Introduction
Folklore,legends,mythsandfairytaleshavefollowed
kindertijd
childhoodthroughtheages,foreverygezonde
healthyyoungsterhasawholesomeandinstinctiveloveforstoriesfantastic,marvelousandmanifestlyunreal.ThewingedfairiesofGrimmandAndersenhavebroughtmore
geluk
happinesstochildishheartsthanallotherhumancreations.Yettheoldtimefairytale,having
gediend
servedforgenerations,maynowbeclassedas“historical”inthechildren’slibrary;forthetimehascomefora
reeks
seriesofnewer“wondertales”inwhichthestereotypedgenie,dwarfandfee
fairyareeliminated,togetherwithallthehorribleandblood-curdlingincidentsdevisedbytheirauthorstopointafearsomemoraltoeachtale.Moderne
Moderneducationincludesmorality;thereforethe
moderne
modernchildseeksonlyentertainmentinitswondertalesandgladlydispenseswithalldisagreeableincident.Havingthisthoughtinmind,thestoryof“TheWonderfulWizardofOz”waswrittensolelytopleasechildrenoftoday.
Itaspirestobeingamodernizedfairytale,inwhichthewondermentand
vreugde
joyareretainedandtheheartachesandnightmaresareleftout.L.
ChapterITheCyclone
DorothylivedinthemidstofthegreatKansasprairies,withUncleHenry,whowasafarmer,andAuntEm,whowasthefarmer’swife.
Theirhousewassmall,forthelumbertobuildithadtobecarriedbywagonmanymiles.
Therewerefourwalls,aflooranda
dak
roof,whichmadeoneroom;andthisroomcontainedarustylookingcookstove,acupboardforthedishes,atable,threeorfourchairs,andthebeds.
UncleHenryandAuntEmhadabigbedinone
hoek
corner,andDorothyalittlebedinanotherhoek
corner.Therewasnogarretatall,andnocellar—exceptasmallholedugintheground,calledacyclonecellar,wherethefamilycouldgoincaseoneofthosegreatwhirlwindsarose,mightyenoughtocrushanybuildinginits
weg
path.Itwasreachedbyatrapdoorinthemiddleofthefloor,fromwhichaladderleddownintothesmall,darkhole.
WhenDorothystoodinthedoorwayandlookedaround,shecouldseenothingbutthegreatgrayprairieoneveryside.
Notatreenorahousebrokethebroadsweepof
vlakke
flatcountrythatreachedtotherand
edgeoftheskyinalldirections.Thesunhadbakedtheplowedlandintoagray
massa
mass,withlittlecracksrunningthroughit.Eventhe
gras
grasswasnotgreen,forthesunhadburnedthetopsofthelongbladesuntiltheywerethesamegraykleur
colortobeseeneverywhere.Oncethehousehadbeen
geschilderd
painted,butthesunblisteredtheverf
paintandtherainswasheditaway,andnowthehousewasasdullandgrayaseverythingelse.WhenAuntEmcametheretoliveshewasayoung,prettywife.
Thesunandwindhadchangedher,too.
Theyhadtakenthesparklefromhereyesandleftthemasobergray;
theyhadtakentheredfromhercheeksandlips,andtheyweregrayalso.
Shewas
dun
thinandgaunt,andneversmilednow.WhenDorothy,whowasanorphan,firstcametoher,AuntEmhadbeensostartledbythechild’s
lachen
laughterthatshewouldscreamandpressherhanduponherheartwheneverDorothy’smerryvoicereachedherears;andshestilllookedatthelittlegirlwithwonderthatshecouldfindanythingtolaughat.
UncleHenryneverlaughed.
Heworkedhardfrommorningtillnightanddidnotknowwhat
vreugde
joywas.Hewasgrayalso,fromhislongbeardtohis
ruwe
roughboots,andhelookedsternandsolemn,andrarelyspoke.ItwasTotothatmadeDorothylaugh,andsavedherfromgrowingasgrayasherothersurroundings.
Totowasnotgray;
hewasalittleblackdog,withlongsilkyhairandsmallblackeyesthattwinkledmerrilyoneithersideofhisfunny,weenose.
Totoplayedalldaylong,andDorothyplayedwithhim,andlovedhimdearly.
Today,however,theywerenotplaying.
UncleHenrysatuponthedoorstepandlookedanxiouslyatthesky,whichwasevengrayerthan
gewoonlijk
usual.DorothystoodinthedoorwithTotoinherarms,andlookedattheskytoo.
AuntEmwaswashingthedishes.
