5. A Happy Corner of Oz

           ThereisnoothercountrysobeautifulastheLandofOz.TherearenootherpeoplesohappyandcontentedandprosperousastheOzpeople.Theyhavealltheydesire;theyloveandadmiretheirbeautifulgirlRuler,OzmaofOz,andtheymixworkandplaysojustlythatbotharedelightfulandsatisfyingandnoonehasanyreasontocomplain.OnceinawhilesomethinghappensinOztodisturbthepeople’shappinessforabrieftime,forsorichandattractiveafairylandissuretomakeafewselfishandgreedyoutsidersenvious,andthereforecertainevil-doershavetreacherouslyplottedtoconquerOzandenslaveitspeopleanddestroyitsgirlRuler,andsogainthewealthofOzforthemselves.ButuptothetimewhenthecruelandcraftyNome,Ruggedo,conspiredwithKikiAru,theHyup,allsuchattemptshadfailed.TheOzpeoplesuspectednodanger.Lifeintheworld’snicestfairylandwasoneroundofjoyous,happydays.

           InthecenteroftheEmeraldCityofOz,thecapitalcityofOzma’sdominions,isavastandbeautifulgarden,surroundedbyawallinlaidwithshiningemeralds,andinthecenterofthisgardenstandsOzma’sRoyalPalace,themostsplendidbuildingeverconstructed.FromahundredtowersanddomesfloatedthebannersofOz,whichincludedtheOzmies,theMunchkins,theGillikins,theWinkiesandtheQuadlings.ThebanneroftheMunchkinsisblue,thatoftheWinkiesyellow;theGillikinbannerispurple,andtheQuadling’sbannerisred.ThecolorsoftheEmeraldCityareofcoursegreen.Ozma’sownbannerhasagreencenter,andisdividedintofourquarters.