When the people of the Emerald City heard that Dorothy had returned tothem every one was eager to see her, for the little girl was a generalfavorite in the Land of Oz. From time to time some of the folk fromthe great outside world had found their way into this fairyland, butall except one had been companions of Dorothy and had turned out to bevery agreeable people. The exception I speak of was the wonderfulWizard of Oz, a sleight-of-hand performer from Omaha who went up in aballoon and was carried by a current of air to the Emerald City. Hisqueer and puzzling tricks made the people of Oz believe him a greatwizard for a time, and he ruled over them until Dorothy arrived on herfirst visit and showed the Wizard to be a mere humbug. He was agentle, kind-hearted little man, and Dorothy grew to like him afterward.When, after an absence, the Wizard returned to the Land of Oz, Ozmareceived him graciously and gave him a home in a part of the palace.

In addition to the Wizard two other personages from the outside worldhad been allowed to make their home in the Emerald City. The firstwas a quaint Shaggy Man, whom Ozma had made the Governor of the RoyalStorehouses, and the second a Yellow Hen named Billina, who had a finehouse in the gardens back of the palace, where she looked after alarge family. Both these had been old comrades of Dorothy, so yousee the little girl was quite an important personage in Oz, and thepeople thought she had brought them good luck, and loved her next bestto Ozma. During her several visits this little girl had been themeans of destroying two wicked witches who oppressed the people, andshe had discovered a live scarecrow who was now one of the mostpopular personages in all the fairy country. With the Scarecrow'shelp she had rescued Nick Chopper, a Tin Woodman, who had rusted in alonely forest, and the tin man was now the Emperor of the Country ofthe Winkies and much beloved because of his kind heart. No wonder thepeople thought Dorothy had brought them good luck! Yet, strange as itmay seem, she had accomplished all these wonders not because she was afairy or had any magical powers whatever, but because she was asimple, sweet and true little girl who was honest to herself and toall whom she met. In this world in which we live simplicity andkindness are the only magic wands that work wonders, and in the Landof Oz Dorothy found these same qualities had won for her the love andadmiration of the people. Indeed, the little girl had made many warmfriends in the fairy country, and the only real grief the Ozites had everexperienced was when Dorothy left them and returned to her Kansas home.

Now she received a joyful welcome, although no one except Ozmaknew at first that she had finally come to stay for good and all.

That evening Dorothy had many callers, and among them were suchimportant people as Tiktok, a machine man who thought and spoke andmoved by clockwork; her old companion the genial Shaggy Man; JackPumpkinhead, whose body was brush-wood and whose head was a ripepumpkin with a face carved upon it; the Cowardly Lion and the HungryTiger, two great beasts from the forest, who served Princess Ozma, andProfessor H. M. Wogglebug, T.E. This wogglebug was a remarkablecreature. He had once been a tiny little bug, crawling around in aschool-room, but he was discovered and highly magnified so that hecould be seen more plainly, and while in this magnified condition hehad escaped. He had always remained big, and he dressed like a dandyand was so full of knowledge and information (which are distinctacquirements) that he had been made a Professor and the head of theRoyal College.

Dorothy had a nice visit with these old friends, and also talked along time with the Wizard, who was little and old and withered anddried up, but as merry and active as a child. Afterward, she went tosee Billina's fast-growing family of chicks.

Toto, Dorothy's little black dog, also met with a cordial reception.Toto was an especial friend of the Shaggy Man, and he knew every oneelse. Being the only dog in the Land of Oz, he was highly respectedby the people, who believed animals entitled to every consideration ifthey behaved themselves properly.

Dorothy had four lovely rooms in the palace, which were alwaysreserved for her use and were called "Dorothy's rooms." Theseconsisted of a beautiful sitting room, a dressing room, a daintybedchamber and a big marble bathroom. And in these rooms wereeverything that heart could desire, placed there with lovingthoughtfulness by Ozma for her little friend's use. The royaldressmakers had the little girl's measure, so they kept the closets inher dressing room filled with lovely dresses of every description andsuitable for every occasion. No wonder Dorothy had refrained frombringing with her her old calico and gingham dresses! Here everythingthat was dear to a little girl's heart was supplied in profusion, andnothing so rich and beautiful could ever have been found in the biggestdepartment stores in America. Of course Dorothy enjoyed all theseluxuries, and the only reason she had heretofore preferred to live inKansas was because her uncle and aunt loved her and needed her with them.

Now, however, all was to be changed, and Dorothy was really moredelighted to know that her dear relatives were to share in her goodfortune and enjoy the delights of the Land of Oz, than she was topossess such luxury for herself.

Next morning, at Ozma's request, Dorothy dressed herself in a prettysky-blue gown of rich silk, trimmed with real pearls. The buckles ofher shoes were set with pearls, too, and more of these priceless gemswere on a lovely coronet which she wore upon her forehead. "For,"said her friend Ozma, "from this time forth, my dear, you must assumeyour rightful rank as a Princess of Oz, and being my chosen companionyou must dress in a way befitting the dignity of your position."

Dorothy agreed to this, although she knew that neither gowns norjewels could make her anything else than the simple, unaffected littlegirl she had always been.

As soon as they had breakfasted--the girls eating together in Ozma'spretty boudoir--the Ruler of Oz said:

"Now, dear friend, we will use the Magic Belt to transport your uncleand aunt from Kansas to the Emerald City. But I think it would befitting, in receiving such distinguished guests, for us to sit in myThrone Room."

"Oh, they're not very 'stinguished, Ozma," said Dorothy. "They'rejust plain people, like me."