Fromthefarnorththeyheardalowwailofthewind,andUncleHenryandDorothycouldseewherethelong
gras
grassbowedinwavesbeforethecomingstorm
storm.Therenowcamea
scherp
sharpwhistlingintheairfromthesouth,andastheyturnedtheireyesthatwaytheysawripplesinthegras
grasscomingfromthatdirectionalso.SuddenlyUncleHenrystoodup.
“There’sacyclonecoming,Em,”hecalledtohiswife.
“I’llgolookafterthestock.”
Thenherantowardtheshedswherethecowsandhorseswerekept.
AuntEmdroppedherworkandcametothedoor.
Oneglancetoldherofthedangercloseathand.
“Quick,Dorothy!”
she
schreeuwde
screamed.“Runforthecellar!”
TotojumpedoutofDorothy’sarmsandhidunderthebed,andthegirlstartedtogethim.
AuntEm,badlyfrightened,threwopenthetrapdoorinthefloorand
klom
climbeddowntheladderintothesmall,darkhole.DorothycaughtTotoatlastandstartedtofollowheraunt.
Whenshewashalfwayacrosstheroomtherecameagreatshriekfromthewind,andthehouseshooksohardthatshelostherfootingandsatdownsuddenlyuponthefloor.
Thenastrangethinghappened.
Thehousewhirledaroundtwoorthreetimesand
steeg
roseslowlythroughtheair.Dorothyfeltasifsheweregoingupinaballoon.
Thenorthandsouthwindsmetwherethehousestood,andmadeitthe
exacte
exactcenterofthecyclone.Inthemiddleofacyclonetheairisgenerallystill,butthegreat
druk
pressureofthewindoneverysideofthehouseraisedituphoger
higherandhigher,untilitwasattheverytopofthecyclone;andthereit
bleef
remainedandwascarriedmilesandmilesawayasgemakkelijk
easilyasyoucouldcarryafeather.Itwasverydark,andthewindhowledhorriblyaroundher,butDorothyfoundshewasridingquite
gemakkelijk
easily.Afterthefirstfewwhirlsaround,andoneothertimewhenthehousetipped
slecht
badly,shefeltasifshewerebeingrockedgently,likeababyinacradle.Totodidnotlikeit.
Heranabouttheroom,nowhere,nowthere,barkingloudly;
butDorothysatquitestillonthefloorandwaitedtoseewhatwouldhappen.
OnceTotogottooneartheopentrapdoor,andfellin;
andatfirstthelittlegirlthoughtshehadlosthim.
Butsoonshesawoneofhisearsstickingupthroughthehole,forthestrong
druk
pressureoftheairwaskeepinghimupsothathecouldnotfall.Shecrepttothehole,caughtTotobythe
oor
ear,anddraggedhimintotheroomagain,afterwardclosingthetrapdoorsothatnomoreaccidentscouldhappen.Hourafterhourpassedaway,and
langzaam
slowlyDorothygotoverherfright;butshefeltquite
eenzaam
lonely,andthewindshriekedsoloudlyallaboutherthatshebijna
nearlybecamedeaf.Atfirstshehadwonderedifshewouldbedashedtopieceswhenthehousefellagain;
butasthehourspassedandnothingterriblehappened,shestoppedworryingandresolvedtowaitcalmlyandseewhatthefuturewouldbring.
Atlastshecrawledovertheswayingfloortoherbed,andlaydownuponit;
andTotofollowedandlaydown
naast
besideher.ChapterIITheCouncilwiththeMunchkins
Shewasawakenedbya
schok
shock,sosuddenandseverethatifDorothyhadnotbeenlyingonthezachte
softbedshemighthavebeenhurt.Asitwas,thejarmadehercatchher
adem
breathandwonderwhathadhappened;andTotoputhiscoldlittlenoseintoherfaceandwhineddismally.
Dorothysatupandnoticedthatthehousewasnotmoving;
norwasitdark,forthe
heldere
brightsunshinecameinatthewindow,floodingthelittleroom.ShesprangfromherbedandwithTotoatherheelsranandopenedthedoor.
Thelittlegirlgaveacryofamazementandlookedabouther,hereyesgrowingbiggerandbiggeratthewonderfulsightsshesaw.
Thecyclonehadsetthehousedownverygently—foracyclone—inthemidstofacountryofmarvelousbeauty.
Therewerelovelypatchesofgreenswardallabout,withstatelytreesbearingrichandlusciousfruits.
Banksofgorgeousflowerswereoneveryhand,andbirdswith
zeldzaam
rareandbrilliantplumagesangandflutteredinthetreesandbushes.Alittlewayoffwasasmallbrook,rushingandsparklingalongbetweengreenbanks,andmurmuringinavoicevery
dankbaar
gratefultoalittlegirlwhohadlivedsolongonthedroge
dry,grayprairies.Whileshestoodlookingeagerlyatthestrangeandbeautifulsights,shenoticedcomingtowardheragroupofthequeerestpeopleshehadeverseen.
