Introduction
Folklore,legends,mythsandfairytaleshavefollowedchildhoodthroughtheages,foreveryhealthyyoungsterhasawholesomeandinstinctiveloveforstoriesfantastic,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
चाची
AuntEm,whowasthefarmer’swife.Theirhousewassmall,forthelumberto
बनाने
buildithadtobecarriedbywagonmanymiles.Therewerefourwalls,a
फर्श
floorandaroof,whichmadeoneroom;andthisroomcontainedarustylookingcookstove,acupboardforthedishes,a
मेज
table,threeorfourchairs,andthebeds.UncleHenryand
चाची
AuntEmhadabigbedinonecorner,andDorothyalittlebedinanothercorner.Therewasnogarretatall,andnocellar—exceptasmall
छेद
holedugintheground,calledacyclonecellar,wherethefamilycouldgoincaseoneofthosegreatwhirlwindsarose,mightyenoughtocrushanyइमारत
buildinginitspath.Itwasreachedbyatrapdoorinthe
बीच
middleofthefloor,fromwhichaladderleddownintothesmall,अंधेरे
darkhole.WhenDorothystoodinthedoorwayandlookedaround,shecouldseenothingbutthegreatgrayprairieoneveryside.
Nota
पेड़
treenorahousebrokethebroadsweepofflatcountrythatreachedtotheedgeoftheआकाश
skyinalldirections.The
सूरज
sunhadbakedtheplowedभूमि
landintoagraymass,withlittlecracksrunningthroughit.Eventhegrasswasnot
हरी
green,forthesunhadburnedthetopsofthelongbladesuntiltheywerethesamegraycolortobeseenहर जगह
everywhere.Oncethehousehadbeenpainted,butthe
सूरज
sunblisteredthepaintandtherainswasheditaway,andnowthehousewasasdullandgrayaseverythingelse.When
चाची
AuntEmcametheretoliveshewasayoung,prettywife.The
सूरज
sunandwindhadchangedher,too.Theyhadtakenthesparklefromhereyesandleftthemasobergray;
theyhadtakentheredfromhercheeksandlips,andtheyweregrayalso.
Shewasthinandgaunt,andneversmilednow.
WhenDorothy,whowasanorphan,firstcametoher,AuntEmhadbeensostartledbythechild’slaughterthatshewouldscreamandpressherhanduponherheartwheneverDorothy’smerryvoicereachedherears;
andshestilllookedatthelittlegirlwith
आश्चर्य
wonderthatshecouldfindanythingtolaughat.UncleHenryneverlaughed.
Heworkedhardfrommorningtillnightanddidnotknowwhatjoywas.
Hewasgrayalso,fromhislongbeardtohisroughboots,andhelookedsternandsolemn,andrarelyspoke.
ItwasTotothatmadeDorothylaugh,andsavedherfromgrowingasgrayasherothersurroundings.
Totowasnotgray;
hewasalittleblackdog,withlongsilkyhairandsmallblackeyesthattwinkledmerrilyoneithersideofhisfunny,wee
नाक
nose.Totoplayedalldaylong,andDorothyplayedwithhim,andlovedhimdearly.
Today,
हालांकि
however,theywerenotplaying.UncleHenrysatuponthedoorstepandlookedanxiouslyatthe
आकाश
sky,whichwasevengrayerthanusual.DorothystoodinthedoorwithTotoinherarms,andlookedatthe
आकाश
skytoo.AuntEmwaswashingthedishes.
Fromthefar
उत्तर
norththeyheardalowwailoftheहवा
wind,andUncleHenryandDorothycouldseewherethelonggrassbowedinwavesbeforethecomingstorm.Therenowcameasharpwhistlingintheairfromthe
दक्षिण
south,andastheyturnedtheireyesthatwaytheysawripplesinthegrasscomingfromthatdirectionalso.अचानक
SuddenlyUncleHenrystoodup.“There’sacyclonecoming,Em,”hecalledtohiswife.
“I’llgolookafterthestock.”
Thenherantowardtheshedswherethecowsandhorseswerekept.
AuntEmdroppedherworkandcametothedoor.
Oneglancetoldherofthedangercloseathand.
“Quick,Dorothy!”
shescreamed.
“Runforthecellar!”
TotojumpedoutofDorothy’sarmsandhidunderthebed,andthegirlstartedtogethim.
