The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Progressively Translated Dutch A2 Books

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Progressively Translated Dutch A2 Books

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Introduction
Folklore,legends,mythsandfairytaleshavefollowedchildhoodthroughtheages,foreveryhealthyyoungsterhasawholesomeandinstinctiveloveforstories
fantastisch
fantastic
,marvelousandmanifestlyunreal.
ThewingedfairiesofGrimmandAndersenhavebroughtmorehappinesstochildishheartsthanallotherhumancreations.
Yettheoldtimefairytale,havingservedforgenerations,maynowbeclassedas“historical”inthechildren’slibrary;
forthetimehascomeforaseriesofnewer“wondertales”inwhichthestereotypedgenie,dwarfandfairyareeliminated,togetherwithallthehorribleandblood-curdlingincidentsdevisedbytheirauthorstopointafearsomemoraltoeachtale.
Moderneducationincludesmorality;
thereforethemodernchildseeksonlyentertainmentinitswondertalesandgladlydispenseswithalldisagreeableincident.
Havingthisthoughtinmind,thestoryof“TheWonderfulWizardofOz”waswrittensolelytopleasechildrenoftoday.
Itaspirestobeingamodernizedfairytale,inwhichthewondermentandjoyareretainedandtheheartachesandnightmaresareleftout.
L.
ChapterITheCyclone
DorothylivedinthemidstofthegreatKansasprairies,withUncleHenry,whowasafarmer,and
Tante
Aunt
Em,whowasthefarmer’swife.
Theirhousewassmall,forthelumberto
bouwen
build
ithadtobe
vervoerd
carried
bywagonmanymiles.
Therewerefourwalls,a
vloer
floor
andaroof,whichmadeoneroom;
andthisroomcontainedarustylookingcookstove,acupboardforthedishes,a
tafel
table
,threeorfourchairs,andthebeds.
UncleHenryand
Tante
Aunt
Emhadabigbedinonecorner,andDorothyalittlebedinanothercorner.
Therewasnogarretatall,andnocellar—exceptasmall
gat
hole
dugintheground,calledacyclonecellar,wherethefamilycouldgoincaseoneofthosegreatwhirlwindsarose,mightyenoughtocrushany
gebouw
building
initspath.
Itwas
bereikt
reached
byatrapdoorinthe
midden
middle
ofthefloor,fromwhichaladder
leidde
led
downintothesmall,
donkere
dark
hole.
WhenDorothystoodinthedoorwayandlookedaround,shecouldseenothingbutthegreatgrayprairieoneveryside.
Nota
boom
tree
norahousebrokethebroadsweepofflatcountrythatreachedtotheedgeofthe
hemel
sky
inalldirections.
The
zon
sun
hadbakedtheplowed
land
land
intoagraymass,withlittlecracksrunningthroughit.
Eventhegrasswasnot
groen
green
,forthesunhad
verbrand
burned
thetopsofthelongbladesuntiltheywerethesamegraycolortobeseen
overal
everywhere
.
Oncethehousehadbeenpainted,butthe
zon
sun
blisteredthepaintandtherains
was
washed
itaway,andnowthehousewasasdullandgrayaseverythingelse.
When
Tante
Aunt
Emcametheretoliveshewasayoung,prettywife.
The
zon
sun
andwindhadchangedher,too.
Theyhadtakenthesparklefromhereyesandleftthemasobergray;
theyhadtakentheredfromhercheeksandlips,andtheyweregrayalso.
Shewasthinandgaunt,andnever
glimlachte
smiled
now.
WhenDorothy,whowasanorphan,firstcametoher,
Tante
Aunt
Emhadbeensostartledbythechild’slaughterthatshewouldscreamand
drukte
press
herhanduponherheartwheneverDorothy’smerry
stem
voice
reachedherears;
andshestilllookedatthelittlegirlwith
verwondering
wonder
thatshecouldfindanythingto
lachen
laugh
at.
UncleHenrynever
lachte
laughed
.
