The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Gradually Hardening Swedish B2 Books

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Gradually Hardening Swedish B2 Books

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Introduction
Folklore,legends,mythsandfairytaleshavefollowedchildhoodthroughtheages,foreveryhealthyyoungsterhasawholesomeandinstinctiveloveforstoriesfantastic,marvelousandmanifestlyunreal.
ThewingedfairiesofGrimmandAndersenhavebroughtmorehappinesstochildishheartsthanallotherhumancreations.
Yettheoldtimefairy
sagan
tale
,havingservedforgenerations,maynowbeclassedas“historical”inthechildren’slibrary;
forthetimehascomeforaseriesofnewer“wondertales”inwhichthestereotypedgenie,
dvärgen
dwarf
andfairyareeliminated,togetherwithallthehorribleandblood-curdlingincidentsdevisedbytheirauthorstopointafearsomemoraltoeach
berättelse
tale
.
Moderneducationincludesmorality;
thereforethemodernchildseeksonly
underhållning
entertainment
initswondertalesand
gärna
gladly
dispenseswithalldisagreeableincident.
Havingthisthoughtinmind,thestoryof“TheWonderful
Trollkarlen
Wizard
ofOz”waswritten
uteslutande
solely
topleasechildrenoftoday.
Itaspirestobeingamodernizedfairy
saga
tale
,inwhichthewondermentandjoyareretainedandtheheartachesandnightmaresareleftout.
L.
Kapitel
Chapter
ITheCyclone
DorothylivedinthemidstofthegreatKansasprairies,withUncleHenry,whowasa
bonde
farmer
,andAuntEm,whowasthefarmer’swife.
Theirhousewassmall,forthelumbertobuildithadtobecarriedby
vagn
wagon
manymiles.
Therewerefourwalls,afloorandaroof,whichmadeoneroom;
andthisroomcontainedarustylookingcookstove,a
skåp
cupboard
forthedishes,atable,threeorfourchairs,andthebeds.
UncleHenryandAuntEmhadabigbedinonecorner,andDorothyalittlebedinanothercorner.
Therewasnogarretatall,andnocellar—exceptasmallholedugintheground,calledacyclone
källare
cellar
,wherethefamilycouldgoincaseoneofthosegreatwhirlwinds
uppstod
arose
,mightyenoughtocrushanybuildinginitspath.
Itwasreachedbyatrapdoorinthemiddleofthefloor,fromwhicha
stege
ladder
leddownintothesmall,darkhole.
WhenDorothystoodinthe
dörröppningen
doorway
andlookedaround,shecouldseenothingbutthegreat
grå
gray
prairieoneveryside.
Notatreenorahousebrokethe
breda
broad
sweepofflatcountrythatreachedtotheedgeoftheskyinalldirections.
Thesunhadbakedtheplowedlandintoa
grå
gray
mass,withlittlecracksrunningthroughit.
Eventhegrasswasnotgreen,forthesunhadburnedthetopsofthelongbladesuntiltheywerethesame
grå
gray
colortobeseeneverywhere.
Oncethehousehadbeenpainted,butthesunblisteredthepaintandtherainswasheditaway,andnowthehousewasasdulland
grått
gray
aseverythingelse.
WhenAuntEmcametheretoliveshewasayoung,prettywife.
Thesunandwindhadchangedher,too.
Theyhadtakenthesparklefromhereyesandleftthema
nykter
sober
gray;
theyhadtakentheredfromhercheeksandlips,andtheywere
grå
gray
also.
Shewasthinandgaunt,andneversmilednow.
WhenDorothy,whowasan
föräldralös
orphan
,firstcametoher,AuntEmhadbeensostartledbythechild’slaughterthatshewouldscreamandpressherhanduponherheartwheneverDorothy’smerryvoicereachedherears;
andshestilllookedatthelittlegirlwithwonderthatshecouldfindanythingtolaughat.
UncleHenryneverlaughed.
Heworkedhardfrommorningtillnightanddidnotknowwhatjoywas.
Hewas
grå
gray
also,fromhislong
skägg
beard
tohisroughboots,andhelookedsternand
högtidlig
solemn
,andrarelyspoke.
ItwasTotothatmadeDorothylaugh,andsavedherfromgrowingas
grå
gray
asherothersurroundings.
Totowasnot
grå
gray
;
hewasalittleblackdog,withlongsilkyhairandsmallblackeyesthattwinkledmerrilyoneithersideofhisfunny,weenose.
Totoplayedalldaylong,andDorothyplayedwithhim,andlovedhim
dyrt
dearly
.
Today,however,theywerenotplaying.
UncleHenrysatuponthedoorstepandlookedanxiouslyatthesky,whichwasevengrayerthanusual.
DorothystoodinthedoorwithTotoinherarms,andlookedattheskytoo.