AuntEm,badlyfrightened,threwopenthetrapdoorinthe
फर्श
floorandclimbeddowntheladderintothesmall,अंधेरे
darkhole.DorothycaughtTotoatlastandstartedtofollowher
चाची
aunt.Whenshewashalfwayacrosstheroomtherecameagreatshriekfromthe
हवा
wind,andthehouseshooksohardthatshelostherfootingandsatdownअचानक
suddenlyuponthefloor.Thenastrangethinghappened.
Thehousewhirledaroundtwoorthreetimesandroseslowlythroughtheair.
Dorothyfeltasifsheweregoingupinaballoon.
The
उत्तर
northandsouthwindsmetwherethehousestood,andmadeittheexactकेंद्र
centerofthecyclone.Inthe
बीच
middleofacyclonetheairisgenerallystill,butthegreatpressureofthewindoneverysideofthehouseraisedituphigherandhigher,untilitwasattheverytopofthecyclone;andthereitremainedandwascarriedmilesandmilesawayaseasilyasyoucould
ले
carryafeather.Itwasverydark,andthe
हवा
windhowledhorriblyaroundher,butDorothyfoundshewasridingquiteeasily.Afterthefirstfewwhirlsaround,andoneothertimewhenthehousetippedbadly,shefeltasifshewerebeingrockedgently,likeababyinacradle.
Totodidnotlikeit.
Heranabouttheroom,nowhere,nowthere,barkingloudly;
butDorothysatquitestillonthe
फर्श
floorandwaitedtoseewhatwouldhappen.OnceTotogottooneartheopentrapdoor,andfellin;
andatfirstthelittlegirlthoughtshehadlosthim.
Butsoonshesawoneofhisearsstickingupthroughthe
छेद
hole,forthestrongpressureoftheairwaskeepinghimupsothathecouldnotfall.Shecrepttothe
छेद
hole,caughtTotobytheear,anddraggedhimintotheroomagain,afterwardclosingthetrapdoorsothatnomoreaccidentscouldhappen.Hourafterhourpassedaway,andslowlyDorothygotoverherfright;
butshefeltquitelonely,andthe
हवा
windshriekedsoloudlyallaboutherthatshenearlybecamedeaf.Atfirstshehadwonderedifshewouldbedashedtopieceswhenthehousefellagain;
butasthehourspassedandnothing
भयानक
terriblehappened,shestoppedworryingandresolvedtowaitcalmlyandseewhattheभविष्य
futurewouldbring.Atlastshecrawledovertheswaying
फर्श
floortoherbed,andlaydownuponit;andTotofollowedandlaydownbesideher.
ChapterIITheCouncilwiththeMunchkins
Shewasawakenedbyashock,sosuddenandseverethatifDorothyhadnotbeenlyingonthesoftbedshemighthavebeenhurt.
Asitwas,thejarmadehercatchherbreathandwonderwhathadhappened;
andTotoputhiscoldlittle
नाक
noseintoherfaceandwhineddismally.Dorothysatupandnoticedthatthehousewasnotmoving;
न
norwasitdark,forthebrightsunshinecameinattheखिड़की
window,floodingthelittleroom.ShesprangfromherbedandwithTotoatherheelsranandopenedthedoor.
Thelittlegirlgaveacryofamazementandlookedabouther,hereyesgrowingbiggerandbiggeratthe
अद्भुत
wonderfulsightsshesaw.Thecyclonehadsetthehousedownverygently—foracyclone—inthemidstofacountryofmarvelous
सुंदरता
beauty.Therewerelovelypatchesofgreenswardallabout,withstatelytreesbearing
समृद्ध
richandlusciousfruits.Banksofgorgeousflowerswereoneveryhand,andbirdswithrareandbrilliantplumagesangandflutteredinthetreesandbushes.
Alittlewayoffwasasmallbrook,rushingandsparklingalongbetween
हरी
greenbanks,andmurmuringinaआवाज
voiceverygratefultoalittlegirlwhohadlivedsolongonthedry,grayprairies.Whileshestoodlookingeagerlyatthe
अजीब
strangeandbeautifulsights,shenoticedcomingtowardheraसमूह
groupofthequeerestpeopleshehadeverseen.Theywerenotasbigasthegrownfolkshehadalwaysbeenusedto;
butneitherweretheyverysmall.
Infact,theyseemedaboutastallasDorothy,whowasawell-grownchildforher
उम्र
age,althoughtheywere,sofaraslooksgo,manyyearsolder.Threeweremenandoneawoman,andallwereoddlydressed.
