It seems odd that a fairy should have a birthday, for fairies, theysay, were born at the beginning of time and live forever. Yet, on theother hand, it would be a shame to deprive a fairy, who has so manyother good things, of the delights of a birthday. So we need notwonder that the fairies keep their birthdays just as other folks do,and consider them occasions for feasting and rejoicing.

Ozma, the beautiful girl Ruler of the Fairyland of Oz, was a realfairy, and so sweet and gentle in caring for her people that she wasgreatly beloved by them all. She lived in the most magnificent palacein the most magnificent city in the world, but that did not preventher from being the friend of the most humble person in her dominions.She would mount her Wooden Sawhorse, and ride out to a farm house andsit in the kitchen to talk with the good wife of the farmer while shedid her family baking; or she would play with the children and givethem rides on her famous wooden steed; or she would stop in a forestto speak to a charcoal burner and ask if he was happy or desiredanything to make him more content; or she would teach young girls howto sew and plan pretty dresses, or enter the shops where the jewelersand craftsmen were busy and watch them at their work, giving to eachand all a cheering word or sunny smile.

And then Ozma would sit in her jeweled throne, with her chosencourtiers all about her, and listen patiently to any complaint broughtto her by her subjects, striving to accord equal justice to all.Knowing she was fair in her decisions, the Oz people never murmured ather judgments, but agreed, if Ozma decided against them, she was rightand they wrong.

When Dorothy and Trot and Betsy Bobbin and Ozma were together, onewould think they were all about of an age, and the fairy Ruler noolder and no more "grown up" than the other three. She would laughand romp with them in regular girlish fashion, yet there was an air ofquiet dignity about Ozma, even in her merriest moods, that, in amanner, distinguished her from the others. The three girls loved herdevotedly, but they were never able to quite forget that Ozma was theRoyal Ruler of the wonderful Fairyland of Oz, and by birth belonged toa powerful race.

Ozma's palace stood in the center of a delightful and extensivegarden, where splendid trees and flowering shrubs and statuary andfountains abounded. One could walk for hours in this fascinating parkand see something interesting at every step. In one place was anaquarium, where strange and beautiful fish swam; at another spot allthe birds of the air gathered daily to a great feast which Ozma'sservants provided for them, and were so fearless of harm that theywould alight upon one's shoulders and eat from one's hand. There wasalso the Fountain of the Water of Oblivion, but it was dangerous todrink of this water, because it made one forget everything he had everbefore known, even to his own name, and therefore Ozma had placed asign of warning upon the fountain. But there were also fountains thatwere delightfully perfumed, and fountains of delicious nectar, cooland richly flavored, where all were welcome to refresh themselves.

Around the palace grounds was a great wall, thickly encrusted withglittering emeralds, but the gates stood open and no one was forbiddenentrance. On holidays the people of the Emerald City often took theirchildren to see the wonders of Ozma's gardens, and even entered theRoyal Palace, if they felt so inclined, for they knew that they andtheir Ruler were friends, and that Ozma delighted to give them pleasure.

When all this is considered, you will not be surprised that thepeople throughout the Land of Oz, as well as Ozma's most intimatefriends and her royal courtiers, were eager to celebrate her birthday,and made preparations for the festival weeks in advance. All thebrass bands practiced their nicest tunes, for they were to march inthe numerous processions to be made in the Winkie Country, theGillikin Country, the Munchkin Country and the Quadling Country, aswell as in the Emerald City. Not all the people could go tocongratulate their Ruler, but all could celebrate her birthday, in oneway or another, however far distant from her palace they might be.Every home and building throughout the Land of Oz was to be decoratedwith banners and bunting, and there were to be games, and plays, and ageneral good time for every one.

It was Ozma's custom on her birthday to give a grand feast at thepalace, to which all her closest friends were invited. It was aqueerly assorted company, indeed, for there are more quaint and unusualcharacters in Oz than in all the rest of the world, and Ozma was moreinterested in unusual people than in ordinary ones--just as you and I are.

On this especial birthday of the lovely girl Ruler, a long table wasset in the royal Banquet Hall of the palace, at which were place-cardsfor the invited guests, and at one end of the great room was a smallertable, not so high, for Ozma's animal friends, whom she never forgot,and at the other end was a big table where all of the birthday giftswere to be arranged.

When the guests arrived, they placed their gifts on this table andthen found their places at the banquet table. And, after the guestswere all placed, the animals entered in a solemn procession and wereplaced at their table by Jellia Jamb. Then, while an orchestra hiddenby a bank of roses and ferns played a march composed for the occasion,the Royal Ozma entered the Banquet Hall, attended by her Maids ofHonor, and took her seat at the head of the table.

She was greeted by a cheer from all the assembled company, theanimals adding their roars and growls and barks and mewing andcackling to swell the glad tumult, and then all seated themselves attheir tables.

At Ozma's right sat the famous Scarecrow of Oz, whose straw-stuffedbody was not beautiful, but whose happy nature and shrewd wit had madehim a general favorite. On the left of the Ruler was placed the TinWoodman, whose metal body had been brightly polished for this event.The Tin Woodman was the Emperor of the Winkie Country and one of themost important persons in Oz.

