Волшебство страны Оз
6. Ozma's Birthday Presents
"Justarowofthem,"repliedGlinda,"fornooneknowshowoldOzmais,althoughsheappearstoustobejustayounggirl—asfreshandfairasifshehadlivedbutafewyears."
"Acakedoesn’tseemlikemuchofapresent,"Dorothyasserted.
"Makeitasurprisecake,"suggestedtheSorceress."Don’tyourememberthefourandtwentyblackbirdsthatwerebakedinapie?Well,youneednotuseliveblackbirdsinyourcake,butyoucouldhavesomesurpriseofadifferentsort."
"Likewhat?"questionedDorothy,eagerly.
"IfItoldyou,itwouldn’tbeYOURpresenttoOzma,butMINE,"answeredtheSorceress,withasmile."Thinkitover,mydear,andIamsureyoucanoriginateasurprisethatwilladdgreatlytothejoyandmerrimentofOzma’sbirthdaybanquet."
DorothythankedherfriendandenteredtheRedWagonandtoldtheSawhorsetotakeherbackhometothepalaceintheEmeraldCity.
Onthewayshethoughtthematteroverseriouslyofmakingasurprisebirthdaycakeandfinallydecidedwhattodo.
Assoonasshereachedhome,shewenttotheWizardofOz,whohadaroomfittedupinoneofthehightowersofthepalace,wherehestudiedmagicsoastobeabletoperformsuchwizardryasOzmacommandedhimtodoforthewelfareofhersubjects.
TheWizardandDorothywerefirmfriendsandhadenjoyedmanystrangeadventurestogether.Hewasalittlemanwithabaldheadandsharpeyesandaround,jollyface,andbecausehewasneitherhaughtynorproudhehadbecomeagreatfavoritewiththeOzpeople.
"Wizard,"saidDorothy,"IwantyoutohelpmefixupapresentforOzma’sbirthday.