Theywore
गोल
roundhatsthatrosetoasmallpointafootऊपर
abovetheirheads,withlittlebellsaroundthebrimsthattinkledsweetlyastheymoved.Thehatsofthemenwereblue;
thelittlewoman’shatwaswhite,andsheworeawhitegownthathunginpleatsfromhershoulders.
Overitweresprinkledlittlestarsthatglistenedinthe
सूरज
sunlikediamonds.Themenweredressedinblue,ofthesameshadeastheirhats,andworewell-polishedbootswithadeep
रोल
rollofblueatthetops.Themen,Dorothythought,wereaboutasoldasUncleHenry,fortwoofthemhadbeards.
Butthelittlewomanwasdoubtlessmucholder.
Herfacewascoveredwithwrinkles,herhairwasnearlywhite,andshewalkedratherstiffly.
Whenthesepeopledrew
पास
nearthehousewhereDorothywasstandinginthedoorway,theypausedandwhisperedamongthemselves,asifafraidtocomefarther.ButthelittleoldwomanwalkeduptoDorothy,madealowbowandsaid,inasweet
आवाज
voice:.“Youarewelcome,mostnobleSorceress,tothe
भूमि
landoftheMunchkins.WearesogratefultoyouforhavingkilledtheWickedWitchofthe
पूर्व
East,andforsettingourpeoplefreefrombondage.”Dorothylistenedtothisspeechwith
आश्चर्य
wonder.Whatcouldthelittlewomanpossiblymeanbycallingherasorceress,andsayingshehadkilledtheWickedWitchofthe
पूर्व
East?Dorothywasaninnocent,harmlesslittlegirl,whohadbeencarriedbyacyclonemanymilesfromhome;
andshehadneverkilledanythinginallherlife.
Butthelittlewomanevidentlyexpectedhertoanswer;
soDorothysaid,withhesitation,“Youareverykind,buttheremustbesome
गलती
mistake.Ihavenotkilledanything.”
“Yourhousedid,anyway,”repliedthelittleoldwoman,witha
हँसते
laugh,“andthatisthesamething.See!”
shecontinued,pointingtothecornerofthehouse.
“Therearehertwo
पैर
feet,stillstickingoutfromunderablockofwood.”Dorothylooked,andgavealittlecryoffright.
There,indeed,justunderthecornerofthegreatbeamthehouserestedon,two
पैर
feetwerestickingout,shodinsilverजूते
shoeswithpointedtoes.“Oh,dear!
Oh,dear!”
रोते
criedDorothy,claspingherhandstogetherindismay.“Thehousemusthavefallenonher.
Whatevershallwedo?”
“Thereisnothingtobedone,”saidthelittlewomancalmly.
“Butwhowasshe?”
askedDorothy.
“ShewastheWickedWitchofthe
पूर्व
East,asIsaid,”answeredthelittlewoman.“ShehasheldalltheMunchkinsinbondageformanyyears,makingthemslaveforhernightandday.
Nowtheyareallsetfree,andaregratefultoyouforthefavor.”
“WhoaretheMunchkins?”
inquiredDorothy.
“Theyarethepeoplewholiveinthis
भूमि
landoftheEastwheretheWickedWitchruled.”“AreyouaMunchkin?”
askedDorothy.
“No,butIamtheirfriend,althoughIliveinthe
भूमि
landoftheNorth.WhentheysawtheWitchofthe
पूर्व
EastwasdeadtheMunchkinssentaswiftmessengertome,andIcameatonce.IamtheWitchoftheNorth.”
“Oh,gracious!”
रो
criedDorothy.“Areyouarealwitch?”
“Yes,indeed,”answeredthelittlewoman.
“ButIamagoodwitch,andthepeopleloveme.
IamnotaspowerfulastheWickedWitchwaswhoruledhere,orIshouldhavesetthepeoplefreemyself.”
“ButIthoughtallwitcheswerewicked,”saidthegirl,whowashalffrightenedatfacingarealwitch.
“Oh,no,thatisagreat
गलती
mistake.Therewereonlyfourwitchesinallthe
भूमि
LandofOz,andtwoofthem,thosewholiveintheउत्तर
NorthandtheSouth,aregoodwitches.Iknowthisistrue,forIamoneofthemmyself,andcannotbemistaken.
Thosewhodweltinthe
पूर्व
EastandtheWestwere,indeed,wickedwitches;butnowthatyouhavekilledoneofthem,thereisbutoneWickedWitchinallthe
भूमि
LandofOz—theonewholivesintheWest.”“But,”saidDorothy,afteramoment’sthought,“AuntEmhastoldmethatthewitcheswerealldead—yearsandyearsago.”
