Introduction
Folklore,legends,mythsandfairytaleshavefollowedchildhoodthroughtheages,foreveryhealthyyoungsterhasawholesomeandinstinctiveloveforstoriesfantastic,marvelousandmanifestlyunreal.
ThewingedfairiesofGrimmandAndersenhavebroughtmorehappinesstochildishheartsthanallotherhumancreations.
Yettheoldtimefairytale,havingservedforgenerations,maynowbeclassedas“historical”inthechildren’slibrary;
forthetimehascomeforaseriesofnewer“wondertales”inwhichthestereotypedgenie,dwarfandfairyareeliminated,togetherwithallthehorribleandblood-curdlingincidentsdevisedbytheirauthorstopointafearsomemoraltoeachtale.
Moderneducationincludesmorality;
thereforethemodernchildseeksonlyentertainmentinitswondertalesandgladlydispenseswithalldisagreeableincident.
Havingthisthoughtinmind,thestoryof“The
Merveilleux
WonderfulWizardofOz”waswrittensolelytopleasechildrenoftoday.Itaspirestobeingamodernizedfairytale,inwhichthewondermentandjoyareretainedandtheheartachesandnightmaresareleftout.
L.
ChapterITheCyclone
DorothylivedinthemidstofthegreatKansasprairies,withUncleHenry,whowasafarmer,and
Tante
AuntEm,whowasthefarmer’swife.Theirhousewassmall,forthelumberto
construire
buildithadtobetransporté
carriedbywagonmanymiles.Therewerefourwalls,a
sol
floorandaroof,whichmadeoneroom;andthisroomcontainedarustylookingcookstove,acupboardforthedishes,a
table
table,threeorfourchairs,andthebeds.UncleHenryand
Tante
AuntEmhadabigbedinonecorner,andDorothyalittlebedinanothercorner.Therewasnogarretatall,andnocellar—exceptasmall
trou
holedugintheground,calledacyclonecellar,wherethefamilycouldgoincaseoneofthosegreatwhirlwindsarose,mightyenoughtocrushanybâtiment
buildinginitspath.Itwas
arrivait
reachedbyatrapdoorinthemilieu
middleofthefloor,fromwhichaladdermenait
leddownintothesmall,sombre
darkhole.WhenDorothystoodinthedoorwayandlookedaround,shecouldseenothingbutthegreatgrayprairieoneveryside.
Nota
arbre
treenorahousebrokethebroadsweepofflatcountrythatatteignait
reachedtotheedgeoftheciel
skyinalldirections.The
soleil
sunhadbakedtheplowedterre
landintoagraymass,withlittlecracksrunningthroughit.Eventhegrasswasnotgreen,forthe
soleil
sunhadburnedthetopsofthelongbladesuntiltheywerethesamegraycolortobeseenpartout
everywhere.Oncethehousehadbeenpainted,butthe
soleil
sunblisteredthepaintandtherainswasheditaway,andnowthehousewasasdullandgrayaseverythingelse.When
Tante
AuntEmcametheretoliveshewasayoung,prettywife.The
soleil
sunandwindhadchangedher,too.Theyhadtakenthesparklefromhereyesandleftthemasobergray;
theyhadtakentheredfromhercheeksandlips,andtheyweregrayalso.
Shewasthinandgaunt,andneversmilednow.
WhenDorothy,whowasanorphan,firstcametoher,
Tante
AuntEmhadbeensostartledbythechild’slaughterthatshewouldscreamandpressherhanduponherheartwheneverDorothy’smerryvoix
voicereachedherears;andshestilllookedatthelittlegirlwithwonderthatshecouldfindanythingto
rire
laughat.UncleHenryneverlaughed.
Heworkedhardfrommorningtillnightanddidnotknowwhatjoywas.
Hewasgrayalso,fromhislongbeardtohisroughboots,andhelookedsternandsolemn,andrarelyspoke.
ItwasTotothatmadeDorothy
rire
laugh,andsavedherfromgrowingasgrayasherothersurroundings.Totowasnotgray;
hewasalittleblackdog,withlongsilkyhairandsmallblackeyesthattwinkledmerrilyoneithersideofhisfunny,wee
nez
nose.Totoplayedalldaylong,andDorothyplayedwithhim,andlovedhimdearly.
Today,
cependant
however,theywerenotplaying.UncleHenrysatuponthedoorstepandlookedanxiouslyatthe
ciel
sky,whichwasevengrayerthanusual.DorothystoodinthedoorwithTotoinherarms,andlookedatthe
ciel
skytoo.AuntEmwas
laver
washingthedishes.Fromthefar
nord
norththeyheardalowwailofthevent
wind,andUncleHenryandDorothycouldseewherethelonggrassbowedinwavesbeforethecomingstorm.Therenowcameasharpwhistlingintheairfromthe
sud
south,andastheyturnedtheireyesthatwaytheysawripplesinthegrasscomingfromthatdirectionalso.Soudain
SuddenlyUncleHenrystoodup.“There’sacyclonecoming,Em,”hecalledtohiswife.