AuntEmwaswashingthedishes.
Fromthefarnorththeyheardalowwailofthewind,andUncleHenryandDorothycouldseewherethelonggrassbowedinwavesbeforethecomingstorm.
Therenowcameasharpwhistlingintheairfromthesouth,andastheyturnedtheireyesthatwaytheysawripplesinthegrasscomingfromthatdirectionalso.
SuddenlyUncleHenrystoodup.
“There’sacyclonecoming,Em,”hecalledtohiswife.
“I’llgolookafterthestock.”
Thenheran
mot
toward
theshedswherethecowsandhorseswerekept.
AuntEmdroppedherworkandcametothedoor.
One
blick
glance
toldherofthedangercloseathand.
“Quick,Dorothy!”
shescreamed.
“Runforthecellar!”
TotojumpedoutofDorothy’sarmsandhidunderthebed,andthegirlstartedtogethim.
AuntEm,badlyfrightened,threwopenthetrapdoorinthefloorandclimbeddowntheladderintothesmall,darkhole.
DorothycaughtTotoatlastandstartedtofollowheraunt.
Whenshewas
halvvägs
halfway
acrosstheroomtherecameagreatshriekfromthewind,andthehouseshooksohardthatshelostherfootingandsatdownsuddenlyuponthefloor.
Thenastrangethinghappened.
Thehousewhirledaroundtwoorthreetimesandroseslowlythroughtheair.
Dorothyfeltasifsheweregoingupina
ballong
balloon
.
Thenorthandsouthwindsmetwherethehousestood,andmadeittheexactcenterofthecyclone.
Inthemiddleofacyclonetheairisgenerallystill,butthegreatpressureofthewindoneverysideofthehouseraisedituphigherandhigher,untilitwasattheverytopofthecyclone;
andthereitremainedandwascarriedmilesandmilesawayaseasilyasyoucouldcarrya
fjäder
feather
.
Itwasverydark,andthewind
ylade
howled
horriblyaroundher,butDorothyfoundshewasridingquiteeasily.
Afterthefirstfewwhirlsaround,andoneothertimewhenthehousetippedbadly,shefeltasifshewerebeingrocked
försiktigt
gently
,likeababyina
vagga
cradle
.
Totodidnotlikeit.
Heranabouttheroom,nowhere,nowthere,
skäller
barking
loudly;
butDorothysatquitestillonthefloorandwaitedtoseewhatwouldhappen.
OnceTotogottooneartheopentrapdoor,andfellin;
andatfirstthelittlegirlthoughtshehadlosthim.
Butsoonshesawoneofhisearsstickingupthroughthehole,forthestrongpressureoftheairwaskeepinghimupsothathecouldnotfall.
She
kröp
crept
tothehole,caughtTotobytheear,anddraggedhimintotheroomagain,afterwardclosingthetrapdoorsothatnomoreaccidentscouldhappen.
Hourafterhourpassedaway,andslowlyDorothygotoverher
skräck
fright
;
butshefeltquitelonely,andthewindshriekedso
högt
loudly
allaboutherthatshenearlybecamedeaf.
Atfirstshehadwonderedifshewouldbedashedtopieceswhenthehousefellagain;
butasthehourspassedandnothingterriblehappened,shestoppedworryingandresolvedtowait
lugnt
calmly
andseewhatthefuturewouldbring.
Atlastshe
kröp
crawled
overtheswayingfloortoherbed,andlaydownuponit;
andTotofollowedandlaydownbesideher.
Kapitel
Chapter
IITheCouncilwiththeMunchkins
Shewasawakenedbyashock,sosuddenand
allvarlig
severe
thatifDorothyhadnotbeenlyingonthesoftbedshemighthavebeenhurt.
Asitwas,the
burken
jar
madehercatchherbreathandwonderwhathadhappened;
andTotoputhiscoldlittlenoseintoherfaceand
gnällde
whined
dismally.
Dorothysatupandnoticedthatthehousewasnotmoving;
norwasitdark,forthebrightsunshinecameinatthewindow,
översvämmade
flooding
thelittleroom.
ShesprangfromherbedandwithTotoatherheelsranandopenedthedoor.
Thelittlegirlgaveacryofamazementandlookedabouther,hereyesgrowingbiggerandbiggeratthewonderfulsightsshesaw.
Thecyclonehadsetthehousedownverygently—foracyclone—inthemidstofacountryofmarvelousbeauty.
Therewerelovelypatchesofgreenswardallabout,withstatelytreesbearingrichandlusciousfruits.
Banksofgorgeousflowerswereoneveryhand,andbirdswithrareandbrilliantplumagesangandflutteredinthetreesandbushes.
Alittlewayoffwasasmallbrook,rushingandsparklingalongbetweengreenbanks,andmurmuringinavoiceverygratefultoalittlegirlwhohadlivedsolongonthedry,
grå
gray
prairies.
