Introduction
Folklore,legends,mythsandfairytaleshavefollowedchildhoodthroughtheages,foreveryhealthyyoungsterhasawholesomeandinstinctiveloveforstories
fantastiska
fantastic,marvelousandmanifestlyunreal.ThewingedfairiesofGrimmandAndersenhavebroughtmorehappinesstochildishheartsthanallotherhumancreations.
Yettheoldtimefairytale,havingservedforgenerations,maynowbeclassedas“historical”inthechildren’slibrary;
forthetimehascomeforaseriesofnewer“wondertales”inwhichthestereotypedgenie,dwarfandfairyareeliminated,togetherwithallthehorribleandblood-curdlingincidentsdevisedbytheirauthorstopointafearsomemoraltoeachtale.
Moderneducationincludesmorality;
thereforethemodernchildseeksonlyentertainmentinitswondertalesandgladlydispenseswithalldisagreeableincident.
Havingthisthoughtinmind,thestoryof“The
Underbara
WonderfulWizardofOz”waswrittensolelytopleasechildrenoftoday.Itaspirestobeingamodernizedfairytale,inwhichthewondermentandjoyareretainedandtheheartachesandnightmaresareleftout.
L.
ChapterITheCyclone
DorothylivedinthemidstofthegreatKansasprairies,withUncleHenry,whowasafarmer,and
Moster
AuntEm,whowasthefarmer’swife.Theirhousewassmall,forthelumberto
bygga
buildithadtobecarriedbywagonmanymiles.Therewerefourwalls,a
golv
floorandaroof,whichmadeoneroom;andthisroomcontainedarustylookingcookstove,acupboardforthedishes,a
bord
table,threeorfourchairs,andthebeds.UncleHenryand
Moster
AuntEmhadabigbedinonecorner,andDorothyalittlebedinanothercorner.Therewasnogarretatall,andnocellar—exceptasmall
hål
holedugintheground,calledacyclonecellar,wherethefamilycouldgoincaseoneofthosegreatwhirlwindsarose,mightyenoughtocrushanybuildinginitspath.Itwasreachedbyatrapdoorinthe
mitten
middleofthefloor,fromwhichaladderledde
leddownintothesmall,mörka
darkhole.WhenDorothystoodinthedoorwayandlookedaround,shecouldseenothingbutthegreatgrayprairieoneveryside.
Nota
träd
treenorahousebrokethebroadsweepofflatcountrythatreachedtotheedgeoftheskyinalldirections.The
solen
sunhadbakedtheplowedmarken
landintoagraymass,withlittlecracksrunningthroughit.Eventhegrasswasnot
grönt
green,forthesunhadbränt
burnedthetopsofthelongbladesuntiltheywerethesamegraycolortobeseenöverallt
everywhere.Oncethehousehadbeenpainted,butthe
solen
sunblisteredthepaintandtherainstvättade
washeditaway,andnowthehousewasasdullandgrayaseverythingelse.When
Moster
AuntEmcametheretoliveshewasayoung,prettywife.The
solen
sunandwindhadchangedher,too.Theyhadtakenthesparklefromhereyesandleftthemasobergray;
theyhadtakentheredfromhercheeksandlips,andtheyweregrayalso.
Shewasthinandgaunt,andnever
log
smilednow.WhenDorothy,whowasanorphan,firstcametoher,
Moster
AuntEmhadbeensostartledbythechild’slaughterthatshewouldscreamandtryckte
pressherhanduponherheartwheneverDorothy’smerryröst
voicereachedherears;andshestilllookedatthelittlegirlwith
undrade
wonderthatshecouldfindanythingtoskratta
laughat.UncleHenrynever
skrattade
laughed.Heworkedhardfrommorningtillnightanddidnotknowwhatjoywas.
Hewasgrayalso,fromhislongbeardtohisroughboots,andhelookedsternandsolemn,andrarelyspoke.
ItwasTotothatmadeDorothy
skratta
laugh,andsavedherfromgrowingasgrayasherothersurroundings.Totowasnotgray;
hewasalittleblackdog,withlongsilkyhairandsmallblackeyesthattwinkledmerrilyoneithersideofhisfunny,wee
näsa
nose.Totoplayedalldaylong,andDorothyplayedwithhim,andlovedhimdearly.
Today,
men
however,theywerenotplaying.UncleHenrysatuponthedoorstepandlookedanxiouslyatthe
himlen
sky,whichwasevengrayerthanusual.DorothystoodinthedoorwithTotoinherarms,andlookedatthe
himlen
skytoo.AuntEmwas
tvättade
washingthedishes.Fromthefar
norr
norththeyheardalowwailofthewind,andUncleHenryandDorothycouldseewherethelonggrassbowedinwavesbeforethecomingstorm.Therenowcameasharpwhistlingintheairfromthe
söder
south,andastheyturnedtheireyesthatwaytheysawripplesinthegrasscomingfromthatdirectionalso.Plötsligt
SuddenlyUncleHenrystoodup.“There’sacyclonecoming,Em,”hecalledtohiswife.