Heworkedhardfrommorningtillnightanddidnotknowwhatjoywas.
Hewasgrayalso,fromhislongbeardtohisroughboots,andhelookedsternandsolemn,andrarelyspoke.
ItwasTotothatmadeDorothy
lachen
laugh
,andsavedherfromgrowingasgrayasherothersurroundings.
Totowasnotgray;
hewasalittleblackdog,withlongsilkyhairandsmallblackeyesthattwinkledmerrilyoneithersideofhisfunny,wee
neus
nose
.
Totoplayedalldaylong,andDorothyplayedwithhim,andlovedhimdearly.
Today,
echter
however
,theywerenotplaying.
UncleHenrysatuponthedoorstepandlookedanxiouslyatthe
hemel
sky
,whichwasevengrayerthanusual.
DorothystoodinthedoorwithTotoinherarms,andlookedatthe
hemel
sky
too.
AuntEmwas
was
washing
thedishes.
Fromthefar
noorden
north
theyheardalowwailofthe
wind
wind
,andUncleHenryandDorothycouldseewherethelonggrassbowedinwavesbeforethecomingstorm.
Therenowcameasharpwhistlingintheairfromthe
zuiden
south
,andastheyturnedtheireyesthatwaytheysawripplesinthegrasscomingfromthatdirectionalso.
Plotseling
Suddenly
UncleHenrystoodup.
“There’sacyclonecoming,Em,”hecalledtohiswife.
“I’llgolookafterthestock.”
Thenherantowardtheshedswherethecowsandhorseswerekept.
Tante
Aunt
Emdroppedherworkandcametothedoor.
Oneglancetoldherofthedangercloseathand.
“Quick,Dorothy!”
shescreamed.
“Runforthecellar!”
Toto
sprong
jumped
outofDorothy’sarmsandhidunderthebed,andthegirlstartedtogethim.
Tante
Aunt
Em,badlyfrightened,threwopenthetrapdoorinthe
vloer
floor
andclimbeddowntheladderintothesmall,
donkere
dark
hole.
DorothycaughtTotoatlastandstartedtofollowher
tante
aunt
.
Whenshewashalfwayacrosstheroomtherecameagreatshriekfromthe
wind
wind
,andthehouseshooksohardthatshelostherfootingandsatdown
plotseling
suddenly
uponthefloor.
Thenastrangethinghappened.
Thehousewhirledaroundtwoorthreetimesandroseslowlythroughtheair.
Dorothyfeltasifsheweregoingupinaballoon.
The
noordelijke
north
andsouthwindsmetwherethehousestood,andmadeittheexactcenterofthecyclone.
Inthe
midden
middle
ofacyclonetheairisgenerallystill,butthegreatpressureofthe
wind
wind
oneverysideofthehouseraisedituphigherandhigher,untilitwasattheverytopofthecyclone;
andthereitremainedandwascarriedmilesandmilesawayaseasilyasyoucould
dragen
carry
afeather.
Itwasvery
donker
dark
,andthewindhowledhorriblyaroundher,butDorothyfoundshewas
reed
riding
quiteeasily.
Afterthefirstfewwhirlsaround,andoneothertimewhenthehousetippedbadly,shefeltasifshewerebeingrockedgently,likeababyinacradle.
Totodidnotlikeit.
Heranabouttheroom,nowhere,nowthere,barkingloudly;
butDorothysatquitestillonthe
vloer
floor
andwaitedtoseewhatwouldhappen.
OnceTotogottooneartheopentrapdoor,andfellin;
andatfirstthelittlegirlthoughtshehadlosthim.
Butsoonshesawoneofhisearsstickingupthroughthe
gat
hole
,forthestrongpressureoftheairwaskeepinghimupsothathecouldnotfall.
Shecrepttothe
gat
hole
,caughtTotobytheear,anddraggedhimintotheroomagain,afterwardclosingthetrapdoorsothatnomoreaccidentscouldhappen.
