Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз

           ButDorothysprangupandrantoseizeherfriend’shanddrawinghimimpulsivelytowardthelovelyPrincess,whosmiledmostgraciouslyuponherguest.ThentheWizardentered,andhispresencerelievedtheboy’sembarrassment.Thelittlemanwasclothedinblackvelvet,withmanysparklingemeraldornamentsdecoratinghisbreast;buthisbaldheadandwrinkledfeaturesmadehimappearmoreamusingthanimpressive.

           OzmahadbeenquitecurioustomeetthefamousmanwhohadbuilttheEmeraldCityandunitedtheMunchkins,Gillikins,QuadlingsandWinkiesintoonepeople;sowhentheywereallfourseatedatthedinnertablethePrincesssaid:

           "Pleasetellme,Mr.Wizard,whetheryoucalledyourselfOzafterthisgreatcountry,orwhetheryoubelievemycountryiscalledOzafteryou.ItisamatterthatIhavelongwishedtoenquireabout,becauseyouareofastrangeraceandmyownnameisOzma.No,one,Iamsure,isbetterabletoexplainthismysterythanyou."

           "Thatistrue,"answeredthelittleWizard;"thereforeitwillgivemepleasuretoexplainmyconnectionwithyourcountry.Inthefirstplace,ImusttellyouthatIwasborninOmaha,andmyfather,whowasapolitician,namedmeOscarZoroasterPhadrigIsaacNormanHenkleEmmannuelAmbroiseDiggs,Diggsbeingthelastnamebecausehecouldthinkofnomoretogobeforeit.Takenaltogether,itwasadreadfullylongnametoweighdownapoorinnocentchild,andoneofthehardestlessonsIeverlearnedwastoremembermyownname.WhenIgrewupIjustcalledmyselfO.Z.