article thanthe people needed.

Every one worked half the time and played half the time, and thepeople enjoyed the work as much as they did the play, because it isgood to be occupied and to have something to do. There were no crueloverseers set to watch them, and no one to rebuke them or to findfault with them. So each one was proud to do all he could for hisfriends and neighbors, and was glad when they would accept the thingshe produced.

You will know by what I have here told you, that the Land of Oz was aremarkable country. I do not suppose such an arrangement would bepractical with us, but Dorothy assures me that it works finely withthe Oz people.

Oz being a fairy country, the people were, of course, fairy people;but that does not mean that all of them were very unlike the people ofour own world. There were all sorts of queer characters among them,but not a single one who was evil, or who possessed a selfish orviolent nature. They were peaceful, kind hearted, loving and merry,and every inhabitant adored the beautiful girl who ruled them anddelighted to obey her every command.

In spite of all I have said in a general way, there were some parts ofthe Land of Oz not quite so pleasant as the farming country and theEmerald City which was its center. Far away in the South Countrythere lived in the mountains a band of strange people calledHammer-Heads, because they had no arms and used their flat heads topound any one who came near them. Their necks were like rubber, sothat they could shoot out their heads to quite a distance, andafterward draw them back again to their shoulders. The Hammer-Headswere called the "Wild People," but never harmed any but those whodisturbed 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, andconversed agreeably with those who visited their haunts. TheKalidahs--beasts with bodies like bears and heads like tigers--hadonce been fierce and bloodthirsty, but even they were now nearlyall tamed, although at times one or another of them would getcross 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 theirbranches, twine them around the intruders, and hurl them away.

But these unpleasant things existed only in a few remote parts of theLand of Oz. I suppose every country has some drawbacks, so even thisalmost perfect fairyland could not be quite perfect. Once there hadbeen wicked witches in the land, too; but now these had all beendestroyed; so, as I said, only peace and happiness reigned in Oz.

For some time Ozma had ruled over this fair country, and never wasRuler more popular or beloved. She is said to be the most beautifulgirl the world has ever known, and her heart and mind are as lovely asher person.

Dorothy Gale had several times visited the Emerald Cityand experienced adventures in the Land of Oz, so that she and Ozma hadnow become firm friends. The girl Ruler had even made Dorothy aPrincess of Oz, and had often implored her to come to Ozma's statelypalace and live there always; but Dorothy had been loyal to her AuntEm and Uncle Henry, who had cared for her since she was a baby, andshe had refused to leave them because she knew they would be lonelywithout her.

However, Dorothy now realized that things were going to be differentwith her uncle and aunt from this time forth, so after giving the matterdeep 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 littlebedchamber, the Kansas girl was seated in a lovely room in Ozma'spalace in the Emerald City of Oz. When the first loving kisses andembraces had been exchanged, the fair Ruler inquired:

"What is the matter, dear? I know something unpleasant has happenedto 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, whereyou 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 seemsno 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 somemoney, and wrote a letter saying that if he didn't pay the money backthey could take his farm for pay. Course he 'spected to pay by makingmoney from the farm; but he just couldn't. An' so they're going totake the farm, and Uncle Henry and Aunt Em won't have any place tolive. They're pretty old to do much hard work, Ozma; so I'll have towork for them, unless--"

Ozma had been thoughtful during the story, but now she smiled andpressed 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, whereyou've often 'vited me to live. But I can't, you know, unless UncleHenry and Aunt Em could live here too."

"Of course not," exclaimed the Ruler of Oz, laughing gaily. "So, inorder to get you, little friend, we must invite your Uncle and Aunt tolive in Oz, also."

"Oh, will you, Ozma?" cried Dorothy, clasping her chubby little handseagerly. "Will you bring them here with the Magic Belt, and give thema nice little farm in the Munchkin Country, or the Winkie Country--orsome other place?"

"To be sure," answered Ozma, full of joy at the chance to please herlittle friend. "I have long been thinking of this very thing, Dorothydear, and often I have had it in my mind to propose it to you. I amsure your uncle and aunt must be good and worthy people, or you wouldnot love them so much; and for YOUR friends, Princess, there is alwaysroom in the Land of Oz."

Dorothy was delighted, yet not altogether surprised, for she had clungto the hope that Ozma would be kind enough to grant her request.When, indeed, had her powerful and faithful friend refused her anything?

"But you must not call me 'Princess'," she said; "for after this Ishall live on the little farm with Uncle Henry and Aunt Em, andprincesses ought not to live on farms."

"Princess Dorothy will not," replied Ozma with her sweet smile."You are going to live in your own rooms in this palace, and bemy constant companion."

"But Uncle Henry--" began Dorothy.

"Oh, he is old, and has worked enough in his lifetime," interruptedthe girl Ruler; "so we must find a place for your uncle and aunt wherethey will be comfortable and happy and need not work more than theycare to. When shall we transport them here, Dorothy?"

"I promised to go and see them again before they were turned out ofthe farmhouse," answered Dorothy; "so--perhaps next Saturday--"

"But why wait so long?" asked Ozma. "And why make the journey backto Kansas again? Let us surprise them, and bring them here withoutany warning."

"I'm not sure that they believe in the Land of Oz," said Dorothy,"though I've told 'em 'bout it lots of times."

"They'll believe when they see it," declared Ozma; "and if they aretold they are to make a magical journey to our fairyland, it may makethem nervous. I think the best way will be to use the Magic Beltwithout warning them, and when they have arrived you can explain tothem whatever they do not understand."

"Perhaps that's best," decided Dorothy. "There isn't much use intheir staying at the farm until they are put out, 'cause it's muchnicer here."

"Then to-morrow morning they shall come here," said Princess Ozma."I will order Jellia Jamb, who is the palace housekeeper, to haverooms all prepared for them, and after breakfast we will get theMagic Belt and by its aid transport your uncle and aunt to theEmerald City."

"Thank you, Ozma!" cried Dorothy, kissing her friend gratefully.

"And now," Ozma proposed, "let us take a walk in the gardens before wedress for dinner. Come, Dorothy dear!"