Introduction
Folklore,legends,mythsand
परियों
fairytaleshavefollowedchildhoodthroughtheages,foreveryस्वस्थ
healthyyoungsterhasawholesomeandinstinctiveloveforstoriesfantastic,marvelousandmanifestlyunreal.ThewingedfairiesofGrimmandAndersenhavebroughtmore
खुशी
happinesstochildishheartsthanallotherhumancreations.Yettheoldtime
परियों
fairytale,havingservedforgenerations,maynowbeclassedas“historical”inthechildren’sपुस्तकालय
library;forthetimehascomefora
श्रृंखला
seriesofnewer“wondertales”inwhichthestereotypedgenie,dwarfandपरी
fairyareeliminated,togetherwithalltheभयानक
horribleandblood-curdlingincidentsdevisedbytheirauthorstopointafearsomemoraltoeachtale.आधुनिक
Moderneducationincludesmorality;thereforethe
आधुनिक
modernchildseeksonlyentertainmentinitswondertalesandgladlydispenseswithalldisagreeableincident.Havingthisthoughtinmind,thestoryof“TheWonderfulWizardofOz”waswrittensolelytopleasechildrenoftoday.
Itaspirestobeingamodernizedfairytale,inwhichthewondermentandjoyareretainedandtheheartachesandnightmaresareleftout.
L.
ChapterITheCyclone
DorothylivedinthemidstofthegreatKansasprairies,withUncleHenry,whowasafarmer,andAuntEm,whowasthefarmer’swife.
Theirhousewassmall,forthelumbertobuildithadtobecarriedbywagonmanymiles.
Therewerefourwalls,aflooranda
छत
roof,whichmadeoneroom;andthisroomcontainedarustylookingcookstove,acupboardforthedishes,atable,threeorfourchairs,andthebeds.
UncleHenryandAuntEmhadabigbedinone
कोने
corner,andDorothyalittlebedinanotherकोने
corner.Therewasnogarretatall,andnocellar—exceptasmallhole
खोदे
dugintheground,calledacyclonecellar,wherethefamilycouldgoincaseoneofthosegreatwhirlwindsarose,mightyenoughtocrushanybuildinginitspath.Itwasreachedbya
जाल
trapdoorinthemiddleofthefloor,fromwhichaladderleddownintothesmall,darkhole.WhenDorothystoodinthedoorwayandlookedaround,shecouldseenothingbutthegreatgrayprairieoneveryside.
Notatreenorahousebrokethebroadsweepof
समतल
flatcountrythatreachedtotheकिनारे
edgeoftheskyinalldirections.Thesunhadbakedtheplowedlandintoagray
द्रव्यमान
mass,withlittlecracksrunningthroughit.Eventhe
घास
grasswasnotgreen,forthesunhadburnedthetopsofthelongbladesuntiltheywerethesamegrayरंग
colortobeseeneverywhere.Oncethehousehadbeenpainted,butthesunblisteredthe
पेंट
paintandtherainswasheditaway,andnowthehousewasasdullandgrayaseverythingelse.WhenAuntEmcametheretoliveshewasayoung,prettywife.
Thesunandwindhadchangedher,too.
Theyhadtakenthesparklefromhereyesandleftthemasobergray;
theyhadtakentheredfromhercheeksandlips,andtheyweregrayalso.
Shewas
पतली
thinandgaunt,andneversmilednow.WhenDorothy,whowasanorphan,firstcametoher,AuntEmhadbeensostartledbythechild’s
हँसी
laughterthatshewouldscreamandpressherhanduponherheartwheneverDorothy’smerryvoicereachedherears;andshestilllookedatthelittlegirlwithwonderthatshecouldfindanythingtolaughat.
UncleHenryneverlaughed.
Heworkedhardfrommorningtillnightanddidnotknowwhatjoywas.
Hewasgrayalso,fromhislongbeardtohisroughboots,andhelookedsternandsolemn,andrarelyspoke.
ItwasTotothatmadeDorothylaugh,andsavedherfromgrowingasgrayasherothersurroundings.
Totowasnotgray;
hewasalittleblackdog,withlongsilkyhairandsmallblackeyesthattwinkledmerrilyoneithersideofhisfunny,weenose.
Totoplayedalldaylong,andDorothyplayedwithhim,andlovedhimdearly.
Today,however,theywerenotplaying.
UncleHenrysatuponthedoorstepandlookedanxiouslyatthesky,whichwasevengrayerthan
सामान्य
usual.DorothystoodinthedoorwithTotoinherarms,andlookedattheskytoo.
AuntEmwaswashingthedishes.