Hourafterhourpassedaway,andslowlyDorothygotoverherfright;
butshefeltquitelonely,andthe
wind
wind
shriekedsoloudlyallaboutherthatshenearlybecamedeaf.
Atfirstshehad
afgevraagd
wondered
ifshewouldbedashedtopieceswhenthehousefellagain;
butasthehourspassedandnothingterriblehappened,shestoppedworryingandresolvedtowaitcalmlyandseewhatthe
toekomst
future
wouldbring.
Atlastshecrawledovertheswaying
vloer
floor
toherbed,andlaydownuponit;
andTotofollowedandlaydownbesideher.
ChapterIITheCouncilwiththeMunchkins
Shewasawakenedbyashock,sosuddenandseverethatifDorothyhadnotbeenlyingonthesoftbedshemighthavebeenhurt.
Asitwas,thejarmadehercatchherbreathand
afvragen
wonder
whathadhappened;
andTotoputhiscoldlittle
neus
nose
intoherfaceandwhineddismally.
Dorothysatupandnoticedthatthehousewasnotmoving;
norwasit
donker
dark
,forthebrightsunshinecameinatthe
raam
window
,floodingthelittleroom.
ShesprangfromherbedandwithTotoatherheelsranandopenedthedoor.
Thelittlegirlgavea
schreeuw
cry
ofamazementandlookedabouther,hereyes
groeien
growing
biggerandbiggeratthe
prachtige
wonderful
sightsshesaw.
Thecyclonehadsetthehousedownverygently—foracyclone—inthemidstofacountryofmarvelous
schoonheid
beauty
.
Therewerelovelypatchesofgreenswardallabout,withstatelytreesbearing
rijke
rich
andlusciousfruits.
Banksofgorgeousflowerswereoneveryhand,andbirdswithrareandbrilliantplumagesangandflutteredinthetreesandbushes.
Alittlewayoffwasasmallbrook,rushingandsparklingalongbetween
groene
green
banks,andmurmuringina
stem
voice
verygratefultoalittlegirlwhohadlivedsolongonthedry,grayprairies.
Whileshestoodlookingeagerlyatthestrangeandbeautifulsights,shenoticedcomingtowardhera
groep
group
ofthequeerestpeopleshehadeverseen.
Theywerenotasbigasthegrownfolkshehadalwaysbeenusedto;
butneitherweretheyverysmall.
Infact,they
leken
seemed
aboutastallasDorothy,whowasawell-grownchildforher
leeftijd
age
,althoughtheywere,sofaraslooksgo,manyyearsolder.
Threeweremenandoneawoman,andallwereoddly
gekleed
dressed
.
Theyworeroundhatsthatrosetoasmallpointa
voet
foot
abovetheirheads,withlittlebellsaroundthebrimsthattinkledsweetlyastheymoved.
Thehatsofthemenwere
blauw
blue
;
thelittlewoman’shatwaswhite,andshe
droeg
wore
awhitegownthathunginpleatsfromhershoulders.
Overitweresprinkledlittlestarsthatglistenedinthe
zon
sun
likediamonds.
Themenwere
gekleed
dressed
inblue,ofthesameshadeastheirhats,and
droegen
wore
well-polishedbootswithadeep
rol
roll
ofblueatthetops.
Themen,Dorothythought,wereaboutasoldasUncleHenry,fortwoofthemhadbeards.
Butthelittlewomanwasdoubtlessmucholder.
Herfacewascoveredwithwrinkles,herhairwasnearlywhite,andshewalked
nogal
rather
stiffly.
Whenthesepeopledrew
buurt
near
thehousewhereDorothywasstandinginthedoorway,theypausedandwhisperedamongthemselves,asifafraidtocomefarther.
ButthelittleoldwomanwalkeduptoDorothy,madea
lage
low
bowandsaid,inasweet
stem
voice:
.
“Youarewelcome,mostnobleSorceress,tothe
land
land
oftheMunchkins.
WearesogratefultoyouforhavingkilledtheWickedWitchofthe
Oosten
East
,andforsettingourpeoplefreefrombondage.”
