Creator:
Baum, L. Frank (Lyman Frank), 1856-1919
Army eight Generals, six Colonels, seven Majors and five Captains,
besides one private for them to command. I'd like to promote the
private, for I believe no private should ever be in public life; and
I've also noticed that officers usually fight better and are more
reliable than common soldiers. Besides, the officers are more
important looking, and lend dignity to our army."
"No doubt you are right," said Dorothy, seating herself beside Ozma.
"And now," announced the girlish Ruler of Oz, "we will hold a solemn
conference to decide the best manner of liberating the royal family of
this fair Land of Ev from their long imprisonment."
9. The Royal Family of Ev
The Tin Woodman was the first to address the meeting.
"To begin with," said he, "word came to our noble and illustrious
Ruler, Ozma of Oz, that the wife and ten children--five boys and five
girls--of the former King of Ev, by name Evoldo, have been enslaved by
the Nome King and are held prisoners in his underground palace. Also
that there was no one in Ev powerful enough to release them.
Book 64 3 John
001:001 The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.
001:002 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy,
even as your soul prospers.
001:003 For I rejoiced greatly, when brothers came and testified
about your truth, even as you walk in truth.
001:004 I have no greater joy than this, to hear about my children
walking in truth.
001:005 Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish
for those who are brothers and strangers.
001:006 They have testified about your love before the assembly.
You will do well to send them forward on their journey
in a manner worthy of God,
001:007 because for the sake of the Name they went out, taking nothing
from the Gentiles.
001:008 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow
workers for the truth.
001:009 I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first
among them, doesn't accept what we say.
001:010 Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds
which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words.
Naturally our Ozma wished to undertake the adventure of liberating the
poor prisoners; but for a long time she could find no way to cross the
great desert between the two countries. Finally she went to a
friendly sorceress of our land named Glinda the Good, who heard the
story and at once presented Ozma a magic carpet, which would
continually unroll beneath our feet and so make a comfortable path for
us to cross the desert. As soon as she had received the carpet our
gracious Ruler ordered me to assemble our army, which I did. You
behold in these bold warriors the pick of all the finest soldiers of
Oz; and, if we are obliged to fight the Nome King, every officer as
well as the private, will battle fiercely unto death."
Then Tiktok spoke.
"Why should you fight the Nome King?" he asked. "He has done no wrong."
"No wrong!" cried Dorothy. "Isn't it wrong to imprison a queen mother
and her ten children?"
"They were sold to the Nome King by King Ev-ol-do," replied Tiktok.
"It was the King of Ev who did wrong, and when he re-al-ized what he
had done he jumped in-to the sea and drowned him-self."
"This is news to me," said Ozma, thoughtfully. "I had supposed the
Nome King was all to blame in the matter. But, in any case, he must
be made to liberate the prisoners."