Fromthefarnorththeyheardalowwailofthewind,andUncleHenryandDorothycouldseewherethelong
घास
grassbowedinwavesbeforethecomingतूफान
storm.Therenowcamea
तेज
sharpwhistlingintheairfromthesouth,andastheyturnedtheireyesthatwaytheysawripplesintheघास
grasscomingfromthatdirectionalso.SuddenlyUncleHenrystoodup.
“There’sacyclonecoming,Em,”hecalledtohiswife.
“I’llgolookafterthestock.”
Thenherantowardtheshedswherethecowsandhorseswerekept.
AuntEmdroppedherworkandcametothedoor.
Oneglancetoldherofthe
खतरे
dangercloseathand.“Quick,Dorothy!”
shescreamed.
“Runforthecellar!”
TotojumpedoutofDorothy’sarmsandhidunderthebed,andthegirlstartedtogethim.
AuntEm,
बुरी तरह
badlyfrightened,threwopentheजाल
trapdoorinthefloorandclimbeddowntheladderintothesmall,darkhole.DorothycaughtTotoatlastandstartedtofollowheraunt.
Whenshewashalfwayacrosstheroomtherecameagreatshriekfromthewind,andthehouseshooksohardthatshelostherfootingandsatdownsuddenlyuponthefloor.
Thenastrangethinghappened.
Thehousewhirledaroundtwoorthreetimesandrose
धीरे
slowlythroughtheair.Dorothyfeltasifsheweregoingupinaballoon.
Thenorthandsouthwindsmetwherethehousestood,andmadeitthe
सटीक
exactcenterofthecyclone.Inthemiddleofacyclonetheairisgenerallystill,butthegreat
दबाव
pressureofthewindoneverysideofthehouseraisedituphigherandhigher,untilitwasattheverytopofthecyclone;andthereit
रहा
remainedandwascarriedmilesandmilesawayasआसानी
easilyasyoucouldcarryafeather.Itwasverydark,andthewindhowledhorriblyaroundher,butDorothyfoundshewasridingquite
आसानी
easily.Afterthefirstfewwhirlsaround,andoneothertimewhenthehousetipped
बुरी तरह
badly,shefeltasifshewerebeingrockedgently,likeababyinacradle.Totodidnotlikeit.
Heranabouttheroom,nowhere,nowthere,barkingloudly;
butDorothysatquitestillonthefloorandwaitedtoseewhatwouldhappen.
OnceTotogottooneartheopentrapdoor,andfellin;
andatfirstthelittlegirlthoughtshehadlosthim.
Butsoonshesawoneofhisearsstickingupthroughthehole,forthestrong
दबाव
pressureoftheairwaskeepinghimupsothathecouldnotfall.Shecrepttothehole,caughtTotobythe
कान
ear,anddraggedhimintotheroomagain,afterwardclosingthetrapdoorsothatnomoreaccidentscouldhappen.Hourafterhourpassedaway,and
धीरे
slowlyDorothygotoverherfright;butshefeltquite
अकेला
lonely,andthewindshriekedsoloudlyallaboutherthatshenearlybecameबहरा
deaf.Atfirstshehadwonderedifshewouldbedashedtopieceswhenthehousefellagain;
butasthehourspassedandnothingterriblehappened,shestoppedworryingandresolvedtowaitcalmlyandseewhatthefuturewouldbring.
Atlastshecrawledovertheswayingfloortoherbed,andlaydownuponit;
andTotofollowedandlaydownbesideher.
ChapterIIThe
परिषद
CouncilwiththeMunchkinsShewasawakenedbyashock,so
अचानक
suddenandseverethatifDorothyhadnotbeenlyingontheनरम
softbedshemighthavebeenhurt.Asitwas,thejarmadehercatchher
सांस
breathandwonderwhathadhappened;andTotoputhiscoldlittlenoseintoherfaceandwhineddismally.
Dorothysatupandnoticedthatthehousewasnotmoving;
norwasitdark,forthe
उज्ज्वल
brightsunshinecameinatthewindow,floodingthelittleroom.ShesprangfromherbedandwithTotoatherheelsranandopenedthedoor.
Thelittlegirlgaveacryofamazementandlookedabouther,hereyesgrowingbiggerandbiggeratthewonderfulsightsshesaw.
Thecyclonehadsetthehousedownverygently—foracyclone—inthemidstofacountryofmarvelousbeauty.
Therewerelovelypatchesofgreenswardallabout,withstatelytreesbearingrichandlusciousfruits.
Banksof
खूबसूरत
gorgeousflowerswereoneveryhand,andbirdswithदुर्लभ
rareandbrilliantplumagesangandflutteredinthetreesandbushes.Alittlewayoffwasasmallbrook,rushingandsparklingalongbetweengreenbanks,andmurmuringinavoicevery
आभारी
gratefultoalittlegirlwhohadlivedsolongontheसूखी
dry,grayprairies.Whileshestoodlookingeagerlyatthestrangeandbeautifulsights,shenoticedcomingtowardheragroupofthequeerestpeopleshehadeverseen.