Next to the Scarecrow, Dorothy was seated, and next to her wasTik-Tok, the Clockwork Man, who had been wound up as tightly as hisclockwork would permit, so he wouldn't interrupt the festivities byrunning down. Then came Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, Dorothy's ownrelations, two kindly old people who had a cozy home in the EmeraldCity and were very happy and contented there. Then Betsy Bobbin wasseated, and next to her the droll and delightful Shaggy Man, who was afavorite wherever he went.

On the other side of the table, opposite the Tin Woodman wasplaced Trot, and next to her, Cap'n Bill. Then was seatedButton-Bright and Ojo the Lucky, and Dr. Pipt and his good wifeMargalot, and the astonishing Frogman, who had come from the Yipcountry to be present at Ozma's birthday feast.

At the foot of the table, facing Ozma, was seated the queenlyGlinda, the good Sorceress of Oz, for this was really the place ofhonor next to the head of the table where Ozma herself sat. OnGlinda's right was the Little Wizard of Oz, who owed to Glinda all ofthe magical arts he knew. Then came Jinjur, a pretty girl farmer ofwhom Ozma and Dorothy were quite fond. The adjoining seat wasoccupied by the Tin Soldier, and next to him was Professor H. M.Wogglebug, T.E., of the Royal Athletic College.

On Glinda's left was placed the jolly Patchwork Girl, who was alittle afraid of the Sorceress and so was likely to behave herselfpretty well. The Shaggy Man's brother was beside the Patchwork Girl,and then came that interesting personage, Jack Pumpkinhead, who hadgrown a splendid big pumpkin for a new head to be worn on Ozma'sbirthday, and had carved a face on it that was even jollier inexpression than the one he had last worn. New heads were not unusualwith Jack, for the pumpkins did not keep long, and when theseeds--which served him as brains--began to get soft and mushy, herealized his head would soon spoil, and so he procured a new one from hisgreat field of pumpkins--grown by him so that he need never lack a head.

You will have noticed that the company at Ozma's banquet table wassomewhat mixed, but every one invited was a tried and trusted friend ofthe girl Ruler, and their presence made her quite happy.

No sooner had Ozma seated herself, with her back to the birthdaytable, than she noticed that all present were eyeing with curiosityand pleasure something behind her, for the gorgeous Magic Flower wasblooming gloriously and the mammoth blossoms that quickly succeededone another on the plant were beautiful to view and filled the entireroom with their delicate fragrance. Ozma wanted to look, too, to seewhat all were staring at, but she controlled her curiosity because itwas not proper that she should yet view her birthday gifts.

So the sweet and lovely Ruler devoted herself to her guests, severalof whom, such as the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Patchwork Girl,Tik-Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead and the Tin Soldier, never ate anything butsat very politely in their places and tried to entertain those of theguests who did eat.

And, at the animal table, there was another interesting group,consisting of the Cowardly Lion, the Hungry Tiger, Toto--Dorothy'slittle shaggy black dog--Hank the Mule, the Pink Kitten, the WoodenSawhorse, the Yellow Hen, and the Glass Cat. All of these had goodappetites except the Sawhorse and the Glass Cat, and each was given aplentiful supply of the food it liked best.

Finally, when the banquet was nearly over and the ice-cream was to beserved, four servants entered bearing a huge cake, all frosted anddecorated with candy flowers. Around the edge of the cake was a row oflighted candles, and in the center were raised candy letters thatspelled the words:

OZMA'SBirthday CakefromDorothy and the Wizard

"Oh, how beautiful!" cried Ozma, greatly delighted, and Dorothy saideagerly: "Now you must cut the cake, Ozma, and each of us will eat apiece with our ice-cream."

Jellia Jamb brought a large golden knife with a jeweled handle, andOzma stood up in her place and attempted to cut the cake. But as soonas the frosting in the center broke under the pressure of the knifethere leaped from the cake a tiny monkey three inches high, and he wasfollowed by another and another, until twelve monkeys stood on thetablecloth and bowed low to Ozma.

"Congratulations to our gracious Ruler!" they exclaimed in a chorus,and then they began a dance, so droll and amusing that all the companyroared with laughter and even Ozma joined in the merriment. But afterthe dance the monkeys performed some wonderful acrobatic feats, andthen they ran to the hollow of the cake and took out some bandinstruments of burnished gold--cornets, horns, drums, and thelike--and forming into a procession the monkeys marched up and downthe table playing a jolly tune with the ease of skilled musicians.

Dorothy was delighted with the success of her "Surprise Cake," andafter the monkeys had finished their performance, the banquet came toan end.

Now was the time for Ozma to see her other presents, so Glinda theGood rose and, taking the girl Ruler by her hand, led her to the tablewhere all her gifts were placed in magnificent array. The MagicFlower of course attracted her attention first, and Trot had to tellher the whole story of their adventures in getting it. The littlegirl did not forget to give due credit to the Glass Cat and the littleWizard, but it was really Cap'n Bill who had bravely carried thegolden flower-pot away from the enchanted Isle.

Ozma thanked them all, and said she would place the Magic Flower inher boudoir where she might enjoy its beauty and fragrance continually.But now she discovered the marvelous gown woven by Glinda and hermaidens from strands drawn from pure emeralds, and being a girl wholoved pretty clothes, Ozma's ecstasy at being presented with thisexquisite gown may well be imagined. She could hardly wait to put iton, but the table was loaded with other pretty gifts and the night wasfar spent before the happy girl Ruler had examined all her presentsand thanked those who had lovingly donated them.