“Whois
चाची
AuntEm?”inquiredthelittleoldwoman.
“Sheismy
चाची
auntwholivesinKansas,whereIcamefrom.”TheWitchofthe
उत्तर
Northseemedtothinkforatime,withherheadbowedandhereyesupontheजमीन
ground.Thenshelookedupandsaid,“IdonotknowwhereKansasis,forIhaveneverheardthatcountrymentionedbefore.
Buttellme,isitacivilizedcountry?”
“Oh,yes,”repliedDorothy.
“Thenthataccountsforit.
InthecivilizedcountriesIbelievetherearenowitchesleft,
न
norwizards,norsorceresses,normagicians.But,yousee,the
भूमि
LandofOzhasneverbeencivilized,forwearecutofffromalltherestoftheworld.Thereforewestillhavewitchesandwizardsamongstus.”
“Whoarethewizards?”
askedDorothy.
“OzhimselfistheGreatWizard,”answeredtheWitch,sinkingher
आवाज
voicetoawhisper.“Heismorepowerfulthanalltherestofustogether.
HelivesintheCityofEmeralds.”
Dorothywasgoingtoaskanotherquestion,butjustthentheMunchkins,whohadbeenstandingsilentlyby,gavealoudshoutandpointedtothecornerofthehousewheretheWickedWitchhadbeenlying.
“Whatisit?”
askedthelittleoldwoman,andlooked,andbegantolaugh.
The
पैर
feetofthedeadWitchhaddisappearedentirely,andnothingwasleftbutthesilverजूते
shoes.“Shewassoold,”explainedtheWitchofthe
उत्तर
North,“thatshedriedupजल्दी
quicklyinthesun.Thatistheendofher.Butthesilver
जूते
shoesareyours,andyoushallhavethemtowear.”Shereacheddownandpickedupthe
जूते
shoes,andaftershakingthedustoutofthemhandedthemtoDorothy.“TheWitchoftheEastwas
गर्व
proudofthosesilvershoes,”saidoneoftheMunchkins,“andthereissomecharmconnectedwiththem;butwhatitisweneverknew.”
Dorothycarriedthe
जूते
shoesintothehouseandplacedthemontheमेज
table.ThenshecameoutagaintotheMunchkinsandsaid:.
“Iamanxioustogetbacktomy
चाची
auntanduncle,forIamsuretheywillworryaboutme.Canyouhelpmefindmyway?”
TheMunchkinsandtheWitchfirstlookedatoneanother,andthenatDorothy,andthenshooktheirheads.
“AttheEast,notfarfromhere,”saidone,“thereisagreatdesert,andnonecouldliveto
पार
crossit.”“ItisthesameattheSouth,”saidanother,“forIhavebeenthereandseenit.
The
दक्षिण
SouthisthecountryoftheQuadlings.”“Iamtold,”saidthe
तीसरे
thirdman,“thatitisthesameattheपश्चिम
West.Andthatcountry,wheretheWinkieslive,isruledbytheWickedWitchofthe
पश्चिम
West,whowouldmakeyouherslaveifyoupassedherway.”“TheNorthismyhome,”saidtheoldlady,“andatitsedgeisthesamegreatdesertthatsurroundsthis
भूमि
LandofOz.I’mafraid,mydear,youwillhavetolivewithus.”Dorothybegantosobatthis,forshefeltlonelyamongallthesestrangepeople.
Hertearsseemedtogrievethekind-heartedMunchkins,forthey
तुरंत
immediatelytookouttheirhandkerchiefsandbegantoweepalso.Asforthelittleoldwoman,shetookoffhercapandbalancedthepointontheendofher
नाक
nose,whileshecounted“One,two,three”inasolemnआवाज
voice.Atoncethecapchangedtoaslate,onwhichwaswritteninbig,whitechalkmarks:.
“LETDOROTHYGOTOTHECITYOFEMERALDS”.
Thelittleoldwomantooktheslatefromher
नाक
nose,andhavingreadthewordsonit,asked,“IsyournameDorothy,mydear?”“Yes,”answeredthechild,lookingupanddryinghertears.
“ThenyoumustgototheCityofEmeralds.
PerhapsOzwillhelpyou.”
“Whereisthiscity?”
askedDorothy.
“Itisexactlyinthe
केंद्र
centerofthecountry,andisruledbyOz,theGreatWizardItoldyouof.”“Isheagoodman?”