Theywerenotasbigasthegrownfolkshehadalwaysbeenusedto;
butneitherweretheyverysmall.
Infact,theyseemedaboutastallasDorothy,whowasawell-grownchildforherage,
हालांकि
althoughtheywere,sofaraslooksgo,manyyearsबड़े
older.Threeweremenandoneawoman,andallwereoddlydressed.
Theyworeroundhatsthatrosetoasmallpointafootabovetheirheads,withlittlebellsaroundthebrimsthattinkledsweetlyastheymoved.
Thehatsofthemenwereblue;
thelittlewoman’s
टोपी
hatwaswhite,andsheworeawhitegownthathunginpleatsfromhershoulders.Overitweresprinkledlittlestarsthatglistenedinthesunlikediamonds.
Themenweredressedinblue,ofthesameshadeastheirhats,andworewell-polishedbootswithadeeprollofblueatthetops.
Themen,Dorothythought,wereaboutasoldasUncleHenry,fortwoofthemhadbeards.
Butthelittlewomanwasdoubtlessmucholder.
Herfacewascoveredwithwrinkles,herhairwas
लगभग
nearlywhite,andshewalkedratherstiffly.WhenthesepeopledrewnearthehousewhereDorothywasstandinginthedoorway,theypausedandwhisperedamongthemselves,asifafraidtocomefarther.
ButthelittleoldwomanwalkeduptoDorothy,madealow
धनुष
bowandsaid,inasweetvoice:.“Youarewelcome,mostnobleSorceress,tothelandoftheMunchkins.
Weareso
आभारी
gratefultoyouforhavingkilledtheWickedचुड़ैल
WitchoftheEast,andforsettingourpeoplefreefrombondage.”Dorothylistenedtothis
भाषण
speechwithwonder.Whatcouldthelittlewomanpossiblymeanbycallingherasorceress,andsayingshehadkilledtheWicked
चुड़ैल
WitchoftheEast?Dorothywasaninnocent,harmlesslittlegirl,whohadbeencarriedbyacyclonemanymilesfromhome;
andshehadneverkilledanythinginallherlife.
Butthelittlewomanevidentlyexpectedhertoanswer;
soDorothysaid,withhesitation,“Youareverykind,buttheremustbesomemistake.
Ihavenotkilledanything.”
“Yourhousedid,anyway,”repliedthelittleoldwoman,withalaugh,“andthatisthesamething.
See!”
shecontinued,pointingtothe
कोने
cornerofthehouse.“Therearehertwofeet,stillstickingoutfromundera
ब्लॉक
blockofwood.”Dorothylooked,andgavealittlecryoffright.
There,
वास्तव
indeed,justunderthecornerofthegreatbeamthehouserestedon,twofeetwerestickingout,shodinचांदी
silvershoeswithpointedtoes.“Oh,dear!
Oh,dear!”
criedDorothy,claspingherhandstogetherindismay.
“Thehousemusthavefallenonher.
Whatevershallwedo?”
“Thereisnothingtobedone,”saidthelittlewomancalmly.
“Butwhowasshe?”
askedDorothy.
“ShewastheWicked
चुड़ैल
WitchoftheEast,asIsaid,”answeredthelittlewoman.“ShehasheldalltheMunchkinsinbondageformanyyears,makingthem
दास
slaveforhernightandday.Nowtheyareallsetfree,andare
आभारी
gratefultoyouforthefavor.”“WhoaretheMunchkins?”
inquiredDorothy.
“TheyarethepeoplewholiveinthislandoftheEastwheretheWicked
चुड़ैल
Witchruled.”“AreyouaMunchkin?”
askedDorothy.
“No,butIamtheirfriend,
हालांकि
althoughIliveinthelandoftheNorth.Whentheysawthe
चुड़ैल
WitchoftheEastwasdeadtheMunchkinssentaswiftmessengertome,andIcameatonce.Iamthe
चुड़ैल
WitchoftheNorth.”“Oh,gracious!”
criedDorothy.
“Areyouarealwitch?”
“Yes,indeed,”answeredthelittlewoman.
“ButIamagood
चुड़ैल
witch,andthepeopleloveme.Iamnotas
शक्तिशाली
powerfulastheWickedWitchwaswhoruledhere,orIshouldhavesetthepeoplefreemyself.”“ButIthoughtallwitcheswerewicked,”saidthegirl,whowashalffrightenedatfacingareal
चुड़ैल
witch.“Oh,no,thatisagreatmistake.
TherewereonlyfourwitchesinalltheLandofOz,andtwoofthem,thosewholiveintheNorthandtheSouth,aregoodwitches.
Iknowthisistrue,forIamoneofthemmyself,andcannotbemistaken.