Dorothylistenedtothisspeechwith
verwondering
wonder
.
Whatcouldthelittlewomanpossiblymeanbycallingherasorceress,andsayingshehadkilledtheWickedWitchofthe
Oosten
East
?
Dorothywasaninnocent,harmlesslittlegirl,whohadbeencarriedbyacyclonemanymilesfromhome;
andshehadneverkilledanythinginallherlife.
Butthelittlewomanevidently
verwachtte
expected
hertoanswer;
soDorothysaid,withhesitation,“Youareverykind,buttheremustbesome
vergissing
mistake
.
Ihavenotkilledanything.”
“Yourhousedid,anyway,”repliedthelittleoldwoman,witha
lach
laugh
,“andthatisthesamething.
See!”
shecontinued,pointingtothecornerofthehouse.
“Therearehertwo
voeten
feet
,stillstickingoutfromunderablockofwood.”
Dorothylooked,andgavealittle
schreeuw
cry
offright.
There,indeed,justunderthecornerofthegreatbeamthehouserestedon,two
voeten
feet
werestickingout,shodinsilver
schoenen
shoes
withpointedtoes.
“Oh,dear!
Oh,dear!”
huilde
cried
Dorothy,claspingherhandstogetherindismay.
“Thehousemusthavefallenonher.
Whatevershallwedo?”
“Thereisnothingtobedone,”saidthelittlewomancalmly.
“Butwhowasshe?”
askedDorothy.
“ShewastheWickedWitchofthe
Oosten
East
,asIsaid,”answeredthelittlewoman.
“ShehasheldalltheMunchkinsinbondageformanyyears,makingthemslaveforhernightandday.
Nowtheyareallsetfree,andaregratefultoyouforthefavor.”
“WhoaretheMunchkins?”
inquiredDorothy.
“Theyarethepeoplewholiveinthis
land
land
oftheEastwheretheWickedWitchruled.”
“AreyouaMunchkin?”
askedDorothy.
“No,butIamtheirfriend,althoughIliveinthe
land
land
oftheNorth.
WhentheysawtheWitchofthe
Oosten
East
wasdeadtheMunchkinssentaswiftmessengertome,andIcameatonce.
IamtheWitchoftheNorth.”
“Oh,gracious!”
huilde
cried
Dorothy.
“Areyouarealwitch?”
“Yes,indeed,”answeredthelittlewoman.
“ButIamagoodwitch,andthepeopleloveme.
IamnotaspowerfulastheWickedWitchwaswhoruledhere,orIshouldhavesetthepeoplefreemyself.”
“ButIthoughtallwitcheswerewicked,”saidthegirl,whowashalffrightenedatfacingarealwitch.
“Oh,no,thatisagreat
fout
mistake
.
Therewereonlyfourwitchesinallthe
Land
Land
ofOz,andtwoofthem,thosewholiveinthe
Noorden
North
andtheSouth,aregoodwitches.
Iknowthisistrue,forIamoneofthemmyself,andcannotbemistaken.
Thosewhodweltinthe
Oosten
East
andtheWestwere,indeed,wickedwitches;
butnowthatyouhavekilledoneofthem,thereisbutoneWickedWitchinallthe
Land
Land
ofOz—theonewholivesintheWest.”
“But,”saidDorothy,afteramoment’sthought,“AuntEmhastoldmethatthewitcheswerealldead—yearsandyearsago.”
“Whois
Tante
Aunt
Em?”
inquiredthelittleoldwoman.
“Sheismy
tante
aunt
wholivesinKansas,whereIcamefrom.”
TheWitchofthe
Noorden
North
seemedtothinkforatime,withherheadbowedandhereyesupontheground.
Thenshelookedupandsaid,“IdonotknowwhereKansasis,forIhaveneverheardthatcountrymentionedbefore.
Buttellme,isitacivilizedcountry?”
“Oh,yes,”repliedDorothy.
“Thenthataccountsforit.