Whileshestoodlooking
ivrigt
eagerly
atthestrangeandbeautifulsights,shenoticedcoming
mot
toward
heragroupofthequeerestpeopleshehadeverseen.
Theywerenotasbigasthegrownfolkshehadalwaysbeenusedto;
butneitherweretheyverysmall.
Infact,theyseemedaboutastallasDorothy,whowasawell-grownchildforherage,althoughtheywere,sofaraslooksgo,manyyearsolder.
Threeweremenandoneawoman,andallwere
konstigt
oddly
dressed.
Theyworeroundhatsthatrosetoasmallpointafootabovetheirheads,withlittlebellsaroundthebrimsthattinkled
sött
sweetly
astheymoved.
Thehatsofthemenwereblue;
thelittlewoman’shatwaswhite,andsheworeawhite
klänning
gown
thathunginpleatsfromhershoulders.
Overitweresprinkledlittlestarsthatglistenedinthesunlikediamonds.
Themenweredressedinblue,ofthesame
nyans
shade
astheirhats,andworewell-polishedbootswithadeeprollofblueatthetops.
Themen,Dorothythought,wereaboutasoldasUncleHenry,fortwoofthemhadbeards.
Butthelittlewomanwasdoubtlessmucholder.
Herfacewascoveredwithwrinkles,herhairwasnearlywhite,andshewalkedratherstiffly.
WhenthesepeopledrewnearthehousewhereDorothywasstandinginthe
dörröppningen
doorway
,theypausedandwhisperedamongthemselves,asifafraidtocome
längre
farther
.
ButthelittleoldwomanwalkeduptoDorothy,madealowbowandsaid,inasweetvoice:.
“Youarewelcome,most
ädla
noble
Sorceress,tothelandoftheMunchkins.
Wearesogratefultoyouforhavingkilledthe
Onda
Wicked
WitchoftheEast,andforsettingourpeoplefreefrombondage.”
Dorothylistenedtothisspeechwithwonder.
Whatcouldthelittlewomanpossiblymeanbycallingherasorceress,andsayingshehadkilledthe
Onda
Wicked
WitchoftheEast?
Dorothywasaninnocent,
ofarlig
harmless
littlegirl,whohadbeencarriedbyacyclonemanymilesfromhome;
andshehadneverkilledanythinginallherlife.
Butthelittlewoman
uppenbarligen
evidently
expectedhertoanswer;
soDorothysaid,with
tvekan
hesitation
,“Youareverykind,buttheremustbesomemistake.
Ihavenotkilledanything.”
“Yourhousedid,anyway,”
svarade
replied
thelittleoldwoman,withalaugh,“andthatisthesamething.
See!”
shecontinued,pointingtothecornerofthehouse.
“Therearehertwofeet,stillstickingoutfromunderablockofwood.”
Dorothylooked,andgavealittlecryof
skräck
fright
.
There,indeed,justunderthecornerofthegreatbeamthehouserestedon,twofeetwerestickingout,shodinsilvershoeswithpointedtoes.
“Oh,dear!
Oh,dear!”
criedDorothy,claspingherhandstogetherindismay.
“Thehousemusthavefallenonher.
Whatevershallwedo?”
“Thereisnothingtobedone,”saidthelittlewoman
lugnt
calmly
.
“Butwhowasshe?”
askedDorothy.
“Shewasthe
Onda
Wicked
WitchoftheEast,asIsaid,”answeredthelittlewoman.
“ShehasheldalltheMunchkinsin
slaveri
bondage
formanyyears,makingthemslaveforhernightandday.
Nowtheyareallsetfree,andaregratefultoyouforthefavor.”
“WhoaretheMunchkins?”
frågade
inquired
Dorothy.
“TheyarethepeoplewholiveinthislandoftheEastwherethe
Onda
Wicked
Witchruled.”
“AreyouaMunchkin?”
askedDorothy.
“No,butIamtheirfriend,althoughIliveinthelandoftheNorth.
WhentheysawtheWitchoftheEastwasdeadtheMunchkinssenta
snabb
swift
messengertome,andIcameatonce.
IamtheWitchoftheNorth.”
“Oh,gracious!”
criedDorothy.
“Areyouarealwitch?”
“Yes,indeed,”answeredthelittlewoman.
“ButIamagoodwitch,andthepeopleloveme.
Iamnotaspowerfulasthe
Onda
Wicked
Witchwaswhoruledhere,orIshouldhavesetthepeoplefreemyself.”
“ButIthoughtallwitcheswerewicked,”saidthegirl,whowashalffrightenedatfacingarealwitch.
“Oh,no,thatisagreatmistake.
TherewereonlyfourwitchesinalltheLandofOz,andtwoofthem,thosewholiveintheNorthandtheSouth,aregoodwitches.