ThosewhodweltintheEastandtheWestwere,indeed,wickedwitches;
butnowthatyouhavekilledoneofthem,thereisbutoneWicked
चुड़ैल
WitchinalltheLandofOz—theonewholivesintheWest.”“But,”saidDorothy,afteramoment’sthought,“AuntEmhastoldmethatthewitcheswerealldead—yearsandyearsago.”
“WhoisAuntEm?”
inquiredthelittleoldwoman.
“SheismyauntwholivesinKansas,whereIcamefrom.”
The
चुड़ैल
WitchoftheNorthseemedtothinkforatime,withherheadझुका
bowedandhereyesupontheground.Thenshelookedupandsaid,“IdonotknowwhereKansasis,forIhaveneverheardthatcountrymentionedbefore.
Buttellme,isitacivilizedcountry?”
“Oh,yes,”repliedDorothy.
“Thenthataccountsforit.
InthecivilizedcountriesIbelievetherearenowitchesleft,norwizards,norsorceresses,normagicians.
But,yousee,theLandofOzhasneverbeencivilized,forwearecutofffromalltherestoftheworld.
इसलिए
Thereforewestillhavewitchesandwizardsamongstus.”“Whoarethewizards?”
askedDorothy.
“OzhimselfistheGreatWizard,”answeredthe
चुड़ैल
Witch,sinkinghervoicetoawhisper.“Heismore
शक्तिशाली
powerfulthanalltherestofustogether.HelivesintheCityofEmeralds.”
Dorothywasgoingtoaskanotherquestion,butjustthentheMunchkins,whohadbeenstandingsilentlyby,gavea
जोर
loudshoutandpointedtotheकोने
cornerofthehousewheretheWickedचुड़ैल
Witchhadbeenlying.“Whatisit?”
askedthelittleoldwoman,andlooked,andbegantolaugh.
Thefeetofthedead
चुड़ैल
Witchhaddisappearedentirely,andnothingwasleftbuttheचांदी
silvershoes.“Shewassoold,”explainedthe
चुड़ैल
WitchoftheNorth,“thatshedriedupquicklyinthesun.Thatistheendofher.Butthe
चांदी
silvershoesareyours,andyoushallhavethemtowear.”Shereacheddownandpickeduptheshoes,andaftershakingthe
धूल
dustoutofthemhandedthemtoDorothy.“The
चुड़ैल
WitchoftheEastwasproudofthoseचांदी
silvershoes,”saidoneoftheMunchkins,“andthereissomecharmconnectedwiththem;butwhatitisweneverknew.”
Dorothycarriedtheshoesintothehouseandplacedthemonthetable.
ThenshecameoutagaintotheMunchkinsandsaid:.
“Iamanxioustogetbacktomyauntanduncle,forIamsuretheywillworryaboutme.
Canyouhelpmefindmyway?”
TheMunchkinsandthe
चुड़ैल
Witchfirstlookedatoneanother,andthenatDorothy,andthenshooktheirheads.“AttheEast,notfarfromhere,”saidone,“thereisagreat
रेगिस्तान
desert,andnonecouldlivetocrossit.”“ItisthesameattheSouth,”saidanother,“forIhavebeenthereandseenit.
TheSouthisthecountryoftheQuadlings.”
“Iamtold,”saidthethirdman,“thatitisthesameattheWest.
Andthatcountry,wheretheWinkieslive,isruledbytheWicked
चुड़ैल
WitchoftheWest,whowouldmakeyouherदास
slaveifyoupassedherway.”“TheNorthismyhome,”saidtheoldlady,“andatits
किनारे
edgeisthesamegreatरेगिस्तान
desertthatsurroundsthisLandofOz.I’mafraid,mydear,youwillhavetolivewithus.”Dorothybegantosobatthis,forshefelt
अकेला
lonelyamongallthesestrangepeople.Hertearsseemedtogrievethekind-heartedMunchkins,fortheyimmediatelytookouttheirhandkerchiefsandbegantoweepalso.
Asforthelittleoldwoman,shetookoffhercapandbalancedthepointontheendofhernose,whileshecounted“One,two,three”inasolemnvoice.
Atoncethecapchangedtoaslate,onwhichwaswritteninbig,whitechalkmarks:.
“LETDOROTHYGOTOTHECITYOFEMERALDS”.
Thelittleoldwomantooktheslatefromhernose,andhavingreadthewordsonit,asked,“IsyournameDorothy,mydear?”
“Yes,”answeredthechild,lookingupanddryinghertears.
“ThenyoumustgototheCityofEmeralds.
PerhapsOzwillhelpyou.”
“Whereisthiscity?”
askedDorothy.
“Itisexactlyinthe
केंद्र
centerofthecountry,andisruledbyOz,theGreatWizardItoldyouof.”“Isheagoodman?”