Волшебство страны Оз
22. Ozma's Birthday Party
Itwasaqueerlyassortedcompany,indeed,fortherearemorequaintandunusualcharactersinOzthaninalltherestoftheworld,andOzmawasmoreinterestedinunusualpeoplethaninordinaryones—justasyouandIare.
OnthisespecialbirthdayofthelovelygirlRuler,alongtablewassetintheroyalBanquetHallofthepalace,atwhichwereplace-cardsfortheinvitedguests,andatoneendofthegreatroomwasasmallertable,notsohigh,forOzma’sanimalfriends,whomsheneverforgot,andattheotherendwasabigtablewhereallofthebirthdaygiftsweretobearranged.
Whentheguestsarrived,theyplacedtheirgiftsonthistableandthenfoundtheirplacesatthebanquettable.And,aftertheguestswereallplaced,theanimalsenteredinasolemnprocessionandwereplacedattheirtablebyJelliaJamb.Then,whileanorchestrahiddenbyabankofrosesandfernsplayedamarchcomposedfortheoccasion,theRoyalOzmaenteredtheBanquetHall,attendedbyherMaidsofHonor,andtookherseatattheheadofthetable.
Shewasgreetedbyacheerfromalltheassembledcompany,theanimalsaddingtheirroarsandgrowlsandbarksandmewingandcacklingtoswellthegladtumult,andthenallseatedthemselvesattheirtables.
AtOzma’srightsatthefamousScarecrowofOz,whosestraw-stuffedbodywasnotbeautiful,butwhosehappynatureandshrewdwithadmadehimageneralfavorite.OntheleftoftheRulerwasplacedtheTinWoodman,whosemetalbodyhadbeenbrightlypolishedforthisevent.TheTinWoodmanwastheEmperoroftheWinkieCountryandoneofthemostimportantpersonsinOz.