Iknowthisistrue,forIamoneofthemmyself,andcannotbemistaken.
Thosewho
bodde
dwelt
intheEastandtheWestwere,indeed,
onda
wicked
witches;
butnowthatyouhavekilledoneofthem,thereisbutone
Ond
Wicked
WitchinalltheLandofOz—theonewholivesintheWest.”
“But,”saidDorothy,afteramoment’sthought,“AuntEmhastoldmethatthewitcheswerealldead—yearsandyearsago.”
“WhoisAuntEm?”
frågade
inquired
thelittleoldwoman.
“SheismyauntwholivesinKansas,whereIcamefrom.”
TheWitchoftheNorthseemedtothinkforatime,withherheadbowedandhereyesupontheground.
Thenshelookedupandsaid,“IdonotknowwhereKansasis,forIhaveneverheardthatcountrymentionedbefore.
Buttellme,isitacivilizedcountry?”
“Oh,yes,”
svarade
replied
Dorothy.
“Thenthataccountsforit.
Inthe
civiliserade
civilized
countriesIbelievetherearenowitchesleft,norwizards,norsorceresses,normagicians.
But,yousee,theLandofOzhasneverbeencivilized,forwearecutofffromalltherestoftheworld.
Thereforewestillhavewitchesandwizards
bland
amongst
us.”
“Whoarethewizards?”
askedDorothy.
“OzhimselfistheGreatWizard,”answeredtheWitch,sinkinghervoicetoa
viskning
whisper
.
“Heismorepowerfulthanalltherestofustogether.
HelivesintheCityofEmeralds.”
Dorothywasgoingtoaskanotherquestion,butjustthentheMunchkins,whohadbeenstanding
tyst
silently
by,gavealoudshoutandpointedtothecornerofthehousewherethe
Onda
Wicked
Witchhadbeenlying.
“Whatisit?”
askedthelittleoldwoman,andlooked,andbegantolaugh.
ThefeetofthedeadWitchhaddisappeared
helt
entirely
,andnothingwasleftbutthesilvershoes.
“Shewassoold,”explainedtheWitchoftheNorth,“thatshedriedupquicklyinthesun.Thatistheendofher.
Butthesilvershoesareyours,andyoushallhavethemtowear.”
Shereacheddownandpickeduptheshoes,andaftershakingthedustoutofthemhandedthemtoDorothy.
“TheWitchoftheEastwasproudofthosesilvershoes,”saidoneoftheMunchkins,“andthereissome
charm
charm
connectedwiththem;
butwhatitisweneverknew.”
Dorothycarriedtheshoesintothehouseandplacedthemonthetable.
ThenshecameoutagaintotheMunchkinsandsaid:.
“Iamanxioustogetbacktomyauntanduncle,forIamsuretheywillworryaboutme.
Canyouhelpmefindmyway?”
TheMunchkinsandtheWitchfirstlookedatoneanother,andthenatDorothy,andthenshooktheirheads.
“AttheEast,notfarfromhere,”saidone,“thereisagreatdesert,andnonecouldlivetocrossit.”
“ItisthesameattheSouth,”saidanother,“forIhavebeenthereandseenit.
TheSouthisthecountryoftheQuadlings.”
“Iamtold,”saidthethirdman,“thatitisthesameattheWest.
Andthatcountry,wheretheWinkieslive,isruledbythe
Onda
Wicked
WitchoftheWest,whowouldmakeyouherslaveifyoupassedherway.”
“TheNorthismyhome,”saidtheoldlady,“andatitsedgeisthesamegreatdesertthat
omger
surrounds
thisLandofOz.I’mafraid,mydear,youwillhavetolivewithus.”
Dorothybegantosobatthis,forshefeltlonelyamongallthesestrangepeople.
Hertearsseemedtogrievethekind-heartedMunchkins,fortheyimmediatelytookouttheirhandkerchiefsandbegantoweepalso.
Asforthelittleoldwoman,shetookoffher
mössa
cap
andbalancedthepointontheendofhernose,whileshecounted“One,two,three”ina
högtidlig
solemn
voice.
Atoncethecapchangedtoaslate,onwhichwaswritteninbig,white
krita
chalk
marks:.
“LETDOROTHYGOTOTHECITYOFEMERALDS”.
Thelittleoldwomantooktheslatefromhernose,andhavingreadthewordsonit,asked,“IsyournameDorothy,mydear?”
“Yes,”answeredthechild,lookingupanddryinghertears.
“ThenyoumustgototheCityofEmeralds.
PerhapsOzwillhelpyou.”
“Whereisthiscity?”
askedDorothy.
“Itisexactlyinthecenterofthecountry,andisruledbyOz,theGreat
Trollkarlen
Wizard
Itoldyouof.”
“Isheagoodman?”