“I’llgolookafterthestock.”
Thenherantowardtheshedswherethecowsandhorseswerekept.
Tante
AuntEmdroppedherworkandcametothedoor.Oneglancetoldherofthedangercloseathand.
“Quick,Dorothy!”
shescreamed.
“Runforthecellar!”
Toto
sauté
jumpedoutofDorothy’sarmsandcaché
hidunderthebed,andthegirlstartedtogethim.Tante
AuntEm,badlyfrightened,threwopenthetrapdoorinthesol
floorandclimbeddowntheladderintothesmall,sombre
darkhole.DorothycaughtTotoatlastandstartedtofollowher
tante
aunt.Whenshewashalfwayacrosstheroomtherecameagreatshriekfromthe
vent
wind,andthehouseshooksohardthatshelostherfootingandsatdownsoudainement
suddenlyuponthefloor.Thena
étrange
strangethinghappened.Thehousewhirledaroundtwoorthreetimesandroseslowlythroughtheair.
Dorothyfeltasifsheweregoingupinaballoon.
The
nord
northandsouthwindsmetwherethehousestood,andmadeittheexactcenterofthecyclone.Inthe
milieu
middleofacyclonetheairisgenerallystill,butthegreatpressureofthevent
windoneverysideofthehousesoulevé
raisedituphigherandhigher,untilitwasattheverytopofthecyclone;andthereitremainedandwascarriedmilesandmilesawayaseasilyasyoucould
porter
carryafeather.Itwasvery
sombre
dark,andthewindhowledhorriblyaroundher,butDorothyfoundshewasmontait
ridingquiteeasily.Afterthefirstfewwhirlsaround,andoneothertimewhenthehousetippedbadly,shefeltasifshewerebeingrockedgently,likeababyinacradle.
Totodidnotlikeit.
Heranabouttheroom,nowhere,nowthere,barkingloudly;
butDorothysatquitestillonthe
sol
floorandwaitedtoseewhatwouldhappen.OnceTotogottooneartheopentrapdoor,andfellin;
andatfirstthelittlegirlthoughtshehadlosthim.
Butsoonshesawoneofhisears
tenait
stickingupthroughthehole,forthestrongpressureoftheairwaskeepinghimupsothathecouldnotfall.Shecrepttothe
trou
hole,caughtTotobytheear,anddraggedhimintotheroomagain,afterwardclosingthetrapdoorsothatnomoreaccidentscouldhappen.Hourafterhour
passait
passedaway,andslowlyDorothygotoverherfright;butshefeltquitelonely,andthe
vent
windshriekedsoloudlyallaboutherthatshenearlybecamedeaf.Atfirstshehad
demandée
wonderedifshewouldbedashedtopieceswhenthehousefellagain;butasthehourspassedandnothing
terrible
terriblehappened,shestoppedworryingandresolvedtowaitcalmlyandseewhatthefuturewouldbring.Atlastshecrawledovertheswaying
sol
floortoherbed,andlaydownuponit;andTotofollowedandlaydownbesideher.
ChapterIITheCouncilwiththeMunchkins
Shewasawakenedbyashock,sosuddenandseverethatifDorothyhadnotbeenlyingonthesoftbedshemighthavebeenhurt.
Asitwas,thejarmadehercatchherbreathand
se demander
wonderwhathadhappened;andTotoputhiscoldlittle
nez
noseintoherfaceandwhineddismally.Dorothysatupand
remarqua
noticedthatthehousewasnotmoving;norwasitdark,forthebrightsunshinecameinatthe
fenêtre
window,floodingthelittleroom.ShesprangfromherbedandwithTotoatherheelsranandopenedthedoor.
Thelittlegirlgavea
cri
cryofamazementandlookedabouther,hereyesgrandissant
growingbiggerandbiggeratthewonderfulsightsshesaw.Thecyclonehadsetthehousedownverygently—foracyclone—inthemidstofacountryofmarvelous
beauté
beauty.Therewerelovelypatchesofgreenswardallabout,withstatelytrees
portant
bearingrichandlusciousfruits.Banksofgorgeousflowerswereoneveryhand,andbirdswithrareandbrilliantplumagesangandflutteredinthetreesandbushes.
