English
WhenthepeopleoftheEmeraldCityheardthatDorothyhadreturnedtothemeveryonewaseagertoseeher,forthelittlegirlwasageneralfavoriteintheLandofOz.
Fromtimetotimesomeofthefolkfromthegreatoutsideworldhadfoundtheirwayintothisfairyland,butallexceptonehadbeencompanionsofDorothyandhadturnedouttobeveryagreeablepeople.
TheexceptionIspeakofwasthewonderfulWizardofOz,asleight-of-handperformerfromOmahawhowentupinaballoonandwascarriedbyacurrentofairtotheEmeraldCity.
HisstrangeandpuzzlingtricksmadethepeopleofOzbelievehimagreatwizardforatime,andheruledoverthemuntilDorothyarrivedonherfirstvisitandshowedtheWizardtobeamerehumbug.
Hewasagentle,kind-heartedlittleman,andDorothygrewtolikehimafterward.
When,afteranabsence,theWizardreturnedtotheLandofOz,Ozmareceivedhimgraciouslyandgavehimahomeinapartofthepalace.
InadditiontotheWizardtwootherpersonagesfromtheoutsideworldhadbeenallowedtomaketheirhomeintheEmeraldCity.
ThefirstwasaquaintShaggyMan,whomOzmahadmadetheGovernoroftheRoyalStorehouses,andthesecondaYellowHennamedBillina,whohadafinehouseinthegardensbackofthepalace,whereshelookedafteralargefamily.
BoththesehadbeenoldcomradesofDorothy,soyouseethelittlegirlwasquiteanimportantpersonageinOz,andthepeoplethoughtshehadbroughtthemgoodluck,andlovedhernextbesttoOzma.
Duringherseveralvisitsthislittlegirlhadbeenthemeansofdestroyingtwowickedwitcheswhooppressedthepeople,andshehaddiscoveredalivescarecrowwhowasnowoneofthemostpopularpersonagesinallthefairycountry.
WiththeScarecrow’shelpshehadrescuedNickChopper,aTinWoodman,whohadrustedinalonelyforest,andthetinmanwasnowtheEmperoroftheCountryoftheWinkiesandmuchbelovedbecauseofhiskindheart.
NowonderthepeoplethoughtDorothyhadbroughtthemgoodluck!
Yet,strangeasitmayseem,shehadaccomplishedallthesewondersnotbecauseshewasafairyorhadanymagicalpowerswhatever,butbecauseshewasasimple,sweetandtruelittlegirlwhowashonesttoherselfandtoallwhomshemet.
Inthisworldinwhichwelivesimplicityandkindnessaretheonlymagicwandsthatworkwonders,andintheLandofOzDorothyfoundthesesamequalitieshadwonforhertheloveandadmirationofthepeople.
Indeed,thelittlegirlhadmademanywarmfriendsinthefairycountry,andtheonlyrealgrieftheOziteshadeverexperiencedwaswhenDorothyleftthemandreturnedtoherKansashome.
Nowshereceivedajoyfulwelcome,althoughnooneexceptOzmaknewatfirstthatshehadfinallycometostayforgoodandall.
ThateveningDorothyhadmanycallers,andamongthemweresuchimportantpeopleasTik-Tok,amachinemanwhothoughtandspokeandmovedbyclockwork;heroldcompanionthegenialShaggyMan;JackPumpkinhead,whosebodywasbrush-woodandwhoseheadwasaripepumpkinwithafacecarveduponit;theCowardlyLionandtheHungryTiger,twogreatbeastsfromtheforest,whoservedPrincessOzma,andProfessorH.M.Wogglebug,T.E.
Thiswogglebugwasaremarkablecreature.
Hehadoncebeenatinylittlebug,crawlingaroundinaschool-room,buthewasdiscoveredandhighlymagnifiedsothathecouldbeseenmoreplainly,andwhileinthismagnifiedconditionhehadescaped.
Hehadalwaysremainedbig,andhedressedlikeadandyandwassofullofknowledgeandinformation(whicharedistinctacquirements)thathehadbeenmadeaProfessorandtheheadoftheRoyalCollege.
Dorothyhadanicevisitwiththeseoldfriends,andalsotalkedalongtimewiththeWizard,whowaslittleandoldandwitheredanddriedup,butasmerryandactiveasachild.
Afterward,shewenttoseeBillina’sfast-growingfamilyofchicks.
Toto,Dorothy’slittleblackdog,alsometwithacordialreception.
TotowasanespecialfriendoftheShaggyMan,andhekneweveryoneelse.
BeingtheonlydogintheLandofOz,hewashighlyrespectedbythepeople,whobelievedanimalsentitledtoeveryconsiderationiftheybehavedthemselvesproperly.