Theywerenotasbigasthegrownfolkshehadalwaysbeenusedto;
butneitherweretheyverysmall.
Infact,theyseemedaboutas
lang
tallasDorothy,whowasawell-grownchildforherage,althoughtheywere,sofaraslooksgo,manyyearsouder
older.Threeweremenandoneawoman,andallwereoddlydressed.
Theyworeroundhatsthat
stegen
rosetoasmallpointafootabovetheirheads,withlittlebellsaroundthebrimsthattinkledsweetlyastheymoved.Thehatsofthemenwereblue;
thelittlewoman’s
hoed
hatwaswhite,andsheworeawhitegownthathunginpleatsfromhershoulders.Overitweresprinkledlittlestarsthatglistenedinthesunlikediamonds.
Themenweredressedinblue,ofthesameshadeastheirhats,andworewell-polishedbootswithadeeprollofblueatthetops.
Themen,Dorothythought,wereaboutasoldasUncleHenry,fortwoofthemhadbeards.
Butthelittlewomanwasdoubtlessmuch
ouder
older.Herfacewascoveredwithwrinkles,herhairwas
bijna
nearlywhite,andshewalkedratherstiffly.WhenthesepeopledrewnearthehousewhereDorothywasstandinginthedoorway,theypausedandwhispered
onder
amongthemselves,asifafraidtocomefarther.ButthelittleoldwomanwalkeduptoDorothy,madealowbowandsaid,inasweetvoice:.
“Youarewelcome,mostnobleSorceress,tothelandoftheMunchkins.
Weareso
dankbaar
gratefultoyouforhavingkilledtheWickedHeks
WitchoftheEast,andforsettingourpeoplefreefrombondage.”Dorothylistenedtothis
toespraak
speechwithwonder.Whatcouldthelittlewomanpossiblymeanbycallingherasorceress,andsayingshehadkilledtheWicked
Heks
WitchoftheEast?Dorothywasan
onschuldig
innocent,harmlesslittlegirl,whohadbeencarriedbyacyclonemanymilesfromhome;andshehadneverkilledanythinginallherlife.
Butthelittlewomanevidentlyexpectedhertoanswer;
soDorothysaid,withhesitation,“Youareverykind,buttheremustbesomemistake.
Ihavenotkilledanything.”
“Yourhousedid,anyway,”repliedthelittleoldwoman,withalaugh,“andthatisthesamething.
See!”
shecontinued,pointingtothe
hoek
cornerofthehouse.“Therearehertwofeet,stillstickingoutfromundera
blok
blockofwood.”Dorothylooked,andgavealittlecryoffright.
There,
inderdaad
indeed,justunderthecornerofthegreatbeamthehouserestedon,twofeetwerestickingout,shodinzilveren
silvershoeswithpointedtoes.“Oh,dear!
Oh,dear!”
criedDorothy,claspingherhandstogetherindismay.
“Thehousemusthavefallenonher.
Whatevershallwedo?”
“Thereisnothingtobedone,”saidthelittlewomancalmly.
“Butwhowasshe?”
askedDorothy.
“ShewastheWicked
Heks
WitchoftheEast,asIsaid,”answeredthelittlewoman.“ShehasheldalltheMunchkinsinbondageformanyyears,makingthemslaveforhernightandday.
Nowtheyareallsetfree,andare
dankbaar
gratefultoyouforthefavor.”“WhoaretheMunchkins?”
inquiredDorothy.
“TheyarethepeoplewholiveinthislandoftheEastwheretheWicked
Heks
Witchruled.”“AreyouaMunchkin?”
askedDorothy.
“No,butIamtheirfriend,althoughIliveinthelandoftheNorth.
Whentheysawthe
Heks
WitchoftheEastwasdeadtheMunchkinssentaswiftmessengertome,andIcameatonce.Iamthe
Heks
WitchoftheNorth.”“Oh,gracious!”
criedDorothy.
“Areyouarealwitch?”
“Yes,indeed,”answeredthelittlewoman.
“ButIamagood
heks
witch,andthepeopleloveme.Iamnotas
machtig
powerfulastheWickedWitchwaswhoruledhere,orIshouldhavesetthepeoplefreemyself.”“ButIthoughtallwitcheswerewicked,”saidthegirl,whowashalffrightenedatfacingareal
heks
witch.“Oh,no,thatisagreatmistake.
TherewereonlyfourwitchesinalltheLandofOz,andtwoofthem,thosewholiveintheNorthandtheSouth,aregoodwitches.
Iknowthisistrue,forIamoneofthemmyself,andcannotbemistaken.
