23. The Grand Banquet

           IwishIcouldtellyouhowfinethecompanywasthatassembledthateveningatOzma’sroyalbanquet.Alongtablewasspreadinthecenterofthegreatdining-hallofthepalaceandthesplendorofthedecorationsandtheblazeoflightsandjewelswasacknowledgedtobethemostmagnificentsightthatanyoftheguestshadeverseen.

           Thejolliestpersonpresent,aswellasthemostimportant,wasofcourseoldSantaClaus;sohewasgiventheseatofhonoratoneendofthetablewhileattheotherendsatPrincessOzma,thehostess.

           JohnDough,QueenZixi,KingBud,theQueenofEvandhersonEvardo,andtheQueenofMerrylandhadgoldenthronestositin,whiletheothersweresuppliedwithbeautifulchairs.

           Attheupperendofthebanquetroomwasaseparatetableprovidedfortheanimals.Totosatatoneendofthistablewithabibtiedaroundhisneckandasilverplattertoeatfrom.Attheotherendwasplacedasmallstand,withalowrailaroundtheedgeofit,forBillinaandherchicks.TherailkeptthetenlittleDorothysfromfallingoffthestand,whiletheYellowHencouldeasilyreachoverandtakeherfoodfromhertrayuponthetable.AtotherplacessattheHungryTiger,theCowardlyLion,theSaw-Horse,theRubberBear,theFoxKingandtheDonkeyKing;theymadequiteacompanyofanimals.

           Atthelowerendofthegreatroomwasanothertable,atwhichsattheRylsandKnookswhohadcomewithSantaClaus,thewoodensoldierswhohadcomewiththeQueenofMerryland,andtheHilandersandLolanderswhohadcomewithJohnDough.