Dorothyhadfourlovelyroomsinthepalace,whichwerealwaysreservedforheruseandwerecalled“Dorothy’srooms.”
Theseconsistedofabeautifulsittingroom,adressingroom,adaintybedchamberandabigmarblebathroom.
Andintheseroomswereeverythingthatheartcoulddesire,placedtherewithlovingthoughtfulnessbyOzmaforherlittlefriend’suse.
Theroyaldressmakershadthelittlegirl’smeasure,sotheykepttheclosetsinherdressingroomfilledwithlovelydressesofeverydescriptionandsuitableforeveryoccasion.
NowonderDorothyhadrefrainedfrombringingwithherheroldcalicoandginghamdresses!
Hereeverythingthatwasdeartoalittlegirl’sheartwassuppliedinprofusion,andnothingsorichandbeautifulcouldeverhavebeenfoundinthebiggestdepartmentstoresinAmerica.
OfcourseDorothyenjoyedalltheseluxuries,andtheonlyreasonshehadheretoforepreferredtoliveinKansaswasbecauseheruncleandauntlovedherandneededherwiththem.
Now,however,allwastobechanged,andDorothywasreallymoredelightedtoknowthatherdearrelativesweretoshareinhergoodfortuneandenjoythedelightsoftheLandofOz,thanshewastopossesssuchluxuryforherself.
Nextmorning,atOzma’srequest,Dorothydressedherselfinaprettysky-bluegownofrichsilk,trimmedwithrealpearls.
Thebucklesofhershoesweresetwithpearls,too,andmoreofthesepricelessgemswereonalovelycoronetwhichsheworeuponherforehead.
“For,”saidherfriendOzma,“fromthistimeforth,mydear,youmustassumeyourrightfulrankasaPrincessofOz,andbeingmychosencompanionyoumustdressinawaybefittingthedignityofyourposition.”
Dorothyagreedtothis,althoughsheknewthatneithergownsnorjewelscouldmakeheranythingelsethanthesimple,unaffectedlittlegirlshehadalwaysbeen.
Assoonastheyhadbreakfasted—thegirlseatingtogetherinOzma’sprettyboudoir—theRulerofOzsaid:
“Now,dearfriend,wewillusetheMagicBelttotransportyouruncleandauntfromKansastotheEmeraldCity.
ButIthinkitwouldbefitting,inreceivingsuchdistinguishedguests,forustositinmyThroneRoom.”
“Oh,they’renotvery‘stinguished,Ozma,”saidDorothy.“They’rejustplainpeople,likeme.”
“Beingyourfriendsandrelatives,PrincessDorothy,theyarecertainlydistinguished,”repliedtheRuler,withasmile.
“They—theywon’thardlyknowwhattomakeofallyoursplendidfurnitureandthings,”protestedDorothy,gravely.
“Itmayscare‘emtoseeyourgrandThroneRoom,an’p’rapswe’dbettergointothebackyard,Ozma,wherethecabbagesgrowan’thechickensareplaying.
ThenitwouldseemmorenaturaltoUncleHenryandAuntEm.”
“No;theyshallfirstseemeinmyThroneRoom,”repliedOzma,decidedly;andwhenshespokeinthattoneDorothyknewitwasnotwisetoopposeher,forOzmawasaccustomedtohavingherownway.
SotogethertheywenttotheThroneRoom,animmensedomedchamberinthecenterofthepalace.
Herestoodtheroyalthrone,madeofsolidgoldandencrustedwithenoughpreciousstonestostockadozenjewelrystoresinourcountry.
Ozma,whowaswearingtheMagicBelt,seatedherselfinthethrone,andDorothysatatherfeet.
Intheroomwereassembledmanyladiesandgentlemenofthecourt,clothedinrichapparelandwearingfinejewelry.
Twoimmenseanimalssquatted,oneoneachsideofthethrone—theCowardlyLionandtheHungryTiger.
Inabalconyhighupinthedomeanorchestraplayedsweetmusic,andbeneaththedometwoelectricfountainssentspraysofcoloredperfumedwatershootingupnearlyashighasthearchedceiling.
“Areyouready,Dorothy?”askedtheRuler.
“Iam,”repliedDorothy;“butIdon’tknowwhetherAuntEmandUncleHenryareready.”
“Thatwon’tmatter,”declaredOzma.“Theoldlifecanhaveverylittletointerestthem,andthesoonertheybeginthenewlifeherethehappiertheywillbe.Heretheycome,mydear!”
Asshespoke,therebeforethethroneappearedUncleHenryandAuntEm,whoforamomentstoodmotionless,glaringwithwhiteandstartledfacesatthescenethatconfrontedthem.
