Волшебство страны Оз
6. Ozma's Birthday Presents
WhenDorothyfollowedtheSorceressintothisdelightfulpatioallthefiftygirlswerebusilyweaving,andtheirshuttleswerefilledwithasparklinggreenspunglasssuchasthelittlegirlhadneverseenbefore.
"Whatisit,Glinda?"sheasked.
"Oneofmyrecentdiscoveries,"explainedtheSorceress."Ihavefoundawaytomakethreadsfromemeralds,bysofteningthestonesandthenspinningthemintolong,silkenstrands.WiththeseemeraldthreadsweareweavingclothtomakeOzmaasplendidcourtgownforherbirthday.Youwillnoticethatthethreadshaveallthebeautifulglitterandlusteroftheemeraldsfromwhichtheyaremade,andsoOzma’snewdresswillbethemostmagnificenttheworldhaseverseen,andquitefittingforourlovelyRuleroftheFairylandofOz."
Dorothy’seyeswerefairlydazedbythebrillianceoftheemeraldcloth,someofwhichthegirlshadalreadywoven.
"I’veneverseenANYthingsobeautiful!"shesaid,withasigh."Buttellme,Glinda,whatcanIgiveourlovelyOzmaonherbirthday?"
ThegoodSorceressconsideredthisquestionforalongtimebeforeshereplied.Finallyshesaid:
"OfcoursetherewillbeagrandfeastattheRoyalPalaceonOzma’sbirthday,andallourfriendswillbepresent.SoIsuggestthatyoumakeafinebigbirthdaycakeofOzma,andsurrounditwithcandles."
"Oh,justaCAKE!"exclaimedDorothy,indisappointment.
"Nothingisnicerforabirthday,"saidtheSorceress.
"Howmanycandlesshouldtherebeonthecake?"askedthegirl.