Alittlewayoffwasasmallbrook,rushingandsparklingalongbetweengreenbanks,andmurmuringina
voix
voiceverygratefultoalittlegirlwhohadlivedsolongonthedry,grayprairies.Whileshestoodlookingeagerlyatthestrangeandbeautifulsights,she
remarqué
noticedcomingtowardheragroupe
groupofthequeerestpeopleshehadeverseen.Theywerenotasbigasthegrownfolkshehadalwaysbeenusedto;
butneitherweretheyverysmall.
Infact,they
semblaient
seemedaboutastallasDorothy,whowasawell-grownchildforherâge
age,althoughtheywere,sofaraslooksgo,manyyearsolder.Threeweremenandoneawoman,andallwereoddlydressed.
They
portaient
woreroundhatsthatrosetoasmallpointafootau-dessus
abovetheirheads,withlittlebellsaroundthebrimsthattinkledsweetlyastheymoved.Thehatsofthemenwereblue;
thelittlewoman’shatwaswhite,andshe
portait
woreawhitegownthathunginpleatsfromhershoulders.Overitweresprinkledlittlestarsthatglistenedinthe
soleil
sunlikediamonds.Themenweredressedin
bleu
blue,ofthesameshadeastheirhats,andportaient
worewell-polishedbootswithaprofond
deeprollofblueatthetops.Themen,Dorothythought,wereaboutasoldasUncleHenry,fortwoofthemhadbeards.
Butthelittlewomanwasdoubtlessmucholder.
Herfacewas
couvert
coveredwithwrinkles,herhairwasnearlywhite,andshewalkedplutôt
ratherstiffly.WhenthesepeopledrewnearthehousewhereDorothywasstandinginthedoorway,theypausedandwhisperedamongthemselves,asifafraidtocomefarther.
ButthelittleoldwomanwalkeduptoDorothy,madealowbowandsaid,inasweet
voix
voice:.“Youarewelcome,mostnobleSorceress,tothelandoftheMunchkins.
WearesogratefultoyouforhavingkilledtheWickedWitchoftheEast,andforsettingourpeoplefreefrombondage.”
Dorothylistenedtothisspeechwithwonder.
Whatcouldthelittlewomanpossiblymeanbycallingherasorceress,andsayingshehadkilledtheWickedWitchoftheEast?
Dorothywasaninnocent,harmlesslittlegirl,whohadbeencarriedbyacyclonemanymilesfromhome;
andshehadneverkilledanythinginallherlife.
Butthelittlewomanevidentlyexpectedhertoanswer;
soDorothysaid,withhesitation,“Youareverykind,buttheremustbesome
erreur
mistake.Ihavenotkilledanything.”
“Yourhousedid,anyway,”repliedthelittleoldwoman,witha
rire
laugh,“andthatisthesamething.See!”
she
continué
continued,pointingtothecornerofthehouse.“Therearehertwo
pieds
feet,stillstickingoutfromunderablockofwood.”Dorothylooked,andgavealittle
cri
cryoffright.There,indeed,justunderthecornerofthegreatbeamthehouserestedon,two
pieds
feetwerestickingout,shodinsilverchaussures
shoeswithpointedtoes.“Oh,dear!
Oh,dear!”
pleurait
criedDorothy,claspingherhandstogetherindismay.“Thehousemusthavefallenonher.
Whatevershallwedo?”
“Thereisnothingtobedone,”saidthelittlewomancalmly.
“Butwhowasshe?”
askedDorothy.
“ShewastheWickedWitchoftheEast,asIsaid,”answeredthelittlewoman.
“ShehasheldalltheMunchkinsinbondageformanyyears,makingthemslaveforhernightandday.
Nowtheyareallsetfree,andaregratefultoyouforthefavor.”
“WhoaretheMunchkins?”
inquiredDorothy.
“TheyarethepeoplewholiveinthislandoftheEastwheretheWickedWitchruled.”
“AreyouaMunchkin?”
askedDorothy.
“No,butIamtheirfriend,althoughIliveinthelandofthe
Nord
North.WhentheysawtheWitchoftheEastwasdeadtheMunchkinssentaswiftmessengertome,andIcameatonce.
IamtheWitchoftheNorth.”
“Oh,gracious!”
pleurait
criedDorothy.“Areyouarealwitch?”
“Yes,indeed,”answeredthelittlewoman.
“ButIamagoodwitch,andthepeopleloveme.
IamnotaspowerfulastheWickedWitchwaswhoruledhere,orIshouldhavesetthepeoplefreemyself.”
“ButIthoughtallwitcheswerewicked,”saidthegirl,whowashalffrightenedatfacingarealwitch.
“Oh,no,thatisagreat
erreur
mistake.TherewereonlyfourwitchesinalltheLandofOz,andtwoofthem,thosewholiveinthe
Nord
NorthandtheSouth,aregoodwitches.Iknowthisistrue,forIamoneofthemmyself,andcannotbemistaken.