ThosewhodweltintheEastandtheWestwere,
inderdaad
indeed,wickedwitches;butnowthatyouhavekilledoneofthem,thereisbutoneWicked
Heks
WitchinalltheLandofOz—theonewholivesintheWest.”“But,”saidDorothy,afteramoment’sthought,“AuntEmhastoldmethatthewitcheswerealldead—yearsandyearsago.”
“WhoisAuntEm?”
inquiredthelittleoldwoman.
“SheismyauntwholivesinKansas,whereIcamefrom.”
The
Heks
WitchoftheNorthseemedtothinkforatime,withherheadgebogen
bowedandhereyesupontheground.Thenshelookedupandsaid,“IdonotknowwhereKansasis,forIhaveneverheardthatcountrymentionedbefore.
Buttellme,isitacivilizedcountry?”
“Oh,yes,”repliedDorothy.
“Thenthataccountsforit.
InthecivilizedcountriesIbelievetherearenowitchesleft,norwizards,norsorceresses,normagicians.
But,yousee,theLandofOzhasneverbeencivilized,forwearecutofffromalltherestoftheworld.
Daarom
Thereforewestillhavewitchesandwizardsamongstus.”“Whoarethewizards?”
askedDorothy.
“OzhimselfistheGreatWizard,”answeredthe
Heks
Witch,sinkinghervoicetoawhisper.“Heismorepowerfulthanalltherestofustogether.
HelivesintheCityofEmeralds.”
Dorothywasgoingtoaskanotherquestion,butjustthentheMunchkins,whohadbeenstandingsilentlyby,gavealoud
schreeuw
shoutandpointedtothehoek
cornerofthehousewheretheWickedHeks
Witchhadbeenlying.“Whatisit?”
askedthelittleoldwoman,andlooked,andbegantolaugh.
Thefeetofthedead
Heks
Witchhaddisappearedentirely,andnothingwasleftbutthezilveren
silvershoes.“Shewassoold,”explainedthe
Heks
WitchoftheNorth,“thatshedriedupquicklyinthesun.Thatistheendofher.Butthe
zilveren
silvershoesareyours,andyoushallhavethemtowear.”Shereacheddownandpickeduptheshoes,andafter
schudden
shakingthedustoutofthemhandedthemtoDorothy.“The
Heks
WitchoftheEastwasproudofthosezilveren
silvershoes,”saidoneoftheMunchkins,“andthereissomecharmconnectedwiththem;butwhatitisweneverknew.”
Dorothycarriedtheshoesintothehouseandplacedthemonthetable.
ThenshecameoutagaintotheMunchkinsandsaid:.
“Iamanxioustogetbacktomyauntanduncle,forIamsuretheywillworryaboutme.
Canyouhelpmefindmyway?”
TheMunchkinsandthe
Heks
Witchfirstlookedatoneanother,andthenatDorothy,andthenshooktheirheads.“AttheEast,notfarfromhere,”saidone,“thereisagreat
woestijn
desert,andnonecouldlivetocrossit.”“ItisthesameattheSouth,”saidanother,“forIhavebeenthereandseenit.
TheSouthisthecountryoftheQuadlings.”
“Iamtold,”saidthethirdman,“thatitisthesameattheWest.
Andthatcountry,wheretheWinkieslive,isruledbytheWicked
Heks
WitchoftheWest,whowouldmakeyouherslaaf
slaveifyoupassedherway.”“TheNorthismyhome,”saidtheoldlady,“andatits
rand
edgeisthesamegreatwoestijn
desertthatsurroundsthisLandofOz.I’mafraid,mydear,youwillhavetolivewithus.”Dorothybegantosobatthis,forshefelt
eenzaam
lonelyamongallthesestrangepeople.Hertearsseemedtogrievethekind-heartedMunchkins,fortheyimmediatelytookouttheirhandkerchiefsandbegantoweepalso.
Asforthelittleoldwoman,shetookoffhercapandbalancedthepointontheendofhernose,whileshecounted“One,two,three”inasolemnvoice.
Atoncethecapchangedtoaslate,onwhichwaswritteninbig,whitechalkmarks:.
“LETDOROTHYGOTOTHECITYOFEMERALDS”.
Thelittleoldwomantooktheslatefromhernose,andhavingreadthewordsonit,asked,“IsyournameDorothy,mydear?”
“Yes,”answeredthechild,lookingupand
droogde
dryinghertears.“ThenyoumustgototheCityofEmeralds.
PerhapsOzwillhelpyou.”
“Whereisthiscity?”
askedDorothy.
“Itisexactlyinthecenterofthecountry,andisruledbyOz,theGreatWizardItoldyouof.”
“Isheagoodman?”