"Being your friends and relatives, Princess Dorothy, they arecertainly distinguished," replied the Ruler, with a smile.

"They--they won't hardly know what to make of all your splendidfurniture and things," protested Dorothy, gravely. "It may scare 'emto see your grand Throne Room, an' p'raps we'd better go into the backyard, Ozma, where the cabbages grow an' the chickens are playing.Then it would seem more natural to Uncle Henry and Aunt Em."

"No; they shall first see me in my Throne Room," replied Ozma,decidedly; and when she spoke in that tone Dorothy knew it was notwise to oppose her, for Ozma was accustomed to having her own way.

So together they went to the Throne Room, an immense domed chamber inthe center of the palace. Here stood the royal throne, made of solidgold and encrusted with enough precious stones to stock a dozenjewelry stores in our country.

Ozma, who was wearing the Magic Belt, seated herself in the throne,and Dorothy sat at her feet. In the room were assembled many ladiesand gentlemen of the court, clothed in rich apparel and wearing finejewelry. Two immense animals squatted, one on each side of thethrone--the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger. In a balcony high upin the dome an orchestra played sweet music, and beneath the dome twoelectric fountains sent sprays of colored perfumed water shooting upnearly as high as the arched ceiling.

"Are you ready, Dorothy?" asked the Ruler.

"I am," replied Dorothy; "but I don't know whether Aunt Em and UncleHenry are ready."

"That won't matter," declared Ozma. "The old life can have verylittle to interest them, and the sooner they begin the new life herethe happier they will be. Here they come, my dear!"

As she spoke, there before the throne appeared Uncle Henry and AuntEm, who for a moment stood motionless, glaring with white and startledfaces at the scene that confronted them. If the ladies and gentlemenpresent had not been so polite I am sure they would have laughed atthe two strangers.

Aunt Em had her calico dress skirt "tucked up," and she wore a faded,blue-checked apron. Her hair was rather straggly and she had on apair of Uncle Henry's old slippers. In one hand she held a dish-toweland in the other a cracked earthenware plate, which she had beenengaged in wiping when so suddenly transported to the Land of Oz.

Uncle Henry, when the summons came, had been out in the barn "doin'chores." He wore a ragged and much soiled straw hat, a checked shirtwithout any collar and blue overalls tucked into the tops of his oldcowhide boots.

"By gum!" gasped Uncle Henry, looking around as if bewildered.

"Well, I swan!" gurgled Aunt Em in a hoarse, frightened voice. Thenher eyes fell upon Dorothy, and she said: "D-d-d-don't that look likeour little girl--our Dorothy, Henry?"

"Hi, there--look out, Em!" exclaimed the old man, as Aunt Em advanceda step; "take care o' the wild beastses, or you're a goner!"

But now Dorothy sprang forward and embraced and kissed her aunt anduncle affectionately, afterward taking their hands in her own.

"Don't be afraid," she said to them. "You are now in the Land of Oz,where you are to live always, and be comfer'ble an' happy. You'llnever have to worry over anything again, 'cause there won't beanything to worry about. And you owe it all to the kindness of myfriend Princess Ozma."

Here she led them before the throne and continued:

"Your Highness, this is Uncle Henry. And this is Aunt Em. They wantto thank you for bringing them here from Kansas."

Aunt Em tried to "slick" her hair, and she hid the dish-towel and dishunder her apron while she bowed to the lovely Ozma. Uncle Henry tookoff his straw hat and held it awkwardly in his hands.

But the Ruler of Oz rose and came from her throne to greet her newlyarrived guests, and she smiled as sweetly upon them as if they hadbeen a king and queen.

"You are very welcome here, where I have brought you for PrincessDorothy's sake," she said, graciously, "and I hope you will be quitehappy in your new home." Then she turned to her courtiers, who weresilently and gravely regarding the scene, and added: "I present to mypeople our Princess Dorothy's beloved Uncle Henry and Aunt Em, whowill hereafter be subjects of our kingdom. It will please me to haveyou show them every kindness and honor in your power, and to join mein making them happy and contented."

Hearing this, all those assembled bowed low and respectfully to theold farmer and his wife, who bobbed their own heads in return.

"And now," said Ozma to them, "Dorothy will show you the roomsprepared for you. I hope you will like them, and shall expect you tojoin me at luncheon."

So Dorothy led her relatives away, and as soon as they were out of theThrone Room and alone in the corridor, Aunt Em squeezed Dorothy's handand said:

"Child, child! How in the world did we ever get here so quick? Andis it all real? And are we to stay here, as she says? And what doesit all mean, anyhow?"

Dorothy laughed.

"Why didn't you tell us what you were goin' to do?" inquired Uncle Henry,reproachfully. "If I'd known about it, I'd 'a put on my Sunday clothes."

"I'll 'splain ever'thing as soon as we get to your rooms," promisedDorothy. "You're in great luck, Uncle Henry and Aunt Em; an' so am I!And oh! I'm so happy to have got you here, at last!"

As he walked by the little girl's side, Uncle Henry stroked hiswhiskers thoughtfully. "'Pears to me, Dorothy, we won't make bang-upfairies," he remarked.

"An' my back hair looks like a fright!" wailed Aunt Em.

"Never mind," returned the little girl, reassuringly. "You won't haveanything to do now but to look pretty, Aunt Em; an' Uncle Henry won'thave to work till his back aches, that's certain."

"Sure?" they asked, wonderingly, and in the same breath.

"Course I'm sure," said Dorothy. "You're in the Fairyland of Oz, now;an' what's more, you belong to it!"