Волшебство страны Оз
15. The Lonesome Duck
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"DoyouthinkIcouldwishforanythingelse,Cap’nandgetit?"sheinquiredanxiously.
"Whatareyouthinkin’of,Trot?"
"I’mthinkingofwishingthattheserootsonourfeetwoulddisappear,andletusfree."
"Tryit,Trot."
Soshetriedit,andthewishhadnoeffectwhatever.
"Tryityourself,Cap’n,"shesuggested.
ThenCap’nBillmadethewishtobefree,withnobetterresult.
"No,"saidhe,"it’snouse;thewishesonlyaffecttheMagicPlant;butI’mgladwecanmakeitbearfruit,’causenowweknowwewon’tstarvebeforetheWizardgetstous."
"ButI’mgett’n’tiredstandingheresolong,"complainedthegirl."IfIcouldonlyliftonefoot,andrestit,I’dfeelbetter."
"Samewithme,Trot.I’venoticedthatifyou’vegottodoathing,andcan’thelpyourself,itgetstobeahardshipmightyquick."
"Folksthatcanraisetheirfeetdon’tappreciatewhatablessingitis,"saidTrotthoughtfully."Ineverknewbeforewhatfunitistoraiseonefoot,an’thenanother,anytimeyoufeellikeit."
"There’slotso’thingsfolksdon’t’preciate,"repliedthesailor-man."Ifsomethin’would’moststopyourbreath,you’dthinkbreathin’easywasthefinestthinginlife.Whenaperson’swell,hedon’trealizehowjollyitis,butwhenhegetssickhe’membersthetimehewaswell,an’wishesthattimewouldcomeback.MostfolksforgettothankGodforgivin’’emtwogoodlegs,tilltheyloseoneo’’em,likeIdid;andthenit’stoolate,’cepttopraiseGodforleavin’one.