“I’llgolookafterthestock.”
Thenherantowardtheshedswherethecowsandhorseswerekept.
Faster
AuntEmdroppedherworkandcametothedoor.Oneglancetoldherofthedangercloseathand.
“Quick,Dorothy!”
shescreamed.
“Runforthecellar!”
Toto
hoppade
jumpedoutofDorothy’sarmsandgömde
hidunderthebed,andthegirlstartedtogethim.Moster
AuntEm,badlyfrightened,threwopenthetrapdoorinthegolvet
floorandclimbeddowntheladderintothesmall,mörka
darkhole.DorothycaughtTotoatlastandstartedtofollowher
moster
aunt.Whenshewashalfway
över
acrosstheroomtherecameagreatshriekfromthewind,andthehouseshooksohardthatshelostherfootingandsatdownplötsligt
suddenlyuponthefloor.Thenastrangethinghappened.
Thehousewhirledaroundtwoorthreetimesandroseslowlythroughtheair.
Dorothyfeltasifsheweregoingupinaballoon.
The
norra
northandsouthwindsmetwherethehousestood,andmadeittheexactcenterofthecyclone.Inthe
mitten
middleofacyclonetheairisgenerallystill,butthegreatpressureofthewindoneverysideofthehouseraisedituphigherandhigher,untilitwasattheverytopofthecyclone;andthereitremainedandwas
bära
carriedmilesandmilesawayaseasilyasyoucouldbära
carryafeather.Itwasvery
mörkt
dark,andthewindhowledhorriblyaroundher,butDorothyfoundshewasred
ridingquiteeasily.Afterthefirstfewwhirlsaround,andoneothertimewhenthehousetippedbadly,shefeltasifshewerebeingrockedgently,likeababyinacradle.
Totodidnotlikeit.
Heranabouttheroom,nowhere,nowthere,barkingloudly;
butDorothysatquitestillonthe
golvet
floorandwaitedtoseewhatwouldhappen.OnceTotogottoo
nära
neartheopentrapdoor,andfellin;andatfirstthelittlegirlthoughtshehadlosthim.
Butsoonshesawoneofhisears
sticka
stickingupthroughthehole,forthestrongpressureoftheairwaskeepinghimupsothathecouldnotfall.Shecrepttothe
hålet
hole,caughtTotobytheear,anddraggedhimintotheroomagain,afterwardclosingthetrapdoorsothatnomoreaccidentscouldhappen.Hourafterhourpassedaway,andslowlyDorothygotoverherfright;
butshefeltquitelonely,andthewindshriekedsoloudlyallaboutherthatshenearlybecamedeaf.
Atfirstshehad
undrat
wonderedifshewouldbedashedtopieceswhenthehousefellagain;butasthehourspassedandnothingterriblehappened,shestoppedworryingandresolvedtowaitcalmlyandseewhatthe
framtiden
futurewouldbring.Atlastshecrawledovertheswaying
golvet
floortoherbed,andlaydownuponit;andTotofollowedandlaydownbesideher.
ChapterIITheCouncilwiththeMunchkins
Shewasawakenedbyashock,sosuddenandseverethatifDorothyhadnotbeenlyingonthesoftbedshemighthavebeenhurt.
Asitwas,thejarmadehercatchherbreathand
undra
wonderwhathadhappened;andTotoputhiscoldlittle
näsa
noseintoherfaceandwhineddismally.Dorothysatupand
märkte
noticedthatthehousewasnotmoving;inte heller
norwasitdark,forthebrightsunshinecameinatthefönstret
window,floodingthelittleroom.ShesprangfromherbedandwithTotoatherheelsranandopenedthedoor.
Thelittlegirlgaveacryofamazementandlookedabouther,hereyesgrowing
större
biggerandbiggerattheunderbara
wonderfulsightsshesaw.Thecyclonehadsetthehousedownverygently—foracyclone—inthemidstofacountryofmarvelous
skönhet
beauty.Therewerelovelypatchesofgreenswardallabout,withstatelytrees
bar
bearingrichandlusciousfruits.Banksofgorgeousflowerswereoneveryhand,andbirdswithrareandbrilliantplumagesangandflutteredinthetreesandbushes.