ThosewhodweltintheEastandtheWestwere,indeed,wickedwitches;
butnowthatyouhavekilledoneofthem,thereisbutoneWickedWitchinalltheLandofOz—theonewholivesintheWest.”
“But,”saidDorothy,afteramoment’sthought,“AuntEmhastoldmethatthewitcheswerealldead—yearsandyearsago.”
“Whois
Tante
AuntEm?”inquiredthelittleoldwoman.
“Sheismy
tante
auntwholivesinKansas,whereIcamefrom.”TheWitchofthe
Nord
Northseemedtothinkforatime,withherheadbowedandhereyesuponthesol
ground.Thenshelookedupandsaid,“IdonotknowwhereKansasis,forIhaveneverheardthatcountry
parler
mentionedbefore.Buttellme,isitacivilizedcountry?”
“Oh,yes,”repliedDorothy.
“Thenthataccountsforit.
InthecivilizedcountriesIbelievetherearenowitchesleft,
ni
norwizards,norsorceresses,normagicians.But,yousee,theLandofOzhasneverbeencivilized,forwearecutofffromalltherestoftheworld.
Thereforewestillhavewitchesandwizardsamongstus.”
“Whoarethewizards?”
askedDorothy.
“OzhimselfistheGreatWizard,”answeredtheWitch,sinkingher
voix
voicetoawhisper.“Heismorepowerfulthanalltherestofustogether.
HelivesintheCityofEmeralds.”
Dorothywasgoingtoaskanotherquestion,butjustthentheMunchkins,whohadbeenstandingsilentlyby,gavealoudshoutandpointedtothecornerofthehousewheretheWickedWitchhadbeenlying.
“Whatisit?”
askedthelittleoldwoman,andlooked,and
commencé
begantolaugh.ThefeetofthedeadWitchhaddisappearedentirely,andnothingwasleftbutthesilver
chaussures
shoes.“Shewassoold,”
expliqua
explainedtheWitchoftheNord
North,“thatshedrieduprapidement
quicklyinthesun.Thatistheendofher.Butthesilver
chaussures
shoesareyours,andyoushallhavethemtowear.”Shereacheddownandpickedupthe
chaussures
shoes,andaftershakingthedustoutofthemhandedthemtoDorothy.“TheWitchoftheEastwasproudofthosesilvershoes,”saidoneoftheMunchkins,“andthereissomecharmconnectedwiththem;
butwhatitisweneverknew.”
Dorothy
porté
carriedtheshoesintothehouseandplacedthemonthetable
table.ThenshecameoutagaintotheMunchkinsandsaid:.
“Iamanxioustogetbacktomy
tante
auntanduncle,forIamsuretheywillworryaboutme.Canyouhelpmefindmyway?”
TheMunchkinsandtheWitchfirstlookedatoneanother,andthenatDorothy,andthenshooktheirheads.
“AttheEast,notfarfromhere,”saidone,“thereisagreatdesert,andnonecouldlivetocrossit.”
“ItisthesameattheSouth,”saidanother,“forIhavebeenthereandseenit.
The
Sud
SouthisthecountryoftheQuadlings.”“Iamtold,”saidthe
troisième
thirdman,“thatitisthesameattheWest.Andthatcountry,wheretheWinkieslive,isruledbytheWickedWitchoftheWest,whowouldmakeyouherslaveifyou
passiez
passedherway.”“TheNorthismyhome,”saidtheoldlady,“andatitsedgeisthesamegreatdesertthatsurroundsthisLandofOz.I’mafraid,mydear,youwillhavetolivewithus.”
Dorothy
commencé
begantosobatthis,forshefeltlonelyamongallthesestrangepeople.Hertears
semblaient
seemedtogrievethekind-heartedMunchkins,fortheyimmédiatement
immediatelytookouttheirhandkerchiefsandcommencé
begantoweepalso.Asforthelittleoldwoman,shetookoffhercapandbalancedthepointontheendofher
nez
nose,whileshecounted“One,two,three”inasolemnvoix
voice.Atoncethecapchangedtoaslate,onwhichwaswritteninbig,whitechalkmarks:.
“LETDOROTHYGOTOTHECITYOFEMERALDS”.
Thelittleoldwomantooktheslatefromher
nez
nose,andhavingreadthewordsonit,asked,“IsyournameDorothy,mydear?”“Yes,”answeredthechild,lookingupanddryinghertears.
“ThenyoumustgototheCityofEmeralds.
PerhapsOzwillhelpyou.”
“Whereisthiscity?”
askedDorothy.
“Itisexactlyinthecenterofthecountry,andisruledbyOz,theGreatWizardItoldyouof.”
“Isheagoodman?”