IftheladiesandgentlemenpresenthadnotbeensopoliteIamsuretheywouldhavelaughedatthetwostrangers.
AuntEmhadhercalicodressskirt“tuckedup,”andsheworeafaded,blue-checkedapron.
HerhairwasratherstragglyandshehadonapairofUncleHenry’soldslippers.
Inonehandsheheldadish-towelandintheotheracrackedearthenwareplate,whichshehadbeenengagedinwipingwhensosuddenlytransportedtotheLandofOz.
UncleHenry,whenthesummonscame,hadbeenoutinthebarn“doin’chores.”
Heworearaggedandmuchsoiledstrawhat,acheckedshirtwithoutanycollarandblueoverallstuckedintothetopsofhisoldcowhideboots.
“Bygum!”gaspedUncleHenry,lookingaroundasifbewildered.
“Well,Iswan!”gurgledAuntEminahoarse,frightenedvoice.ThenhereyesfelluponDorothy,andshesaid:“D-d-d-don’tthatlooklikeourlittlegirl—ourDorothy,Henry?”
“Hi,there—lookout,Em!”exclaimedtheoldman,asAuntEmadvancedastep;“takecareo’thewildbeastses,oryou’reagoner!”
ButnowDorothysprangforwardandembracedandkissedherauntanduncleaffectionately,afterwardtakingtheirhandsinherown.
“Don’tbeafraid,”shesaidtothem.“YouarenowintheLandofOz,whereyouaretolivealways,andbecomfer’blean’happy.
You’llneverhavetoworryoveranythingagain,‘causetherewon’tbeanythingtoworryabout.
AndyouoweitalltothekindnessofmyfriendPrincessOzma.”
Heresheledthembeforethethroneandcontinued:
“YourHighness,thisisUncleHenry.AndthisisAuntEm.TheywanttothankyouforbringingthemherefromKansas.”
AuntEmtriedto“slick”herhair,andshehidthedish-towelanddishunderherapronwhileshebowedtothelovelyOzma.UncleHenrytookoffhisstrawhatandhelditawkwardlyinhishands.
ButtheRulerofOzroseandcamefromherthronetogreethernewlyarrivedguests,andshesmiledassweetlyuponthemasiftheyhadbeenakingandqueen.
“Youareverywelcomehere,whereIhavebroughtyouforPrincessDorothy’ssake,”shesaid,graciously,“andIhopeyouwillbequitehappyinyournewhome.”
Thensheturnedtohercourtiers,whoweresilentlyandgravelyregardingthescene,andadded:“IpresenttomypeopleourPrincessDorothy’sbelovedUncleHenryandAuntEm,whowillhereafterbesubjectsofourkingdom.
Itwillpleasemetohaveyoushowthemeverykindnessandhonorinyourpower,andtojoinmeinmakingthemhappyandcontented.”
Hearingthis,allthoseassembledbowedlowandrespectfullytotheoldfarmerandhiswife,whobobbedtheirownheadsinreturn.
“Andnow,”saidOzmatothem,“Dorothywillshowyoutheroomspreparedforyou.Ihopeyouwilllikethem,andshallexpectyoutojoinmeatluncheon.”
SoDorothyledherrelativesaway,andassoonastheywereoutoftheThroneRoomandaloneinthecorridor,AuntEmsqueezedDorothy’shandandsaid:
“Child,child!Howintheworlddidweevergetheresoquick?Andisitallreal?Andarewetostayhere,asshesays?Andwhatdoesitallmean,anyhow?”
Dorothylaughed.
“Whydidn’tyoutelluswhatyouweregoin’todo?”inquiredUncleHenry,reproachfully.“IfI’dknownaboutit,I’d‘aputonmySundayclothes.”
“I’ll‘splainever’thingassoonaswegettoyourrooms,”promisedDorothy.“You’reingreatluck,UncleHenryandAuntEm;an’soamI!Andoh!I’msohappytohavegotyouhere,atlast!”
Ashewalkedbythelittlegirl’sside,UncleHenrystrokedhiswhiskersthoughtfully.“’Pearstome,Dorothy,wewon’tmakebang-upfairies,”heremarked.
“An’mybackhairlookslikeafright!”wailedAuntEm.
“Nevermind,”returnedthelittlegirl,reassuringly.“Youwon’thaveanythingtodonowbuttolookpretty,AuntEm;an’UncleHenrywon’thavetoworktillhisbackaches,that’scertain.”
“Sure?”theyasked,wonderingly,andinthesamebreath.
“CourseI’msure,”saidDorothy.“You’reintheFairylandofOz,now;an’what’smore,youbelongtoit!”‘
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