Alittlewayoffwasasmallbrook,rushingandsparklingalongbetween
gröna
greenbanks,andmurmuringinaröst
voiceverygratefultoalittlegirlwhohadlivedsolongonthedry,grayprairies.Whileshestoodlookingeagerlyatthestrangeandbeautifulsights,she
märkte
noticedcomingtowardheragrupp
groupofthequeerestpeopleshehadeverseen.Theywerenotasbigasthegrownfolkshehadalwaysbeenusedto;
butneitherweretheyverysmall.
Infact,they
verkade
seemedaboutastallasDorothy,whowasawell-grownchildforherålder
age,althoughtheywere,sofaraslooksgo,manyyearsolder.Threeweremenandoneawoman,andallwereoddlydressed.
They
bar
woreroundhatsthatrosetoasmallpointafot
footabovetheirheads,withlittlebellsaroundthebrimsthattinkledsweetlyastheymoved.Thehatsofthemenwere
blå
blue;thelittlewoman’shatwaswhite,andshe
bar
woreawhitegownthathunginpleatsfromhershoulders.Overitweresprinkledlittlestarsthatglistenedinthe
solen
sunlikediamonds.Themenweredressedin
blått
blue,ofthesameshadeastheirhats,andbar
worewell-polishedbootswithadjup
deeprollofblueatthetops.Themen,Dorothythought,wereaboutasoldasUncleHenry,fortwoofthemhadbeards.
Butthelittlewomanwasdoubtlessmucholder.
Herfacewas
täckt
coveredwithwrinkles,herhairwasnearlywhite,andshewalkedganska
ratherstiffly.WhenthesepeopledrewnearthehousewhereDorothywasstandinginthedoorway,theypausedandwhisperedamongthemselves,asifafraidtocomefarther.
ButthelittleoldwomanwalkeduptoDorothy,madea
låg
lowbowandsaid,inasweetröst
voice:.“Youarewelcome,mostnobleSorceress,tothe
land
landoftheMunchkins.WearesogratefultoyouforhavingkilledtheWickedWitchofthe
Öst
East,andforsettingourpeoplefreefrombondage.”Dorothylistenedtothisspeechwith
förundran
wonder.Whatcouldthelittlewomanpossiblymeanbycallingherasorceress,andsayingshehadkilledtheWickedWitchofthe
Öst
East?Dorothywasaninnocent,harmlesslittlegirl,whohadbeencarriedbyacyclonemanymilesfromhome;
andshehadneverkilledanythinginallherlife.
Butthelittlewomanevidently
förväntade
expectedhertoanswer;soDorothysaid,withhesitation,“Youareverykind,buttheremustbesome
misstag
mistake.Ihavenotkilledanything.”
“Yourhousedid,anyway,”repliedthelittleoldwoman,witha
skratt
laugh,“andthatisthesamething.See!”
she
fortsatte
continued,pointingtothecornerofthehouse.“Therearehertwo
fötter
feet,stillstickingoutfromunderablockofwood.”Dorothylooked,andgavealittlecryoffright.
There,indeed,justunderthecornerofthegreatbeamthehouserestedon,two
fötter
feetwerestickingout,shodinsilvershoeswithpointedtoes.“Oh,dear!
Oh,dear!”
grät
criedDorothy,claspingherhandstogetherindismay.“Thehousemusthavefallenonher.
Whatevershallwedo?”
“Thereisnothingtobedone,”saidthelittlewomancalmly.
“Butwhowasshe?”
askedDorothy.
“ShewastheWickedWitchofthe
Öst
East,asIsaid,”answeredthelittlewoman.“ShehasheldalltheMunchkinsinbondageformanyyears,makingthemslaveforhernightandday.
Nowtheyareallsetfree,andaregratefultoyouforthefavor.”
“WhoaretheMunchkins?”
inquiredDorothy.
“Theyarethepeoplewholiveinthis
land
landoftheEastwheretheWickedWitchruled.”“AreyouaMunchkin?”
askedDorothy.
“No,butIamtheirfriend,althoughIliveinthe
landet
landoftheNorth.WhentheysawtheWitchoftheEastwasdeadtheMunchkinssentaswiftmessengertome,andIcameatonce.
IamtheWitchoftheNorth.”
“Oh,gracious!”
grät
criedDorothy.“Areyouarealwitch?”
“Yes,indeed,”answeredthelittlewoman.
“ButIamagoodwitch,andthepeopleloveme.
IamnotaspowerfulastheWickedWitchwaswhoruledhere,orIshouldhavesetthepeoplefreemyself.”
“ButIthoughtallwitcheswerewicked,”saidthegirl,whowashalffrightenedatfacingarealwitch.
“Oh,no,thatisagreat
misstag
mistake.Therewereonlyfourwitchesinallthe
Landet
LandofOz,andtwoofthem,thosewholiveintheNorr
NorthandtheSouth,aregoodwitches.Iknowthisistrue,forIamoneofthemmyself,andcannotbemistaken.