InthecivilizedcountriesIbelievetherearenowitchesleft,
noch
nor
wizards,norsorceresses,normagicians.
But,yousee,the
Land
Land
ofOzhasneverbeencivilized,forwearecutofffromalltherestoftheworld.
Thereforewestillhavewitchesandwizardsamongstus.”
“Whoarethewizards?”
askedDorothy.
“OzhimselfistheGreatWizard,”answeredtheWitch,sinkingher
stem
voice
toawhisper.
“Heismorepowerfulthanalltherestofustogether.
HelivesintheCityofEmeralds.”
Dorothywasgoingtoaskanotherquestion,butjustthentheMunchkins,whohadbeenstandingsilentlyby,gavealoudshoutandpointedtothecornerofthehousewheretheWickedWitchhadbeenlying.
“Whatisit?”
askedthelittleoldwoman,andlooked,and
begon
began
tolaugh.
ThefeetofthedeadWitchhaddisappearedentirely,andnothingwasleftbutthesilver
schoenen
shoes
.
“Shewassoold,”explainedtheWitchofthe
Noorden
North
,“thatshedriedup
snel
quickly
inthesun.Thatistheendofher.
Butthesilver
schoenen
shoes
areyours,andyoushallhavethemtowear.”
Shereacheddownandpickedupthe
schoenen
shoes
,andaftershakingthedustoutofthemhandedthemtoDorothy.
“TheWitchofthe
Oosten
East
wasproudofthosesilvershoes,”saidoneoftheMunchkins,“andthereissomecharmconnectedwiththem;
butwhatitisweneverknew.”
Dorothy
droeg
carried
theshoesintothehouseandplacedthemonthe
tafel
table
.
ThenshecameoutagaintotheMunchkinsandsaid:.
“Iamanxioustogetbacktomy
tante
aunt
anduncle,forIamsuretheywillworryaboutme.
Canyouhelpmefindmyway?”
TheMunchkinsandtheWitchfirstlookedatoneanother,andthenatDorothy,andthenshooktheirheads.
“Atthe
Oosten
East
,notfarfromhere,”saidone,“thereisagreatdesert,and
niemand
none
couldlivetocrossit.”
“ItisthesameattheSouth,”saidanother,“forIhavebeenthereandseenit.
The
Zuiden
South
isthecountryoftheQuadlings.”
“Iamtold,”saidthe
derde
third
man,“thatitisthesameatthe
Westen
West
.
Andthatcountry,wheretheWinkieslive,isruledbytheWickedWitchofthe
Westen
West
,whowouldmakeyouherslaveifyoupassedherway.”
“The
Noorden
North
ismyhome,”saidtheoldlady,“andatitsedgeisthesamegreatdesertthatsurroundsthis
Land
Land
ofOz.I’mafraid,mydear,youwillhavetolivewithus.”
Dorothy
begon
began
tosobatthis,forshefeltlonelyamongallthesestrangepeople.
Hertears
leken
seemed
togrievethekind-heartedMunchkins,forthey
onmiddellijk
immediately
tookouttheirhandkerchiefsand
begonnen
began
toweepalso.
Asforthelittleoldwoman,shetookoffhercapandbalancedthepointontheendofher
neus
nose
,whileshecounted“One,two,three”inasolemn
stem
voice
.
Atoncethecapchangedtoaslate,onwhichwaswritteninbig,whitechalkmarks:.
“LETDOROTHYGOTOTHECITYOFEMERALDS”.
Thelittleoldwomantooktheslatefromher
neus
nose
,andhavingreadthewordsonit,asked,“IsyournameDorothy,mydear?”
“Yes,”answeredthechild,lookingupanddryinghertears.
“ThenyoumustgototheCityofEmeralds.
PerhapsOzwillhelpyou.”
“Whereisthiscity?”
askedDorothy.
“Itisexactlyinthecenterofthecountry,andisruledbyOz,theGreatWizardItoldyouof.”
“Isheagoodman?”