Thosewhodweltinthe
Öster
EastandtheWestwere,indeed,wickedwitches;butnowthatyouhavekilledoneofthem,thereisbutoneWickedWitchinallthe
Land
LandofOz—theonewholivesintheWest.”“But,”saidDorothy,afteramoment’sthought,“AuntEmhastoldmethatthewitcheswerealldead—yearsandyearsago.”
“Whois
Moster
AuntEm?”inquiredthelittleoldwoman.
“Sheismy
moster
auntwholivesinKansas,whereIcamefrom.”TheWitchofthe
Norr
Northseemedtothinkforatime,withherheadbowedandhereyesuponthemarken
ground.Thenshelookedupandsaid,“IdonotknowwhereKansasis,forIhaveneverheardthatcountrymentionedbefore.
Buttellme,isitacivilizedcountry?”
“Oh,yes,”repliedDorothy.
“Thenthataccountsforit.
InthecivilizedcountriesIbelievetherearenowitchesleft,
eller
norwizards,norsorceresses,normagicians.But,yousee,the
Land
LandofOzhasneverbeencivilized,forwearecutofffromalltherestoftheworld.Thereforewestillhavewitchesandwizardsamongstus.”
“Whoarethewizards?”
askedDorothy.
“OzhimselfistheGreatWizard,”answeredtheWitch,sinkingher
röst
voicetoawhisper.“Heismorepowerfulthanalltherestofustogether.
HelivesintheCityofEmeralds.”
Dorothywasgoingtoaskanotherquestion,butjustthentheMunchkins,whohadbeenstandingsilentlyby,gavealoudshoutandpointedtothecornerofthehousewheretheWickedWitchhadbeenlying.
“Whatisit?”
askedthelittleoldwoman,andlooked,and
började
begantolaugh.ThefeetofthedeadWitchhaddisappearedentirely,andnothingwasleftbutthesilvershoes.
“Shewassoold,”
förklarade
explainedtheWitchoftheNorra
North,“thatshedriedupsnabbt
quicklyinthesun.Thatistheendofher.Butthesilvershoesareyours,andyoushallhavethemtowear.”
Shereacheddownandpickedupthe
skorna
shoes,andaftershakingthedustoutofthemhandedthemtoDorothy.“TheWitchoftheEastwasproudofthosesilvershoes,”saidoneoftheMunchkins,“andthereissomecharmconnectedwiththem;
butwhatitisweneverknew.”
Dorothy
bar
carriedtheshoesintothehouseandplacedthemonthebordet
table.ThenshecameoutagaintotheMunchkinsandsaid:.
“Iamanxioustogetbacktomy
moster
auntanduncle,forIamsuretheywillworryaboutme.Canyouhelpmefindmyway?”
TheMunchkinsandtheWitchfirstlookedatoneanother,andthenatDorothy,andthenshooktheirheads.
“Atthe
Öster
East,notfarfromhere,”saidone,“thereisagreatdesert,andingen
nonecouldlivetocrossit.”“ItisthesameattheSouth,”saidanother,“forIhavebeenthereandseenit.
TheSouthisthecountryoftheQuadlings.”
“Iamtold,”saidthe
tredje
thirdman,“thatitisthesameattheVäst
West.Andthatcountry,wheretheWinkieslive,isruledbytheWickedWitchofthe
Väst
West,whowouldmakeyouherslaveifyoupassedherway.”“TheNorthismyhome,”saidtheoldlady,“andatitsedgeisthesamegreatdesertthatsurroundsthis
Land
LandofOz.I’mafraid,mydear,youwillhavetolivewithus.”Dorothy
började
begantosobatthis,forshefeltlonelyamongallthesefrämmande
strangepeople.Hertearsseemedtogrievethekind-heartedMunchkins,forthey
omedelbart
immediatelytookouttheirhandkerchiefsandbörjade
begantoweepalso.Asforthelittleoldwoman,shetookoffhercapandbalancedthepointontheendofher
näsan
nose,whileshecounted“One,two,three”inasolemnröst
voice.Atoncethecapchangedtoaslate,onwhichwaswritteninbig,whitechalkmarks:.
“LETDOROTHYGOTOTHECITYOFEMERALDS”.
Thelittleoldwomantooktheslatefromher
näsa
nose,andhavingreadthewordsonit,asked,“IsyournameDorothy,mydear?”“Yes,”answeredthechild,lookingupanddryinghertears.
“ThenyoumustgototheCityofEmeralds.
PerhapsOzwillhelpyou.”
“Whereisthiscity?”
askedDorothy.
“Itisexactlyinthecenterofthecountry,andisruledbyOz,theGreatWizardItoldyouof.”
“Isheagoodman?”